In order to give a clear view of how many courses can be taught on SL campus, I would like to use the classification of courses in SL by David M. Antonacci and Nellie Modaress (2005). The courses involve activities of person-person, person-object, and object-object interactions can be better learnt in SL than anywhere else.
Person-Person Interaction
For example, students in medical professionals have to know how to interact with patients. Role-playing is a common learning activity for those students. Instructors can move such classes into the clinic center in our virtual campus, and require students to practice their patient-encounter strategies in the virtual world. This a clinic center for learning purpose in SL.
Person-Object Interaction
In these courses, such as designing and building objects, instructors teach students how to operate a piece of equipment or use an instrument. For students who study architecture SL campus could provide a convenient place to try their designs.
Object-Object Interaction
For example, physics, chemistry and geography. By creating objects and scripting them to interact with each other, instructors can simulate many physical or chemical processes. Universities also could have their students interact with the simulated process, changing variables and observing the results, to better understand the relationships among the objects.
Once you identify a course topic falling into one of these interaction combinations, you may have a topic which could be taught better by using virtual campus in SL.
Person-Person Interaction
For example, students in medical professionals have to know how to interact with patients. Role-playing is a common learning activity for those students. Instructors can move such classes into the clinic center in our virtual campus, and require students to practice their patient-encounter strategies in the virtual world. This a clinic center for learning purpose in SL.
Person-Object Interaction
In these courses, such as designing and building objects, instructors teach students how to operate a piece of equipment or use an instrument. For students who study architecture SL campus could provide a convenient place to try their designs.
Object-Object Interaction
For example, physics, chemistry and geography. By creating objects and scripting them to interact with each other, instructors can simulate many physical or chemical processes. Universities also could have their students interact with the simulated process, changing variables and observing the results, to better understand the relationships among the objects.
Once you identify a course topic falling into one of these interaction combinations, you may have a topic which could be taught better by using virtual campus in SL.
Hi Lu:
ReplyDeleteThis is an intriguing post. I have never used SecondLife, though by your words can see that its application for teaching and learning is broad. I like the idea that there can be more personal interaction, and building of connections through objects, with the interface on SL. I thought our program was pretty cutting edge, but SL's virtual campus seems to be hinting at the future.