Can Education In Virtual Worlds Survive In The Future, When Online

Identities Are So Diverse?

Tinarun Nessa1003062

The Digital Age?

We live in a more advanced world, where you can do virtually anything online.

The Internet- a few facts

1977- PC Modem

Education has already revolutionized. We now have computers present in nearly all classrooms. Children are encouraged to use computers from a young age.

Classrooms are much more interactive now, compared to 10 years ago.

What will we see in the future?

What is a virtual world?

MUVE: Multi User Virtual Environment

“Second Life supports and amplifies the ongoing mission to deliver world class

education.”

“Second Life’s persistent virtual environments enable students to work

together synchronously and then return, individually or as a team.”

Virtual Worlds and Education

How does Identity affect online learning?

What about identity?

What is identity?

Identity here is used in the sense of a person’s conceptualisation of self; the ways in which subjectively people perceive or experience themselves as individuals. Childs 2008

Because people have many roles and live within many different milieux, they therefore have many identities, each one constructed from a particular role or social groups that they encounter within their lives. Childs 2008

Identity-Augmentationist

Someone who keeps there online identity similar to their real life identity.

They are more than willing to reveal personal information about themselves.

They display their real emotions through their avatars.

The avatars display true characteristics.

Identity-Immersionists

Keep online identities completely separate to reality.

Avatar do not, in any way, reflect person.

They believe online and reality identities should not intergrate.

MY ONLINE IDENTITY

• My online identity constantly changed within Second Life.

• I first chose the avatar, which I felt reflected me the most.

• I felt uncomfortable with this idea of my presence in Second Life, so changed into a Pony.

• I felt out of place as a Pony, so I changed into vampire.

• I liked this idea, as it gave me a chance to become something that interested me, but not enough to take on this characteristics in the real world.

• MY IDENTITY CONSTANTLY CHANGED.

Is online education a good thing?

According to Sandford and Williamson (2005), technology is becoming more dominant in the educational field. Children like to interact with technology available, and old methods of learning seen to be fading, and are less favourable amongst youths. Sandford and Williamson (2005) do state that young kids do enjoy interacting with technology, and this should be exploited in the educational field.

• Online teaching gives everybody an equal voice.

• Those who are generally quiet, can speak up.

Augamentationists or Immersionists students?

Will this affect learning?

How does identity effect online teaching?

As a first hand user of a virtual world, I know very well just how identity

changes.

Second Life lecture- How I differed from online.

Thank You.