Second Life: A 3D Multi-User Virtual World Simon Bignell [email_address] www.derby.ac.uk

About Second life Second Life is a widely acclaimed online 3D ‘virtual world’ with hundreds of thousands of users; built and owned by its residents. Second Life is used as a platform for business and entertainment and has game-like qualities but is not a ‘game’ in itself. Since 2003, it has grown explosively and now is inhabited by millions of people from around the globe.

Second Life is a widely acclaimed online 3D ‘virtual world’ with hundreds of thousands of users; built and owned by its residents.

Second Life is used as a platform for business and entertainment and has game-like qualities but is not a ‘game’ in itself.

Since 2003, it has grown explosively and now is inhabited by millions of people from around the globe.

Statistics Total accounts: 9,296,032 (as at 5/9/07) Logged in during the last 60 days 1,553,348 (as at 5/9/07) Avg. approx 40,000 43% female Avg. Age 32 Key points Market leader Currency exchange system 530L$ = £1 approx Streaming media Continual development Voice chatting! Education discounts Off Shoot ‘Teen Second Life’ About Second life

Statistics

Total accounts: 9,296,032 (as at 5/9/07)

Logged in during the last 60 days 1,553,348 (as at 5/9/07)

Avg. approx 40,000

43% female

Avg. Age 32

Key points

Market leader

Currency exchange system

530L$ = £1 approx

Streaming media

Continual development

Voice chatting!

Education discounts

Off Shoot ‘Teen Second Life’

USA Harvard University MIT University of Texas Francisco State New York University Vassar College Trinity University University of Buffalo + many more UK Derby University Oxford University Nottingham University Staffordshire University Leicestershire University Paisley University Education UK Island

USA

Harvard University

MIT

University of Texas

Francisco State

New York University

Vassar College

Trinity University

University of Buffalo

+ many more

UK

Derby University

Oxford University

Nottingham University

Staffordshire University

Leicestershire University

Paisley University

Education UK Island

What Can You Do in SL? Self -- Your identity Social networks Exploration Build Texture Animate Script Class projects Avatar Meet, chat, share Visit, tour, study Creation tools Customise the look Movement, gesture Adds behaviours Classes, office hours Applied learning

Self -- Your identity

Social networks

Exploration

Build

Texture

Animate

Script

Class projects

Avatar

Meet, chat, share

Visit, tour, study

Creation tools

Customise the look

Movement, gesture

Adds behaviours

Classes, office hours

Applied learning

The future lecture theatre? Educational advantages: Creativity, Space, Interactivity, Collaboration, Activity, Tools and Fun!

Diverse Learning Modes Mental Health – Simulation of Schizophrenia Real time live conference with streaming video Education delivery options range from self-paced simulations (left) to streaming video into a virtual classroom or conference (right).

Conferencing in Virtual Environments Effective Global Cheap Easy Fun Innovative Quick Media friendly Streamed Live

Effective

Global

Cheap

Easy

Fun

Innovative

Quick

Media friendly

Streamed

Live

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Highly customisable avatars

Highly customisable avatars

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Education UK Island http://www.sleducationuk.net It's an island about education, focussed on the UK educational community. The space is available to everyone, but the key focus is for UK educationalists from all sectors to participate in the development of the island as a learning environment, as a play and practice area for educators and as a collaborative space for sharing experiences of learning and teaching in Second Life.

http://www.sleducationuk.net

It's an island about education, focussed on the UK educational community.

The space is available to everyone, but the key focus is for UK educationalists from all sectors to participate in the development of the island as a learning environment,

as a play and practice area for educators and as a collaborative space for sharing experiences of learning and teaching in Second Life.

Limitless scope for individualised workplaces

Second Life Educational Community SLED very active community worldwide. UK Open University (Schome community). SLOODLE (Moodle Integration). Second Life Campus. EducationUK. UK is good at using these methods and has a growing community.

SLED very active community worldwide.

UK Open University (Schome community).

SLOODLE (Moodle Integration).

Second Life Campus.

EducationUK.

UK is good at using these methods and has a growing community.

WebCT, Blackboard, Moodle Good news – content management, stable. Bad news – poor interactivity. Tutor centred not student centred. Administration not education. Second Life Good news – interactivity (immersive). Bad news – poor content management, stability. Student centred not tutor centred. Education not Administration (after the learning curve). SL offers a distance education (& communication) platform unmatched by others but it is not perfected (yet). VLEs ‘Virtual’ ‘Learning’ ‘Environments’

WebCT, Blackboard, Moodle

Good news – content management, stable.

Bad news – poor interactivity.

Tutor centred not student centred.

Administration not education.

Second Life

Good news – interactivity (immersive).

Bad news – poor content management, stability.

Student centred not tutor centred.

Education not Administration (after the learning curve).

SL offers a distance education (& communication) platform unmatched by others but it is not perfected (yet).

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What Second Life is good for Cheap and easy to use 3D simulation with physics and powerful scripting. Fast prototyping, with simple and effective modelling and programming tools. Problems can be demonstrated in a controlled environment. Internet integration (very Web 2.0). Strong educational support networks

Cheap and easy to use 3D simulation with physics and powerful scripting.

Fast prototyping, with simple and effective modelling and programming tools.

Problems can be demonstrated in a controlled environment.

Internet integration (very Web 2.0).

Strong educational support networks

Is this the future of education? THE “METAVERSE” A VISION OF THE FUTURE ? Slide courtesy of Paul Hollins

The Last Slide Second Life is already: a valuable blended learning platform a very immersive communication tool. Try it out for yourself. Milton Broome’s Blog: http://milton-broome.blogspot.com Simon Bignell – Lecturer in Psychology University of Derby [email_address]

Second Life is already:

a valuable blended learning platform

a very immersive communication tool.

Try it out for yourself.