Virtual worlds provide a new and exciting environment to enhance the education you provide for your students, from early years through to university.
The following links should convince you. The research into engaging disaffected pupils with education using virtual world technology proved very positive. A summary of this research can be found in our April 10 newsletter.
If you have any questions please call Marc Thompson on 02075275701 or email marc.thompson.camb-ed@islington.gov.uk
|
Stoke Damerel Community College have used Second Life to engage teenage boys who disliked English. The students created their own online world called Drake's Island. Each avatar had a series of tasks to carry out and the students had to write about their experiences on a blog.
The group enjoyed the experience so much that they even worked on the site during breaks and at home. What’s more, they hit their Key Stage 3 target ahead of schedule.
|
This link tells you about education in virtual worlds,
http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki
Here is an example of a virtual world being used to develop an understanding of islam, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr2Scu-vQp4
One of the longest and most successful users of virtual worlds in eduaction are Global Kids, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TlSGH9-IVM
Successful projects in Islington Schools,
So why use virtual worlds for education?
From : http://education.secondlife.com/whysl/ 2009 is a Breakout Year for Virtual Learning
Today's Challenging Environment
Economic pressures from budget cuts and the rising cost of education continue to mount. While students are forced to pay higher tuition fees, share resources, and even drop classes, educators are obligated to creatively "do more with less" by designing curricula that accommodates economic constraints. For forward-thinking learning institutions committed to the cost-effective employment of emerging technologies for communication, collaboration and learning, Second Life supports and amplifies the ongoing mission to deliver world class education.
Virtual Worlds Enable Real Life Learning
Virtual worlds solve many of the challenges faced by educational institutions. Today, hundreds of colleges, universities, and other learning organizations--from nearly every country--are either augmenting their current curriculum with a virtual learning component or they are holding classes and entire programs exclusively in immersive learning environments in Second Life.
Second Life's persistent virtual environments enable students to work together synchronously and then return, individually or as a team. The learning space is always available, not just for geographically dispersed groups but even those who meet regularly in the physical world. This is particularly useful when students require more flexible schedules or need to work asynchronously on the same project.
Second Life amplifies learning beyond capabilities afforded by teleconference calls and web presentation tools--but it also creates opportunities for field trips inside virtual organs, machines and other environments that go far beyond the walls of traditional learning spaces. Training simulations are also incredibly powerful in Second Life because they simulate complex, processes in the physical world and avatars can take on different roles to enhance learning.
Great examples are how Loyalist College trains Border Patrol agents or how Imperial College trains medical students <https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/workinginworld/blog/2009/06/01/the-future-of-healthcare-3-questions-for-dave-taylor-of-imperial-college-london> .
What makes Second Life training so powerful? You feel like you're there. We call it a sense of "presence". You just have to experience it to understand it. Already, many prominent educational institutions and organizations understand it and are creating virtual learning environments to deliver a wide range of courses, field trips, and events including:
- Distance and Flexible Education
- Presentations and Discussions
- Historical Recreations
- Simulations and Role-Playing
- Multimedia and Games Design
- Language Learning Practice
Keep an open mind and remember despite sensational press coverage, ANY VIRTUAL WORLD SIMULATION CAN BE MADE 100% SECURE. You choose who has access to your world and if they are not on the guest list they don't get in.