Second Life was developed in 2003 by the San Francisco-based Linden Lab, the game is a 3-D virtual world inhabited by nearly 15 million “residents”. In this world, residents live lives, own virtual "property, file lawsuits, and some residents even earn income.
In this debate competition, a two-person team from St. Johns will go head-to-head with two students from the University of Vermont. The teams will use a voice chat feature on Second Life while also using the "cartoon-like virtual characters, or avatars, to gesture to emphasize their points."
Stephen Llano, the director of debate at St. John’s University, said that the technology could be particularly helpful in letting students compete against teams in other countries.
One commenter on this article noted that students who are more experienced with Second Life will have a far greater advantage over a debater who has never used Second Life.
However, not only is Second Life being used for just college debate teams. Many colleges are looking to see the educational quality of Second Life.
FCCJ, and other schools, are hoping to provide educational services in this digital world. FCCJ has purchased 66535 square meters of virtual land for their educational projects on Second Life, a very popular MMORPG.
The FCCJ Learner Support Center staffs the virtual island during FCCJ’s regular operating hours.
Other schools, such as Harvard University and Indiana University, are already offering classes on Second Life. Perhaps FCCJ will soon hold regular classes on Second Life too.
This was a very interesting and well written blog, but I can honestly say that I would never want to attend a class on Second Life.
ReplyDeleteNot only can people ruin their marriages by cheating emotionally on their spouses in a virtual world, not only can they marry on a virtual world and get virtual divorces, but now you're telling me that class and debates are being held online too?
Okay, I agree that it is helpful when debating with people in other countries, but I personally thoroughly enjoy the actual getting up and going to a classroom as opposed to being a lazy couch or bed potato and staring at a computer screen for x amount of hours.
Your blog really inspired controversial thoughts within my head and I like that. Keep writing.
Umm I am absolutely flabbergasted. People will never excell socially if they are spending their time meandering around a "virtual" world. I hate to be rude but this is completely nesscary.. Get a Life!
ReplyDeleteI spend as least amount of time watching tv let alone sitting at a computer as possible. Even if I am spending my time sitting in front of my PC it's for educational or business purposes.
I realize people are trying to validate this program by intrigrating it into the school system but it will still exclude my vote. People to be interacting with people face to face wether it's on a debate team or in a 'marriage.'
I have never play this second life game you are referring to up it sounds fairly interesting. Maybe this should try to be used in elementary, middle and high schools to keep the younger kids interested in learning.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is so advanced now-a-days; eventually we won't even have to leave our homes to do anything. Now I want to play this virtual game myself, what great advertising this is!
It seems sad that with the budgets for colleges so tight, they will spend money on a virtual life. Maybe if the teachers(no offense to any) caught more attention in the classrooms, there would be no need to even take classes online.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it seems like an interesting idea to use a "virtual world" to get people to look into schooling in a different view, I can't help but think it is just another way to suck more money out of the pockets of students.