Teaching in Virtual Worlds (Second Life) Lloyd Onyett “Komputer Merlin” Assistant Dean for Technology College of Education and Educational Technology Indiana University of Pennsylvania lonyett@iup.edu

Copyright Notice This work is intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate or to republish requires written permission from the author. Copyright Lloyd Onyett 2009

What in the World is Second Life? Online 3-dimensional virtual world Millions of people with Second Life accounts (estimates range from 2 to 10 million accounts) Users create an avatar (a 3-dimensional character) customized to look like yourself, or look entirely different select clothing for your avatar choose hair and skin color body shape facial features Avatars are able to communicate with others chat and instant message voice Avatars can walk, turn, run, fly and even teleport to other locations within Second Life

Second Life Environment Islands in Second Life server space reserved for specific users provides a virtual location to construct buildings, scenery, land formations, and other objects An island is 65,536 square meters (approximately 16 acres) costs $700.00 (educational discount) monthly land maintenance fee of $147.50 possible to purchase smaller areas in Second Life because islands can be sub-divided and sold to multiple buyers

IUP Islands Crimson Island Archaeology Island Whitmyre Island Comm Media Island … more to come …

Presence in Second Life Approximately 200 colleges and universities including: Drexel University Harvard University Indiana University of PA Iowa State University Lehigh-Carbon CC Montclair State University Penn State University San Jose State University Stanford University Temple University University of Auckland, NZ 1000s of businesses and organizations IBM Nissan Motors Sears Microsoft NASA NOAA ISTE American Library Association American Red Cross Hillary Clinton Barack Obama

Membership in Second Life It is FREE to join Second Life membership is only available for people who are at least 18 years old. Teen Grid is for people who are 13 to 18 years old does not allow adults in, other than teachers who must go through a detailed background check, and then only to work with their students in very specific areas in Teen Grid

Educational Uses of Second Life Teach online courses Enhance regular classes with online materials Resource for students: Second Life library sites Take tours of places such as NASA, NOAA, Sistine Chapel, etc. Collaboration and communication Students can learn to build and script

How IUP is Using Second Life Opportunity to “teach outside the box” Collaboration and communication Currently using to teach classes in: Communications Media Gaming and Simulation Intro to Technology Exhibition of Photography and Graphics Anthropology, Archaeology and Geology Recreation of artifacts and ruins English and Foreign Languages Communication and collaboration skills Education Simulations of classroom situations

Future IUP Uses of Second Life Art, Music, and Performing Arts Museums and galleries for students to show their work Stages for musicians and actors Special Education Simulations of impairment: Mobility (wheel chairs, etc.) Vision Hearing Audiology and Speech Pathology Nursing Simulations Library Links to library resources

Future IUP Uses of Second Life Counseling and Educational Psychology Counseling centers Simulations History Museums Recreation of historical events Languages Literature, museums Speaking and writing opportunities with others around the world Business Monetary studies

Future IUP Uses of Second Life Research Institute Online research assistance Admissions, recruiting, orientation Another way to be visible Communication with prospective students and applicants Campus Housing (Living/Learning Communities) Show “walk-through” examples of rooms Collaboration/communication

What We Have Learned So Far Not just a copy of Real Life Some duplicating is ok For identity To show real world objects Students get more engaged Explore other sites and see what works and what doesn’t and LEARN from that exploration

Issues We Had to Address Porn, pushing, weapons, harassment, inappropriate language and actions Security and Confidentiality (especially in Counseling, Psychology and Education) Control Lock down of access to islands Faculty need to have ban rights Training of faculty and students Resistance of faculty and students

Issues We Had to Address Coordination (created a committee) Allocation of space Buying islands and paying maintenance fees Legal issues Support Adequate computer hardware Buy-in of Technology Support staff Support for students on home computers

Building in Second Life Things that cause navigation problems Stairs Doors Solid walls Ceilings Distance Build in the sky then move to island surface Sandbox areas for students and faculty Cleaning up after classes Need for some “identity” and some real life objects including furniture Classrooms that are easily modified Walls for privacy, but can walk through Running out of room (space and prims)

Communication Issues Distance for chat and voice Instant Messages for privacy Can’t always depend on voice working well Control of side conversations in classes

Support Coordination Committee Workshops Second Life Support Center Involve talented students to assist, especially in building

Contact Us at IUP Lloyd Onyett, Assistant Dean for Technology lonyett@iup.edu “Komputer Merlin” Dr. James Lenze, Communications Media (chairperson of SL Coordination Committee) jlenze@iup.edu “Eight Shepherd” Dr. Allen Partridge, Gaming and Simulation partridg@iup.edu “DoctorPartridge Allen”

Learn More About Educational Uses in Second Life SLED (Second Life Educator’s listserv): https://lists.secondlife.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/educators ISTE Island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/97/71/30 Ed Tech Island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EdTech/63/47/55 Second Life in Education wiki: http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses Just get in and explore....