Virtual worlds, real learning? The uptake of virtual worlds for teaching and learning in UK universities

what are the definitive features of virtual worlds like Second Life? what are the affordances of virtual world’s for teaching and learning? overview of uptake in the UK

what are the definitive features of virtual worlds like Second Life?

what are the affordances of virtual world’s for teaching and learning?

overview of uptake in the UK

what are the definitive features of virtual worlds like Second Life?

what are the definitive features of virtual worlds like Second Life?

on the Internet no one knows you’re a dog but wings and tails (‘furries’) seem oddly popular!

on the Internet no one knows you’re a dog

but wings and tails (‘furries’) seem oddly popular!

what are the affordances of virtual world’s for teaching and learning?

what are the affordances of virtual world’s for teaching and learning?

SL can be used to deliver lectures, but…

SL can be used to deliver lectures, but…

...most suited to “active” and “collaborative” learning styles building coding discussion groups machinima and drama production role-play

...most suited to “active” and “collaborative” learning styles

building

coding

discussion groups

machinima and drama production

role-play

meetings, particularly hybrid-meetings, work well (given communication limitations)

meetings, particularly hybrid-meetings, work well

(given communication limitations)

overview of uptake in the UK

overview of uptake in the UK

Hype

Second Life hype

Second Life in education hype

poor “orientation” experience

poor “orientation” experience

technical barriers and relatively poor graphics

technical barriers and relatively poor graphics

people simply don’t “get it”

people simply don’t “get it”

communication issues

communication issues

Eduserv has funded a series of snapshots since 2006 undertaken by John Kirriemuir (SL: Silversprite Helsinki) http://tinyurl.com/3ps2f3

Eduserv has funded a series of snapshots since 2006

undertaken by John Kirriemuir

(SL: Silversprite Helsinki)

virtualworldwatch.net

virtualworldwatch.net

active development at over 90% of UK universities http://tinyurl.com/3ps2f3

active development at over 90% of UK universities

core of early adopters, e.g. Edinburgh and Open University, using it extensively in teaching and learning

core of early adopters, e.g. Edinburgh and Open University, using it extensively in teaching and learning

units and teams in quite a few other universities, typically run by “strong-headed” people, using SL for both teaching and learning and other research

units and teams in quite a few other universities, typically run by “strong-headed” people, using SL for both teaching and learning and other research

massive duplication of research across UK universities as to whether virtual worlds have a valuable role in teaching and learning

massive duplication of research across UK universities as to whether virtual worlds have a valuable role in teaching and learning

many individual academics undertaking isolated work in SL, usually under the radar, often unwilling to share outcomes

many individual academics undertaking isolated work in SL, usually under the radar, often unwilling to share outcomes

SL still very predominant – some (growing) interest in OpenSim but likely to be a long while before SL loses its place as market leader

SL still very predominant – some (growing) interest in OpenSim but likely to be a long while before SL loses its place as market leader

overall, very fragmented picture both within and across universities impossible to make generalisations for UK as a whole

overall, very fragmented picture both within and across universities

impossible to make generalisations for UK as a whole

Conclusions SL remains the market leader by far despite all the negativity around SL it remains the best educational MUVE offering but… competition is coming which is good for everyone (except Linden Lab!) it is probably too early (i.e. expensive) for most educational institutions to experiment with other virtual worlds right now

SL remains the market leader by far

despite all the negativity around SL it remains the best educational MUVE offering

but… competition is coming

which is good for everyone (except Linden Lab!)

it is probably too early (i.e. expensive) for most educational institutions to experiment with other virtual worlds right now

Questions questions…