From SimTeach

Why Second Life?

Second Life provides a unique and flexible environment for educators interested in distance learning, computer-supported cooperative work, simulation, new media studies, and corporate training.

Second Life provides an opportunity to use simulation in a safe environment to enhance experiential learning, allowing individuals to practice skills, try new ideas, and learn from their mistakes. The ability to prepare for similar real-world experiences by using Second Life as a simulation has unlimited potential!

Students and educators can work together in Second Life from anywhere in the world as part of a globally networked virtual classroom environment. Using Second Life as a supplement to traditional classroom environments also provides new opportunities for enriching existing curricula.

For a fantastic summary of Second Life focusing on educational and serious applications, please check out Real Virtuality in your Second Life and beyond. If you'd like to learn more about the history of Second Life, take a look at the SL History Wiki. For a comparison of Second Life and other virtual world platforms, check out Oz Spade's Virtual World Comparison Page.

Programs for Educators

• Community Support
• Campus:Second_Life
• Educators working with Teens

Institutions and Organizations in SL

A comprehensive and up-to-date list

• Universities, Colleges & Schools
• National Organizations
• Educational Organizations (Non-Profit / Not For profit)
• Libraries
• Museums

Press, Blogs & Presentations

• Mainstream Media Coverage
• Second Life Video Showcase
  • Broadcast
  • Newspapers
  • Online and other media
• Blogs
• Podcasts
• Conferences
• References

Mailing Lists

• SL Educators "SLED"
• Educators Working with Teens
• Healthcare Support and Education
• Non-Profits
• SL Researchers
• Professional Educators and Trainers of Second Life

Other Communication Outlets

Second Life Educators' Forum

The SLED Forum has a list of topics and threads that pertain to many aspects of education in SL. If you want to have on-going discussions with colleagues outside the SLED Listserv (see above), please check out the Forum area. Many interesting topics are already listed. If you wish to post, you can register for free.

In-world Groups

Second Life has a number of active groups who collaborate inside the metaverse and who keep intouch using the group system tools. To join a group click the "Find" button and search under Groups for "Education"

Real Life Education in Second Life for people who are interested in the educational possibilities of Second Life.

• find colleagues and collaborators to help you with your education work in Second Life
• anyone may join
• contact group owner Pathfinder Linden inworld if you have any questions

Second Life Grad Student Colony

• for support in research, dissertation writing and promoting collaboration among researchers/student researchers
• limited to students pursuing advanced degrees
• contact group owner naiad - bbovard at nmsu.edu

Second Life Research

• To help ensure ethical treatment of subjects and to promote collaboration
• Limited to academics pursuing IRB-authorized research projects covered under SL's Terms of Service and research ethics policy

Other in-world groups

There are large range of other in-world groups dedicated to Real-Life education. Please feel free to add details here:

• Rowdy Kentuckians at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rowdy-kyians?hl=en
• Other groups in-world
• Health Education

Educational Pricing on Private Islands

Private Islands provide the ability to create secure "intranet" spaces with restricted membership for your students and faculty, or you can open it up to be accessible to everyone in Second Life. Linden Lab offers a discount for Private Islands to educational institutions and non-profit organizations, and you can find details on the Private Island order page.

For a list of Real Life Universities that are using Private Islands in Second Life, please see Second Life: Universities and Private Islands

Academic Research

Be sure to join the SL Educator's listserv.

The Association of Internet Researchers has a document about research ethics available.

An Important Reminder for Educators about the Teen Grid

The main Grid of Second Life is for adults only (18+). We also have a Teen Second Life, and that world is strictly for teens (13-17).

We don't allow anyone under 18 years old in the adult world of Second Life, and likewise we do not allow adult Residents (18+) on the mainland of the Teen World. Both of these worlds are separate from each other, and we do not allow inworld travel or communication between them.

Teen Second Life is a world for teens, created and shaped by teens. Please remember that falsely registering as a teen to gain access to Teen Second Life is a serious offense, and cause for permanent banishment from all of Second Life.

The only adults allowed on the mainland in Teen Second Life are Linden employees. If you are an educator and want to work with teens in Teen Second Life, there is the opportunity to buy a private island on the Teen Grid and participate, but you will not be able to leave that island and visit the Teen Grid mainland. Teens from the mainland will be able to visit your private island if/when you choose, but they will be automatically informed that there are adults present. Also, if you are planning to use a private island on the Teen Grid to interact with teens from the mainland, we will need to run a background check on you for security and safety reasons.

If you'd like more details about getting a private island for education work on the Teen Grid, please see Second Life: Educators Working with Teens.

Classroom documents

• Sample Lesson plans
• Sample SL Projects Ideas for RL Students
• Sample Learning spaces
• Global Kids' Best Practices For Education in Second Life pdf.
• Essay assignments: Avatars and Personal Identity, Building in a Virtual World, Compare to Snow Crash
• This "Handout for Instructors" HTML and PDF was created for the 2005 Games, Learning, and Society Conference based on lessons learned from the Elon University GST364 course.

In-world Teaching Links

• 20 SL Hotspots - a list of the top-20 must-see learning installations in Second Life with teleport links
• Interactive Scripts for teaching
• UIUC Tutorials
• Voice Chatting with Ventrilo for Educators in Second Life - Try Ventrilo (a free third-party client) for voice communication with your class.
• Machinima
• Video walkthroughs of educational builds
• Second Life Teaching Jobs
• Best Practices for organizing SL/Real World events
• SL Tools: Getting the Most out of Groups
• Resources for teaching Life Sciences
• Resources for Technical Education

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