Provide an active learning environment in Towson Innovation Lab in Second Life, more and more instructors use Second Life effectively in their teaching area and more students use Second Life in their learning.

SL in higher education (Princeton University in SL) SL Teen Grid for k-12 Schools (Teenager are having classes in Second Life) SL in Libraries in University (Albert. B. Alkek Library in Texas State University) SL for foreign language learning ( Confucius College in Michigan State University for Chinese Learners )

1) Towson Innovation Lab in SL was revealed in February, ) OTS ( Office of Technology Service) in Towson organize work shops of SL for faculty, staffs and students 3) Towson Innovation Lab Second Life, a virtual social network, is being used by some professors in Towson to expand the classroom environment for their students. 4) Towson faculty members Jan Baum (ART), James Braman (COSC), and Bridget Sullivan (ART) meet with students Monday night to chat about Second Life, share SL tips and tricks, and tour a couple of amazing places in-world. 5) More and more professors also hold office hours in Towson Innovation Lab.

Professor Bridget Sullivan’s Avatar in Second Life A work shop organized by OTS In Towson, students were building objects Towson Innovation Lab

 There is no cost to register in Second Life and download Second Life Software.  Computers need to have certain video read ability to make Second Life operate.  There are a two computer labs in Towson where SL software have been installed.  Residents do need to spend money to buy certain things and purchase land.  Many things are free in Second Life. You need to search by yourself.

 Self constructed environment  Diverse interaction and communication  Provide opportunities for directed activities in teaching  Opportunities to open to outside of the world. Possible Disadvantages  Technical problems ( computers have to have certain abilities)  Sex expression and harassment

 Year 1:  OTS has workshops of SL for faculty, staff and students.  A few instructors begin to use SL in teaching and hold office hours in Towson Innovation Lab in SL  Install Second Life software in two or three labs  Year 2:  Most of the staff and faculty have been trained in some work shops of SL in OTS  Integrate Second Life into more subject areas, especially foreign language program, computer science and art.  Year 3:  Some meetings are seminars in Towson are held in Towson Innovation Lab.  SL software is installed in most of computer in computer rooms and tech centers in Towson

1) Knowledge OTS holds workshops about how SL functions. Individual students and teachers get around in SL until they fill comfortable. 2) Persuasion The opinion leaders and OTS in Towson will introduce SL to more instructors and students. Many of them will have a favorable attitude towards SL when they realize the advantages of SL. 3) Decision The decision-makers of relative branches will make decisions to adopt SL. 4) Implementation The decision-makers of relative branches will implement their plans about SL. 5) Confirmation The decision-makers of relative branches will reinforce the implementation of their plan.

 Staff of OTS  LaTonya Dyer: OTS instructional design technologist and trainer  Towson faculty members Jan Baum (ART), James Braman (COSC), and Bridget Sullivan (ART) meet with students Monday night to chat about Second Life and who use SL in teaching  Other faculty, staff and students who are very interested in SL and who have used SL in learning or teaching

 Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5 th edition). New York: Free Press.   