Post by leunas on Nov 16, 2006 19:27:06 GMT -5
A lot of good can come out of virtual worlds if you give it a chance. For some people taking classes at big colleges but can't afford to move to the area itself, distance learning through the net has been a boon to their individual endeavors, opening up more options for those who took the opportunity.
The rise of Second Life as a virtual world has also led to a new development between educators and their students: the virtual world as a classroom.
In one case, Harvard University teacher Rebecca Nesson leads a class that happens pretty much within the confines of Second Life. With distance learners coming from as far as Korea being a part of the class, it comes as no surprise that interaction with avatars helps in bonding each of the students regardless of their physical location.
As Nesson explains, "Students interact with each other and there's a regular sense of classroom interaction. It feels like a college campus." So much so, in fact, that her students are participating in class discussions and working on group projects within the world. Nesson even holds extra hours inside Second Life so her students can consult with her, wherever they might be.
With the rise of businesses making their mark in the Linden Lab's virtual world and even virtual reporters getting into the mix, it seems as if the progress of Second Life on an intellectual and socially beneficial level is assured. The one question that remains is, "Don't you wish your classroom was an online game?"
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