Real Life Education in Second Life

Ohio State UniversityMay 29, 2008

Metaverse Roadmap

Virtual Worlds

A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars.

Mirror Worlds

Mirror worlds are informationally enhanced virtual models or “reflections” of the physical world.

Coming Thing

In five years, business versions of online virtual worlds like Second Life will be just as important to commerce as the Web is today.

-- Forrester

Coming Thing

By the end of 2011, 80 percent of active Internet users (and Fortune 500 enterprises) will have a “second life”-- Gartner Group

CES Educational Spaces

• Morrill Island - mainland grid• Bailey Island - teen grid• EduIsland - Alliance Library

System

Second Life Education

• Mirror world of classroomsoTraditional distance learning

• Using the worldoSL skills

• Virtual learning environments

Second Life Advantages

• Immersive• Collaborative (not competitive)• Creative/Expressive • Social networking• Everything is built-in

Second Life Disadvantages

• Difficult to learn• Instable • Emergent• Uncomfortable aspects• Proprietary

More Information

• SLED - mailing list• SimTeach - wiki

Who’s Doing What?

Cooperative Extension

• Facebook • Round tables• Inworld meet-ups• Collaborate wiki

Cooperative Extension SL

Discussion