Using Second Life to Teach Difficult Concepts Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel AJ Kelton Montclair State University

Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel

AJ Kelton

Montclair State University

Our Second Lives

Agenda Integrating Technology Difficult Concepts Holistic Learning Second Life Learning How We Utilize Second Life Great Places

Integrating Technology

Difficult Concepts

Holistic Learning

Second Life Learning

How We Utilize Second Life

Great Places

What does it take to teach a technology rich class? Relevance Planning Flexibility Experimentation Research

Relevance

Planning

Flexibility

Experimentation

Research

Difficult Concepts Abstract Theory Based Combine Multiple Points of Knowledge Beyond Student Experiences

Abstract

Theory Based

Combine Multiple Points of Knowledge

Beyond Student Experiences

Holistic Learning Concrete Experiences Reflective Observation Abstract Hypothesis Active Testing

Concrete Experiences

Reflective Observation

Abstract Hypothesis

Active Testing

Goals of Holistic Learning Students Construct Own Knowledge Integrate New Knowledge into Current Constructions Individualize Education Bring Abstract into Concrete

Students Construct Own Knowledge

Integrate New Knowledge into Current Constructions

Individualize Education

Bring Abstract into Concrete

Second Life: By the Numbers 2003 (1999) 10,000 - 15,000 50,000 average / 70,000 (approx) roughly the population of Montclair and Little Falls combined $1,000,000.00 300 and 5,000 0

2003 (1999)

10,000 - 15,000

50,000 average / 70,000 (approx) roughly the population of Montclair and Little Falls combined

$1,000,000.00

300 and 5,000

0

Second Life as a Learning Tool Interactive Immersive Student Controlled Learning Creative Experiences Not Available in “Real World” Holistic Learning

Interactive

Immersive

Student Controlled Learning

Creative

Experiences Not Available in “Real World”

Holistic Learning

Ways to Utilize Second Life Experiencing Interacting Create Hypotheses Reflecting Creating Building

Experiencing

Interacting

Create Hypotheses

Reflecting

Creating

Building

Questions?

Using Second Life to Teach Difficult Concepts Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel AJ Kelton Montclair State University

Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel

AJ Kelton

Montclair State University