Second Life for Educators
A BC Campus Project
Managed by BCIT
With support from SFU
Nola Johnston
njohnston12@my.bcit.ca

What is Second Life?
• Platform, not game
• 27,483 islands as of May 15, 2009
• Free basic account
• Residents have ability to create content
• Content is persistent
• Ability to rez (display) content is linked to land ownership
• In-world economy permits buying and selling, convertible to US$

Activities
• Social (e.g. parties, clubs)
• Exploration
• Entertainment
(e.g. live concerts, streaming media, games)
• Creative expression
(e.g. art, design, music, dance, machinima)
• Subcultures and communities of affinity

NOT a mature technology!
Hype (for or against) does not reflect reality.

C u r r e n t ly h u n d r e d s o f
in s t it u t io n s a r e a c t iv e
in S L
It s u s e is N O T
a p p r o p r ia t e f o r e v e r y
in d iv id u a l o r s it u a t io n

Why you should use SL
• SL increases engagement for many students
• SL offers opportunities for collaboration across distance and disciplines
• SL offers the opportunity of doing things that are not possible or practical in the
real world

If you are thinking of using SL
• Look realistically at the pros and cons
• Find out how it has been used in your field
• Talk to educators who have been using it
(especially in your area of practice)
• Look outside your field for new ideas

How educators (and others) are using SL

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Meetings, presentations, panel discussions, conference

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Collaboration across distance and/or disciplines

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Exhibits/Displays/Galleries/Museums

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Exhibits/Displays/Galleries/Museums

How educators (and others) are using SL
• 3D environmental models

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Process models

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Experiential simulations

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Experiential simulations

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Roleplay simulations

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Training models/diagnostics

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Games

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Creating machinima

How educators (and others) are using SL
• Creating machinima

Barriers to using Second Life
• Identified by IBM Research Social Computing Group
(Acquiring a Professional “Second Life:” Problems and Prospects for the Use of Virtual Worlds in Business)

Barriers to using Second Life
• Motivation

Barriers to using Second Life
• Technical difficulties

Barriers to using Second Life
• Learning curve for becoming
a competent virtual person

Barriers to using Second Life
• Learning curve for becoming
socially proficient in a virtual world

Barriers to using Second Life
• Ability to find compelling activities

And don’t forget...

And don’t forget...
• Dealing with educational
challenges specific to virtual
worlds

And don’t forget...
• Legal/governance issues

And don’t forget...
• Land acquisition and
management issues

Second Life for Educators
• Provides solutions to these challenges by creating a framework for providing:
• Information
• Resources
• Training

Phase 1: Resource Wiki
• Information
• Resources
• Sample course modules and assignments

Phase 2: Workshops
• Introductory presentation
• 4 orientation workshops
• 2 assignment course modules
• 4 skills development workshops

Phase 3: Testing, revision, documentation
• All workshops to be offered 3 times
• Gather feedback on wiki and workshops
• Revise materials
• Document findings
• Recommendations for ongoing peer-based resources and training

Phase 4?
• It’s up to you.

Workshops
• S c h e d u le : Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm PST/SLT (SL Time)
•Workshop 1: Thursday June 25 (communication/movement/appearance)
•Workshop 2: Thursday July 2 (interface/social structure/etiquette)
•Workshop 3: Thursday July 9 (intro to building & scripting)
•Workshop 4: Thursday July 16 (basic educational tools & sites)
• In f o r m a t io n : SLBCed.wordpress.com
• C o n t a c t : Nola Johnston, njohnston12@my.bcit.ca