This ppt accompanied a presentation at the Emerging Learning Design 2011 Conference in Montclair, NJ. I discuss how to use SL and other virtual worlds in higher education, to teach theoretical or difficult concepts in an integrative virtual classroom.

1. Using Second Life to Teach Difficult Theoretical Concepts Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel, LPC Montclair State University

2. Contact and PPT Info In SL: Edina Gumbo E-Mail: renfromichee@mail.montclair.edu PPT Available at: http://bit.ly/klvBsc

3. Welcome to Virtual Worlds!

4. Virtual Me: Edina Gumbo

5. Agenda SL as a Learning Tool Purpose of the Project How I Utilized SL with Theories Logistics What I Learned – Research Results Student Responses

6. Second Life as a Learning Tool Interactive Immersive Student Directed Learning Creative and Fun Experiences Not Available in “Real World” Holistic Learning

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

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15. Genome Island

16. DANTE’S INFERNO

17. Renaissance Island

20. Camp Darfur

21. Need Ideas? Great Blog: http://www.virtualworldsedu.info/blog/ SL Education Wiki: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Second_Life_Education SLED List: https://lists.secondlife.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/educators

22. Purpose of The Theorists Project Create Interactive Collaborative Learning Help Students Build Their Own Knowledge See Counseling Theories in a New Way Add to Student’s Technological Competence

23. The Theorists Project

24. The Theorists Project

25. The Theorists Project

26. The Courtyard

27. How I Utilized SL with Theories Learning About Psychoanalysis Building Their Own ‘Theory Room’ Learning from Peers Visiting Darfur and case analysis

28. A Meeting of the Minds

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31. The Building Assignment Choose a Counseling Theory Populate a ‘room’ with 5 objects 1 must be picture of group 2 must have creative components 200 Lindens per group LIMIT Prims! Visit and Evaluate Peers’ Rooms

32. Adler’s Room

33. Rogers Room

34. Existentialism Ground

35. Existentialism Skybox

36. What I Learned Take the Time to Play Give Some Structure, but not too much! Integrate, Integrate Groups Work Well with Adult Learners Provide Lots of Support Videos Instructional Documents Mentoring

37. Student Responses Many Enjoyed the Process Many Rather Traditional Presentations Worked Well for This Group of Students Learned More from Each Other than from Me

39. Eliminated the Teen Grid

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43. This is not about the applicationit is about the result