This isn’t meant as criticism. (In fact, my group chose to address our peers through a lecture as well.) This is merely an observation. After all, the lecture is probably the most common educational tool. From primary school to graduate school, students listen to lecture after lecture. Whether or not this is an effective teaching strategy is up for debate.

But as my group discussed in our presentation, by using Second Life educators can begin to diversify their teaching methods. Students can visit and explore virtual representations of historic locations. They can participate in educational role plays and simulations. They can even build their own objects and locations. Virtual worlds have the potential to make learning more immersive, participatory and fun.

The question is: If virtual worlds are so great, why are educators still relying on lectures?

It could be due to lack of funding. Or it could be lack of familiarity with virtual world technologies. More likely, it is that people are resistant to change.

What should advocates of virtual worlds and alternative education tools do? They might consider implementing a few pilot projects.

There have been a number of studies that have demonstrated the benefits (and pitfalls) of using virtual worlds in formal education. However, the majority of these studies seem to have been one-off trials, abandoned after a few months.

It seems to me that more formal, long-term pilot projects that actively involve students, educators and administrators would hold more sway with school boards and academic institutions.

And then?

It will take time to convince educators to use virtual technologies in their classrooms. Teachers, lecturers and students will need to be trained to use these technologies. Money will need to be invested. But a little at a time, virtual worlds can (and hopefully will) become commonly used educational tools.

In the near future, I think we will see virtual worlds being used more and more often in classrooms around the world.

It is my opinion that virtual worlds really do have the potential to revolutionize education.

There are many advantages to incorporating virtual worlds and social media to engage students in learning. The flexibility of virtual worlds such as Second Life, which thrive on user-generated content, means their potential as innovative learning tools can stretch as far as the imagination.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of educators around the world use virtual worlds to make learning fun. Elementary school teachers, high school teachers and post-secondary educators from all fields of study are all dabbling with new virtual tools to transform the way we think about education.

Those who have little experience with virtual worlds may be wondering how virtual worlds are changing education. The ways are many.

Virtual worlds make learning fun for students who have shown little interest in school – and learning should be fun!

Virtual worlds create immersive environments that allow students to experience learning materials in exciting and interactive ways.

Virtual worlds can be safe environments for discussing sensitive and/or controversial issues. Many virtual environments allow students to voice their opinions anonymously – something that can’t be done in a classroom.

Virtual worlds allow students to work through simulations, carry out tasks and see the consequences of their actions – without having to worry about making life-threatening mistakes.

The alternative educational strategies made possible by virtual worlds such as Second Life are quite amazing. But providing access to transformative learning technologies isn’t enough.

Teachers need to know how to use these technologies – and they need to know how to use them well. Because even with virtual technologies, educational experiences are only as good as the lesson plans that shape them.

In my last post, I discussed some of the personal reasons people choose to reside in Second Life. For some, this virtual world is a venue for learning and exploring. For others, it is a place of leisure. For more still, Second Life provides a sense of community and, in some cases, personal support. It occurred to me that these are some of the same reasons people visit public libraries.

And so, I decided to learn a bit more about public libraries in Second Life. While some public libraries in Second Life were merely big rooms filled with books, other locations had much more to offer.

Many public libraries in Second Life provide access to a small range of information resources, including links to their OPACs and information about their community. See the Olathe, Kansas Public Library and the Glenview Public Library for some examples. The Bibliotheek Amsterdam is worth a visit as well.

The most disappointing part of visiting public libraries in Second Life was the lack of people. In the “real world” public libraries are usually teeming with people. And though not all public libraries make efforts to build a sense of community, they do serve as meeting places.

Most public libraries in Second Life are doing an adequate job of meeting the information needs of their patrons. Or at least, they seem to be trying to meet the information needs of their patrons.

But people also use public libraries to connect with people. Libraries are meeting places. The role of library as place is largely overlooked by public libraries in Second Life.

Only by creating a venue for people to connect to one another can public libraries in Second Life play a role in meeting the community needs of their users. In order to better serve Second Life residents (and real world communities) virtual public libraries must become community hubs.

Then again, maybe librarians are the only people who dream of libraries crowded with people who are just hanging out and connecting with one another …

Perhaps the most obvious of these benefits, Second Life provides the opportunity to meet and interact with people from around the world. There are few other venues, if any, for people from across the globe to meet, chat, learn and interact without needing to hop on an airplane. Of course there exist more traditional chat rooms, but these don’t provide the same interactive experience as do virtual worlds such as Second Life.

What amazes me about Second Life is the opportunity to interact with others in innumerable ways.

Second Life residents can come together to explore different places – natural wonders (such as coral reefs and mountains), historic locations (such as Ancient Egypt and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre), imaginary worlds (such as Hogwarts and Sunnydale), and much more. Second Life provides people with opportunities to explore places they have only ever dreamed of. And because Second Life residents can build their own content, the possibilities are endless.

What’s more, Second Life residents can share their experiences with other people, be it through chat, animations and/or role pay.

But the exploration of new worlds is only the tip of the iceberg. Second Life is also a venue for assembly. Groups and communities, with members from all continents, can meet in Second Life to discuss common interests (from SCUBA diving to libraries).

To name just a few possibilities, group members can share personal hardships (through various support groups, including alcoholics anonymous), express their artistic side (through venues such as Burning Life), and share academic ideas (by attending lectures or visiting places such as Genome island).

For some Second Life residents, the communities they join can provide them with the support and opportunities they lack in real life. This may be especially important for marginalized people who feel alone and unaccepted in their real world communities.

However, with so many groups, possibilities and experiences available in Second Life, finding opportunities that interest you can be quite the challenge …

I’ve been doing lots of exploring in Second Life. Truth be told I’ve been wandering around rather aimlessly and enjoying the scenery. After reading about the Second Life adventures of fellow bloggers, I decided I was missing out on some really cool places. So I made an effort to explore a bit deeper.

I went to Genome Island and learned about cell biology and genetics. I went onstage at the Globe Theatre and imagined myself playing Desdemona or Portia. These were both fantastic islands to visit! I enjoyed both these locations so much that I fantasized about High School teachers across the country taking their students to these virtual locations. I could see it already – students were wiping the drool off their chins and actually enjoying biology class!

Unfortunately, my fantasizing quickly became unrealistic. A former marine biology student, I was hoping to find a place to learn about the oceans. I imagined how much fun it would have been to visit hydrothermal vents instead of sitting in a lecture hall to learn about them.

After half an hour of frustrated searching, the only oceans I found were romantic beaches and aquarium stores. I was disappointed when I didn’t find any hydrothermal vents. Though I have to say my spirits were slightly lifted as I swam with sea lions and floated around a few coral reefs (- no news yet as to the ecological accuracy of the reefs I visited).

Still, I knew many learning opportunities existed in Second Life – Genome Island and the Globe Theatre proved it. The trouble was, I didn’t know where to look. The only interesting and educational places I found had been recommended to me by others.

So, I searched a bit longer on my own. I spent a few minutes walking around the welcome tomb for ancient Egypt – and promptly left when told I had to pay L$25 for Egyptian clothing. I visited a few versions of outerspace, but didn’t actually learn anything about space travel. I tried to learn about the 1960s, but ended up in an empty club. At this point, I was discouraged.

I thought I might have set my sights a too high. Yet still, I was certain Second Life had the potential to make learning fun again. If only I knew where to search …

That’s when it hit me – what if I didn’t have to do the searching? What if someone did the searching for me? What if I talked to a librarian?!

And so, I’m happy to say I have convinced myself that there is a place for libraries in Second Life. By joining Second Life, public libraries, school libraries and academic libraries can all help make learning fun. I can imagine the pathfinders already!

Maybe next time I’ll start my search at the library …

It seems most library science students have strong opinions about SL and its use in library environments. Some people think Second Life is fun and interesting, others think it is a waste of time. Most interestingly, no one seems to agree!

So the question is: Should libraries be dedicating people, time and money to SL?

My vaguely disappointing answer is: It depends!

Libraries have lots to offer Second Life residents – as is evidenced by the library presence that already exists in this virtual world. Libraries can provide residents with access to books and information, as well as different courses, resources and tips for getting around in SL. A few of the libraries in SL are also staffed by librarians who are available to answer questions from the residents visiting their island. SL libraries are an invaluable resource – especially for newbies! Whether or not SL residents use these libraries is another question.

But what does Second Life have to offer library patrons? Lots too. Though the learning curve is steep, SL has incredible potential for distance learning, conferencing and community development. It is a great way to provide services to homebound patrons, and to include them in the library community. Perhaps best of all, SL can be really fun! At least, it’s fun if you know what you’re doing.

Then what’s the problem? From what I can tell, most library patrons don’t use Second Life. In some cases, an incredible amount of human and financial resources are being dedicated to SL. Most of this time and money seems to be going to staff training, resource development and research. Not enough efforts are being put towards marketing SL. And so like too many other library resources, SL is not being used by library patrons. Even with a strong marketing initiative, the social stigma against SL may deter library patrons. This is why I’m not convinced libraries should be spending their limited financial and human resources on SL … for now at least.

This said, you might want to take my opinion with a grain of salt. The more I learn about Second Life, the more my thoughts about it change. I am sure I will return to the question of Second Life and libraries many more times in the future. It is definitely a topic that could benefit from further research and discussion.

For now, I will leave you with a few of the comments my library school friends have made about SL:

“One life at a time for me.” NB

“You have class in second life? that’s different.” DV

“That sounds like so much fun!” AS

“Now that sounds interesting. Maybe I should join second life.” NB

“Other than changing my appearance (it’s rather like playing Barbie), I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing?!” HJ

“Second Life (in my humble opinion) is just a slow, boring video game where you win nothing in the end and nobody dies! : )” LD

“Maybe this will help liven up your experience? http://tinyurl.com/yedwkjd”YC

“We should just get rid of libraries and move them entirely into second life – then I can wear pajamas to work” SL

“I think [dedicating] a little time and money is probably worthwhile because it’s a form of technology librarians may need to understand…” MS

“What the hell does Second Life have to do with the library?” LD

My recent venture into Second Life marked my first experience with virtual worlds. And so when I began to search for other virtual worlds, I found myself looking for programs comparable to Second Life. But it seems there are no virtual worlds quite like Second Life – at least not for Mac users who don’t want to pay for access.

Second life is a free virtual world that is compatible with PC and Mac computers. It has thousands and thousands of avatars, fantastic graphics, and almost infinite potential for user generated content. Most virtual worlds lack the breadth and the flexibility of Second Life. When it comes to virtual worlds, it seems Second Life is the exception, not the rule.

Once I realized this, I decided to redefine my understanding of virtual worlds. Of course this is easier said than done. What are virtual worlds? Are they extensions of reality? Are they games? Are they programs that allow people of varying abilities and means to connect with one another? I’m certain entire books could be dedicated to answering these questions. I won’t even attempt to answer them here.

For my purposes, I’ve decided that virtual worlds need only two things. First, they need to provide a graphic representation of a physical space through which avatars can move and carry out tasks. Second, within this space, people from different places around the world need to be able to interact with one another.

I think the latter characteristic is especially important because the social interaction between people is what differentiates virtual worlds from computer games. But please, feel free to disagree with my interpretation of virtual worlds.

Following the guidelines I set out for myself, I decided on two other virtual worlds (both free, as well as Mac and PC compatible) which I will explore as I continue learning about virtual worlds. These are Pirate Puzzles (a virtual world for teens) and Farmville (a Facebook application).

If you’re interested and want to hear more about my thoughts and adventures through Second Life, Pirate Puzzles and Farmville, stay tuned.

The show quickly captured my attention as Gary Sinise’s character created an avatar and  investigated a real life murder in Second Life. He ventured to different places, and he talked to, fought with, and deceived various avatars in Second Life. Ultimately, Gary Sinise made Second Life look cool!

I’ll admit until I enrolled in a Virtual Worlds course, I had never given much thought to virtual realities such as Second Life. If you had asked me about Second Life a few weeks ago, I would have supposed it was a form of entertainment and social networking for a very small group of people interested in computer programming and virtual realities. But the appearance of Second Life on CSI: New York made me see this virtual world in a whole new way.

My own limited experience with Second Life has left me feeling frustrated and uninterested. I have had such difficulty navigating through this new reality that I have not been able to enjoy myself. Learning about Second Life through the eyes of a CSI investigator allowed me to see the variety of Second Life users, and the fun that can be had in this virtual world.

On this episode of CSI: New York, Second Life users included a crime scene investigator, a professional assassin, a young man hiding from the world, and a politician, amongst others. The avatars visited strange and interesting places, including a Roman Colosseum. The avatars flew, fought, changed their appearance, and fell in love. The world of Second Life was portrayed as a place where people can transform themselves into anyone, and create places others have only dreamed of.

At last, I was convinced that Second Life could be a fun place! A world I could enjoy exploring and learning about. And so, thanks to an episode of CSI: New York, I find myself looking forward to further ventures in Second Life and other virtual worlds.

Screenshot from nanobugle.files.wordpress.com

In order for electronic and virtual tools to be useful for people in their “first life,” they need to make tasks easier and faster. Most importantly, such tools need to be user-friendly. It may be sad to say this, but it is a harsh reality of workplaces and schools that tools must increase efficiency rather than only add fascination.

Second Life can be described in many ways, both good and bad. Unfortunately, I am inclined to describe Second Life as unintelligible to the average person. It is certainly not user-friendly – at least not for users taking the leap into a virtual world for the first time.

This is not to discredit Second Life. I think its popularity attests to its quality as a virtual world application. I simply think this program is not meant to be used as a tool for workplace meetings and distance education – or for any other “first-life” task.

Indeed the creators and marketers of Second Life would likely disagree with my opinion. I am open to other views, but as I struggle to learn the ins and outs of this virtual world I remain skeptical.

I found it difficult to envision my talk as a video. I am fairly well practiced at presentations, and I was able to imagine how I would present my talk in person. But on video it seemed to me more like a commercial than anything else. And so, I went about developing a video to sell the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series to today’s teens, who in all likelihood know little or nothing about the show.

I began by researching Buffy online and watching clips of the show on YouTube. I was trying to pin down what made Buffy such a popular show. All my research led to the same conclusion: the best thing about Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the way they talk. As a teen, I learned about sarcasm, irony and wit, not in English class, but by watching Buffy. Watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show changed the way I talked. Apparently, I wasn’t alone. In his book Slayer Slang, Michael Adams argues that Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way America speaks.

Once I had understood what teens liked best about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I attempted to build the language into the script for my talk. I looked online for Buffy quotes, and I selected a few of my favourites that still made sense out of the context of their television episodes. Then I wrote up a point form summary of the premise and plot of the show. I put the “slayer slang” and my point form summary together into a script – more or less successfully. Although the script worked out, my acting skills are somewhat lacking. I gave it a shot nonetheless, but my acting skills left me thinking that next time I should try to be more myself. Check it out if you like.