Learning/Teaching Opportunities Through Virtual Worlds

I have been having so much fun with Second Life, I sometimes forget the educational aspects of it. After all, there is a LOT of trouble to get into there. Plus, the girlie-girl in me tends to get sidetracked with all the clothes and hairstyles (I guess I must not have gotten over my Barbie phase). After getting past the silly stuff, however, there is a ton of great uses for Second Life in the classroom. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it is a virtual world, so people can be present in Second Life without actually setting foot in the classroom. This is especially helpful given the current worldwide panic over the H1N1 issue. Meeting in Second Life is a great alternative to holding class in the classroom. I keep hearing on the news that some schools are closing. Perhaps they should consider closing the building, but continuing to hold classes in Second Life, so that students don't fall behind in their studies.

Second Life is also great for taking students on field trips. Time and budget issues prevent teachers from taking their classes to many places, but in Second Life, you can "beam" the while group there, let them look around, read tons of information, and then have discussion afterwards. No, it's not exactly like the real thing, but it's better than watching a video about it or reading an article about it. It is so easy to become immersed in Second Life, after a while, it really does feel as though you're "there."

Finally, Second Life also helps students connect with other countries and cultures. People all over the world are on Second Life, and students can learn a ton about other cultures simply by interacting with them. Translators make communication much easier than even an in-person interpreter could do, so students can have near-instant conversations with someone who doesn't speak English. Imagine the possibilities! I, for one, will probably never have the time or money to visit Japan, but through Second Life, I can at least immerse myself in the virtual sights and culture, and that's definitely better than nothing!