The Virtual Learning Commons for Nurses (VLCN) was created in Second Life to support nursing education using funds from a research fellowship. A series of information literacy classes were offered to nurses in Second Life to foster social and professional interaction among nurses from various backgrounds and evaluate Second Life's ability to promote networking and professional development. Surveys and quizzes were used to subjectively and objectively analyze learners' experiences in the VLCN and Second Life overall. While Second Life proved an excellent tool for nursing education and interaction, it requires significant financial investment, time, and social capital to make it an effective tool.

1. The Virtual Learning Commons for Nurses: Using Second Life (SL) to Support Nursing Education
Authors and Contributors:
What They Are Doing: Mark D. Puterbaugh , Librarian; Malinda Shannon, Research Assistant; Heather Gorton BA, Research Assistant
JinJu Kang RN BSN; Hyun Mi Lee RN BSN; Mi Young Lim RN BSN; Swoo Alexandrov, Librarian; Joy Dlugosz, Librarian; Aina Kuo, Librarian and Translator
Eastern University, Warner Memorial Library, St. Davids, PA
Have you made contacts through
VLCN?
Yes
35%
Objective: With funds from the Donald A. B. Lindberg Research Fellowship of 2008, the Virtual Learning Commons for Nurses (VLCN) was created in the
virtual online social world Second Life (SL). As part of the project, a series of basic information literacy classes were offered to nurses using SL for edu-
cation and recreation. This provided a means to foster social and professional interaction of nurses from a variety of backgrounds and evaluate SL as
No
a tool for promoting socialization and professionalization among nurses and those supporting nursing education.
65%
Methods: In-person observation and real-time interaction provided a subjective analysis of the project. Surveys and quizzes using in-world tools provided
objective analysis of the nurses’ learning experience in the VLCN and in generally in SL.
Conclusions: SL provides an excellent tool for nursing education and social interaction. However, SL requires a significant investment in finances, per-
sonnel time and social capital to make it an effective tool
Rating the VLCN and SL on a Scale from 1 to 10. “Thank you very much for this chance to participate .... This would definitely improve our
chances in meeting people from all over with the same professional background in RL.”
How would you rate your SL class experience?
Score 7.9
How would you rate your SL experience overall?
Score 8.2
Rate the learning materials found at the VLCN.
VLCN Facts:
Score 7
Rate the VLCN as a place to make personal or professional contact. There have been 4 Eastern University Nursing
Score 7.6
How would you rate SL as a place to meet people? Informatics classes introduced to SL through the
Score 7 VLCN.
How likely is your attendance to additional VLCN events?
Score 7.6
How likely is your attendance to additional VLCN classes? Currently 17 Information Literacy Friday open
Have you made social contacts in
SL?
Score 6.6 class sessions have been presented.
No
17%
15 Video Tutorials were created to run in the VLCN, as a tool
“First I would need to be able to find VLCN on Teaching 10 Island on for library instruction.
Yes
the map.”
83%
22 PowerPoint presentations were created to run in the
“I haven't had much time to explore VLCN yet, but would love to learn VLCN, as a tool for library instruction.
more about it. The couple times I did stop by the sim was empty. “
The SL Group Learning Commons for Nurses boasts over
Who They Are: 115 members.
Professional Status
MSN
26%
To date, over 200 individual visitors have come to the VLCN
site on Teaching 10 Island.
BSN
26%
PHD
22%
RN
22%
Other
4%