3D Virtual Worlds - One School's Journey

Our school established a locked 3D virtual world at the start of 2009 using the Second Life software. We recruited students keen to lead our virtual space. These students then submitted building projects for approval, then implemented them, equipping our island with educational facilities such as a virtual art gallery, radio station, book shop (selling student compositions), tutorial centre and customisable Maths maze.

We learnt a great deal in 2009 about practical applications for using the virtual space in the classroom to target specific learning skills. There are learning activities that are adaptable, repeatable, require very little preparation time, and are pedagogically effective.

This session will include a tour of our virtual island and facilities, a review of the learning activities we’ve developed and run with students, and comments about the psychological nature of virtual space. A preview of this session can be seen at www.youtube.com/lestep. Practical considerations such as a safety, parental permission, and cost will also be addressed.

Participants may want to install Second Life & sign up at www.secondlife.com before the session.

This is how you cite this paper: