ComputerProgramming

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Computer Programming

The built in scripting tools in Second Life provides scope for a broad range of computer programming and design projects.

Explore the projects below or Return to the Educational Uses of Second Life Homepage.


Aesthetic Computing Class

As part of Dr. Paul Fishwick's Aesthetic Computing classes in 2007 and 2008 at the University of Florida students used Second Life to explore "...'software aesthetics', which we'll define as the study of the continuum of human interaction possible between viewing software as pure art and viewing software as pure functionality....".

During the course teams are required to create some part of a computer program and represent it in 3D with user interaction. The original programming language could have been anything from Linden Scripting Language (LSL) to Java, Python or Lisp. Student projects completed in Second Life include:

  • Simple Arithmetic Machines and Finite State Machines, a Perceptron, a Turing Machine
  • 'Drink Bottled Water, Help Wreck the Planet' a model which represents the amount on money spent in the United States on bottled water each year
  • Rainforest Destruction - a 3D flow chart which combines real life data and specific artistic styles
  • A Lorenz Attractor Simulator
  • 'Effects of Alcohol Consumption' - a model represents the effects of alcohol on a 200lb male (click through the different amounts of beers to see what happens!)


A number of student projects are on display at Aesthetic Island (SLurl). For further read the articles Second Life spawns virtual Gator Nation and At UF, distance learning moves off the planet.


EdBoost Second Life Experiment

After hearing about Teen Second Life from their students, the team at EdBoost Education, a nonprofit tutoring and academic support organization in Los Angeles were the first group to participate in the Campus Second Life program on the Teen Grid. They are trialling the use of Second Life to teach Computer programming as part of their after-school learning centre program.

Led by facilitators Tiplife Eggplant and Hector Something, students use the building and scripting tools that are include in the Second Life platform to develop basic computer and programming skills - building interactive objects, vehicles and gadgets, and animations and gestures.

In 2008, Edboost also completed a series of ComputerBoost! summer camps which were held in Teen Second Life and engaged students in a range of online activities including creating a website and blog, a Second Life avatar and a wide range of computer programming skills.

Visit the EdBoost Blog or view Hector Something's Blog - Programming in Second Life which includes a number of worksheets used in the EdBoost Project.

 

 

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