Virtual Worlds in Higher Education: More Than Simulation

(A Case-Study of Second Life)

Simon KearGoldsmiths College, University of London

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Early days

SWIFT, University of Leicester

A handheld future?

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Overview

Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE)

Avatars

Commercial enterprise (Linden Lab)

Commerce system (Linden Dollars)

Free to enter and use; cost to build and host

Client software

Hardware requirement

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What is Second Life?

Showcasing

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Early days

Recreation

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Early days

MayLou Designs

Simulation and role play

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Stretching further

Loyalist College, Canada

Experimentation

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Stretching further

Personalised

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Qualities

 taka55 Fall

BareRose

Move beyond the possible

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Qualities

avpack

Collaborative

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Qualities

DUCKLING, University of Leicester

Immersive

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Qualities

Video 1

http://tinyurl.com/vwhe1

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Second World Immersive Future Teaching (SWIFT)

Genetics

Health and Safety; familiarisation; lab culture

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Stage 1

three genetic tests: Sickle Cell Anaemia, Huntington’s Disease and Cystic Fibrosis

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Stage 2

Familiarity in-world

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Stage 2

Problem-based scenarios in iScience

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Removing the HUD

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SWIFT overview

Video 2

http://tinyurl.com/vwihe2

Virtual lab a useful experience

Gain a more rounded understanding of both practice and theory

Repurposing for iScience show versatility on lab

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Impact

Modelling of a real environment

Automated guidance and support

Interaction between students

Interaction through an avatar

Logical constructs may be represented in physical form

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Virtual worlds in course design

Chat

IM

Online friends list

Nearby people list

Minimap

Teleport in the current map

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Going Mobile

Lumiya viewer http://www.lumiyaviewer.com/

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Going Mobile in 3D

image © Nick Zwart

Web-based virtual worlds Cloud Party

http://www.cloudpartytime.com WebGL-capable graphics card; building issues;

Jibe http://jibemix.com Unity3D editor; mobile devices; 1024 support hours = $76,800

Activeworlds http://www.activeworlds.com basic classroom = $650 pa; River City for middle school

Kitely Virtual Worlds on Demand http://www.kitely.com/

OpenSim (open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D application server) http://opensimulator.org/

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Second Life alternatives

Simon KearAcademic Developer

Goldsmiths Learning Enhancement Unit

SL: Johnson Zutawww.gold.ac.uk/gleus.kear@gold.ac.uk

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Thank you