Second Life Presentation

By: Chris Busch

Educational Technology

What Is second Life?Second life is an online world developed to give viewers an opportunity to enable a second life user called a resident, which can be used to interact with each other through avatars in a social and educational atmosphere.

Interact

Learn

HOW CAN SECOND LIFE BE USED IN EDUCATION?

Second Life is used as a platform for education by many institutions, Universities, Libraries, and many government entities.

SOME UNIVERSITIES THAT USE THE PROGRAM CONSIST OF:• Baylor• Harvard• NYU• Duke

• Stanford• Ohio University• Penn State• Oregon

Over 300 Universities in all

The education community is the fastest growing, and among the most vibrant, active, and dynamic communities in Second Life. The email lists and groups are free to join and are places where you can listen to educational conversations or join in and become active in discussions.

Brief Background On Second Life

Choices to Choose From• Teachers and students can

choose from a free account which offers limited access to maps and locations, or a paid trial which allows unlimited access to the entire site.

• Both options allow users to view public sites, but the paid trial allows for the user to set up a private location where he or she can restrict the entry of guests. These private locations are ideal for online classrooms where teachers can monitor their visitors.

Ways Teachers Can Utilize Second Life

1stTeachers can instruct their students to create a basic account. Once signed into the account students can digitally create an avatar which they can use to socialize, sit in on lectures, and tour the maps and featured categories for no charge. Through Second Life teachers can instruct their students to visit different locations, objects, or even put their avatar into a pieces of artwork like the Mona Lisa where they can virtually take a closer look. Students can even take a tour the of the inside of a computer, or act out plays or scenes from books.

• Teachers can buy land , property, or even purchase previously built buildings which they can personally develop and design into their own digital classroom. Universities and other academic institutions pay a reduced rate to buy land to build structures and develop the environment. The first-time cost for a 16-acre private university island is $980, and the monthly land fees are $150. The first time cost for a one acre plot of land which a moderate sized building can developed on costs $50, and comes with a monthly fee of $10 month. Once developed teachers can instruct their students to log in an attend lectures online in digital form.

2ndWay teachers can utilize Second Life

Avatars

Once logged in teachers and students will have the opportunity to create a digital avatar which they can customize and create into their own image if desired. As well it gives the teacher and students the opportunity to be as creative as they want. Students can express their creativity and use an avatar to depict anything they like.

Pros and Cons Of Second Life• Second life is a different method of approaching

education. It utilizes technology in a new way which provides educators with a new way of stimulating their students into conversation and interaction through a digital world.

• Students can interact and work from home.• Students can browse and learn on their own.• Allows for students to express their individuality and

expand their cognitive ability.

Pros

Cons• Not all students have internet access to view

second life and work from home• Second life is a public website and privacy is

limited. There are creeps out there it is possible to come across them in second life.

• (so be carefull)

VideoInstructions

1.Log into www.secondlife.com2.Click Join now to create an account.3.Choose an avatar.4.Select Username5.Complete the rest of the registration (Remember, you can use Mailinator for you email)6.Select Free Account7.Download and install second life8.Login using username and Password.

Link Instructional tutorial for Educational uses in Second Life.