Second Life and the Community College

Beth Ritter-GuthJune 6, 2008

House of Seven Gables

Second Life

• Multi User Virtual Environment (MUVE)– Not a “Game”

• International

• 2000+ Schools/Colleges

• 5000+ Educators

• 14 Million Residents– 1 Million Active (60 Days)

Students in a cavern

Benefits for the CC

• Student Centered Learning• Cost Effective

– Approx. $1500 Island Purchase– Approx $150 per month fee– OR: Space Rentals/Collaborative

Space at lower prices

• International Collaboration• Professional Development

British Gothic Literature

Risks

• Same as WWW

• Learning Curve

• “Empty Space”

• Sacrificing Content for Tech

• Time/Talent/Treasure

Teaching Edgar Allan Poe

Solutions

• Stick to Course Outline

• Imagine the Impossible

• Build in Ethical Treatment

• Get Connected to Others– Sled List– Sled Blog

• Use a Builder/Scripter– Recommendation: Eloise Pasteur

Dante’s Inferno

Tour

• Literature Alive!– Dante’s Inferno– EA Poe’s House of Usher

• Community College Consortium

• International Spaceflight Museum

• NOAA• Genome Island

Willow Springs

Resources

• Community College Wiki: http://ccsl.wetpaint.com/

• Sled List: http://secondlife.com/Education

• Sled Blog: http://www.sl-educationblog.org/

• Literature Alive Wiki and Blog: http://literaturealive.wikispaces.com and http://literaturealive.blogspot.com

Questions?

Beth Ritter-Guth

bethritterguth@gmail.com