Comments on: Universities using Second Life? Don’t believe the hype

By: Claudiu Andone

Claudiu Andone — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:32:00 +0000

I really disagree in a way. It’s a child’s play to learn the ways of the Second Life. I’m talking about ages 14 – 25. The real problem is that teachers can’t keep up with the technology. It’s like in a movie. If you miss the begining you’ll keep asking your neighbour about everything. I’m 28, I spent an average of 2 hours a day in SL and yesterday I performed in my first SL live concert.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:41:00 +0000

I went to a great talk about this at the Eduserv Foundation. Stephen Downes was very insightful as ever:

http://www.eduserv.org.uk/foundation/symposium/2007/presentations/downes

I think SL will be more of use to some academic schools than other. I can see why a geographer, or an engineer may use it, less so a linguist, or historian.
Kenny

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:30:00 +0000

IMHO second life isn't there yet because of constraints on speed and richness, until it has voice and carries TV quality video of facial expressions it simply isn't going to be as good as meeting colleagues face to face.

In terms of teaching I also think it isn't there. We are looking at using 3D environments (Google Earth principally) to explain landscape features to learners and what we are really interested in is what exactly does the environment add? Being able to 'fly' into a valley looks flash but does it really helps students to understand, remember, communicate about the concept? I strongly think some aspects of 3D environments will help teaching but we need to be aware that some activites won't add anything at all and, if other elearning is anything to go by, can actually be worse than traditional methods.

If you're interested Google 'Sloodle' which mashes up a Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle) and Second Life. Again, when things speed up and get smoother it will be powerful but IMHO it isn't there yet.

Rich

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:47:00 +0000

I also agree. The only people who seem to believe Second Life is ubiquitous are those people who spend all day on it. I also agree with Alan's assessment of the learning curve required to use it. As we talked about in a similar post here, this familiarity with this type of environment could be what will divide the computer generation from the next.

By: Alan A. Lew

Alan A. Lew — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:04:00 +0000

I agree. As intellectually compelling as the concept of MMOW teaching is, in my own minimal ventures into Second Life, I found that it took far too much effort for me, let along my far more technologically-challenged students, than it is currently worth. Reports from those using Second Life at my university (Northern Arizona University) are the same — a lot of effort on the teacher’s part, and a major challenge for their students. These barriers could change in the future, of course, but for most teachers in the trenches that future is quite a ways off.

(also posted with a link to your post on my blog at http://Web20Teach.com)