The document outlines the utilization of Second Life as a virtual learning tool at Texas State University, highlighting the development of the Bobcat Village virtual campus and its educational applications from 2006 to 2012. It discusses how the immersive environment of Second Life supports various academic activities, including workshops, exhibitions, and simulations for classes such as Geography 4190. Additionally, it provides insights into the technological features of Second Life that make it suitable for education, such as 3D environments and accessibility across different platforms.

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TECH TOOLS:
Virtual Learning Spaces
May 15 2012
Emin Sağlamer / Robyn Herry / Salwa Khan
Instructional Technologies Support

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WHAT IS SECOND LIFE?
Open-ended MMORPG with free membership and integrated
content building tools operated by Linden Lab since 2002.

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What is Second Life?
Persistent 3D virtual reality
First available in 2002

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What is Second Life?
Users are represented by avatars
Avatars can take any shape or form

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What is Second Life?
Text chat, voice chat
Real time communication

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What is Second Life?
Has its own currency (L$)
Economy & Merchants

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What is Second Life?
Free or paid membership options
Rent or own land

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What is Second Life?
Login concurrency 70K at peak times

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TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY – SAN MARCOS
IN SECOND LIFE
Our Second Life 2006-2012

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BobCat Village

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How did Texas State University – San Marcos get Started with SL?
Chronology
• 2006, Dr. Milt Neilsen, the director of
ITS, came back from an NMC conference
excited about using SL.
• August 2006: We bought our first
simulator.
• January 2007: Our virtual
campus, Bobcat Village, was ready for
students and classes.
• 2007: We joined the NMC Educational
Continnent.
• 2008: Second Life: In World Travel Guide
quoted us as one of the three educational
spaces worth visiting in SL.

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Meet the Texas State SL Team
Second Life Team at ITS
•Emin Saglamer
– Manager, Archirect, Marketing
•Robyn Herry
– Architect, Digital Media Specialist
•Steve Lux
– Architect, Digital Graphics
•Lorin Flores & Tara Spies
– Reference Librarians

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Virtual Campus Buildings & Facilities
Buildings & Spaces
• Alkek Library
• Wittliff Collections Gallery
• Auditorium
• Amphitheater
• Student Groups Building
• ISD Distance Education Building
• TXSTATE Marketing Pavillion
• Sandbox Cafe
• Sandbox

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Why is Second Life Sutiable for Use in Education?
• Mac / PC / Linux free software • Visually rich, immersive environment
download. that pulls people in.
• Share 3D environments, scripted • Creates a sense of camaraderie.
behaviors, Web, Voice, Streaming
Audio / Video. • You do not have use your real name.
• Content is available 24/7. • Compared to typical virtual reality
engines, SL is more cost effective and
easier to share with students.
• LSL scripting environment is powerful
and is able to communicate with web • Interface and environment resembles
data stores through XML-RPC. the computer games younger
generations are familiar with.
• Educational spaces can be configured
and protected by owning bodies. • With a little patience and skill in visual
arts and programming, anyone can
create their own virtual masterpiece.

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How is Our Virtual Campus Utilized?
2007-2012 Classes That Used SL: Other Academic Uses:
– Dr. David Caverly & Dr. Carol Delaney • Cores Skills in SL Workshops for Instructors
• Curricullum & Instruction
• Virtual Library, Meetings, Conferences
– Dr. Mary Ann Strutts & Dr. Enrique
Becerra • Wittliff Gallery Exhibitions
• Marketing Department, McCoy
• University Marketing in SL
– Dr. Judy Oskam
• Mass Communication
• 2008 Info Island University Marketing Booth
– Dr. Sue Stewart & Dr. Philip Salem
• Dept. of Communication Studies • 2008 SLLC Conference
– Dr. Brock Brown • Sandbox
• Geography
• Machinima short films
– Cynthia Vetter
• Curricullum & Instruction

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FIELD SCHOOL PROJECT
How Texas State University – San Marcos is
using Second Life to teach GEO 4190 Class.

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Virtual Field School Project

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Field School Project / GEO 4190 Class
Mission of the Project:
• To represent the El Cerrito village in
New Mexico as closely as possible in SL
in a single simulator.
• For use by Geography and other
departments.
• Test various other platforms such as
Google Earth, Unity and OpenSim with
the same content.
• This is the first attempt at TXSTATE to
create a simulation in SL.

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Virtual Field School Project Timeline

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Field School Project / GEO 4190 Class II
Modelled After El Cerrito Village: What We Added to the Simulation:
• We used topographic data / maps. • Information panels with video taken on site.
• Quiz / Assessment panels.
• Due to limited space topology is not exactly a
match.
• Aritificial intelligence chat bots that represent
villagers.
• We used measurements & drawings made by
surveyors of the village. • Orientation panels
• All textures used on village buildings are photo • Pavillion with project information, blog, slide
sources from photographs taken on site. show of comparisons between virtual village
buildings and real ones.
• All buildings from the village survey are
represented. • Visitor sensors that provide usage statistics.
• Dr. Brock Brown's avatar.
• Soil, rock formation, and other textures are
faithful to the original setting.

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Different Platforms for Simulations
Platforms Explored
• Google Earth
• Second Life
• OpenSim
• Unity Engine
• Avaya Web.alive

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DrBrockBrownAboma

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The Church

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The Schoolhouse

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Field School Secoind Life Video Tour
Click the image to view a video tour

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Field School Unity Engine Version
Click the image to launch the web version

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Field School Google Earth Version
Click the image to launch the web version

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CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS IN
SECOND LIFE

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Sarah and Emma in Avatar Form

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Sarah and Students in Class

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Emma and Students Discuss Readings

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Emma and Students Try on a Culture

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Field Trip to Garden of Change

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Sarah Meets Students for Impromptu Help Session

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Connecting with Students in Second Life
Student Presents Final Project in
Second Life in His “cube”

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Links
Links & Contact Information:
• ETC-Research & Development Team Webpage
• Web Pages for Virtual Field School Project
– Official Virtual Field School Project Webpage
– Facebook Page
E mail address to contact us:
• secondlife@txstate.edu
• Salwa Khan (sk16@txstate.edu)

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Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers