Affordances and Constraints
of Second Life
Tom Werner
Brandon Hall Research
February 18, 2008

Tom Werner - Role
 Analyst - brandon-hall.com/tomwerner
 Use of learning technology
 Current tools and systems
 Emerging technologies
 Practices
 Workplace learning

Publications
Conference
Awards

Video games MMORPGs High-end simulations
OTS simulation (AI) MUVEs Serious games
Branching simulations Software simulations Social networks

Which type is growing now?
 Higher ed (SLED)
 K-12
 Corporate ???

Constraints
 Tough to learn to basic SL navigation
 Technical limitations of platform
 Open to the public
 Linden Labs is a private company
 Developing ‘content’ is labor intensive
 Poor for standard communication

Constraints
 As a platform, it’s a blank slate
 Instructor must build from scratch
 No ‘engine,’ other than the dynamics of SL
itself
 Few teaching tools, some meeting tools

Sloodle

Affordances: Movement in 3D
space
 Tactics  Appreciation of space
 Emergency response  Roma, Globe Theater
 Interactions in a space
 Manage a hotel

Affordances: 3D and Scale
 Molecules,
proteins,
chromosomes
 Human testis

Affordances: Role playing -
avatars
 Affective, empathy
 Aging, schizophrenic
 Interactions
 Harassment
 With patients, customers

Affordances: Building and
design
 Architecture, interior design, urban planning
 Clothing design

Affordances: 3D exercises
and testing
 Show me how you would…

Affordances: Constructivist
activities
 Role-play scenes from books
 Creative arts
 Writing
 Build something to  Photography
illustrate a concept  Machinima

Affordances: Virtual
psychology and sociology
 Maze
 Decision making
 Avatar characteristics

Affordances: Visualization of
data
 Weather
 Planes in flight
 S&P 500
 IBM Wimbleton
tennis

Affordances: Rapid
prototyping and co-design
 Mock up a product
 NASA CoLab, Tech Museum

Is SL Worth the Time for
Instructional-Design Students?
 Be aware, visit the educational islands
 Delve in if you’re interested in games,
simulations, MMOGs, MUVEs
 Be theory tolerant, not ‘instruction’
 Interesting area for research