From jokaydia: Exploring Virtual Worlds and Games in Education

Educational Uses of Second Life®

Introduction

The unique qualities of a 3D virtual worlds can provide opportunities for rich, sensory, immersive experiences, authentic contexts and activities for experiential learning, simulation and role-play, modelling of complex scenarios, a platform for data visualisation and opportunities for collaboration and co-creation that cannot be easily experienced using other platforms.

Second Life is completely user-generated 3D environment that comes with relatively easy-to-use building and scripting tools that anyone can learn. This makes it an ideal platform for engaging students in creating their own learning activities, experiences and environments, and not just be passive consumers of learning.

About this Resource

This resource  was created in 2007 by Jo Kay (aka jokay Wollongong) and Sean FitzGerald (aka Sean McDunnough) to provide an overview of the educational possibilities of virtual worlds, in particular Second Life. It is currently managed and maintained by Jo Kay as part of her work on the Islands of jokaydia and provides a growing collection of more than 100 case studies of educational projects which have been delivered or are currently running in Second Life.

The resource seeks to provide an overview of some of ways Second Life can be used, and in some cases, has been used for educational purposes. We have interpreted the term 'education' very liberally, since, like in real life, learning can occur when 'education' isn't deliberately happening. We see all of Second Life itself as a potential learning environment.

Category Index

As this resource has grown to include a huge number of entries, we have divided it into the following pages, arranged alphabetically:

• Architectural Design and Modelling
• Art and Music Projects
• Art Galleries and Museums
• Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life Projects
  
• Awareness/Consciousness Raising and Fund Raising
• Business, Commerce, Financial Practice and Modelling
• Computer Programming
• Data Visualisations and Simulations
• Displays and Exhibits
• Distance and Flexible Education
• Educational Technology in Second Life
• Environmental Education
• Health Education
• Higher Education
• Historical Re-creations and Re-enactments, Living and Immersive Archeology
• Immersive Exhibits and Environments
• Interior Design
• Language Teaching and Practice, and Language Immersion
• Libraries
• Literature, Composition and Creative Writing
• Machinima
• Multimedia and Games Design
• Orientations and Information Sessions
• Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Photostories and Photo Scenarios
• Politics, Governance, Civics and Legal Practice
• Presentations, Panels and Discussions
• Product Design, Prototyping, User-testing and Market Research
• Professional Development and Communities of Practice
• Real Estate Practice
• Roleplays and Simulations
• Science Education
• Second Life Tutorials and Orientations
• Self-paced Tutorials
• Social Science and Anthropological Research
• Support and Opportunities for People with Disabilities
• Teen Second Life Projects
• Theatre and Performance Art
• Training and Skills Development
• Treasure Hunts and Quests
• Urban Planning and Design
• Virtual Tourism, Cultural Immersion and Cultural Exchange
• Vocational Education and Training

Further Resources

The following sites provide additional resources on Second Life in Education:

• The SaLamander Project
• Second Life Community Wiki
• SL Healthy Wiki
• SimTeach Wiki
• Top 20 Educational Locations in Second Life

Make a Suggestion

PLEASE NOTE: This resource is under development. If you have a project or use of Second Life for education you think we should add to the Educational Uses of Second Life resource, please use this form to submit your suggestion! We appreciate your help in tracking down the latest and greatest projects in Second Life!

Click here to access our 'For Inclusion' list which lists the projects currently being considered for inclusion in this resource.

Get the Slides!

2D Version: You can download the Slide Collection for this resource in PDF Format. Please note that this resource is licensed under a Creative Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License.