SECOND LIFE
After reading the .pdf about Second Life, I initially was not certain I would enjoy our be interested in using an application such as this. I've since read the article again as well as that of the avatars and the presentation to better understand the app. I must say that I am indeed a believer in this software. I love technology, and although it can be a burden as much as a help at times, the benefits outweigh the limitations immensely with Second Life. A few key points I recognize as great are:
1. It's robust. The ability to function smoothly, be/stay powerful, and still handle a multitude of visitors for all over the world is awesome. Second Life would have been an easy fix for the case study by Morin (2005) where the Personalized System of Instruction model was used to integrate a college course at a university in Texas using Japanese students and American students. One issue with the case is that the attempts to build a community amongst the Japanese & American students failed. There appeared to be no sense of any motivation to even want to reach out and get aquainted.
2. Real life simulations. The software gives the look and feel of being at an actual institution or any where in the world.
3. The avatars. Just as with any online course, students who would otherwise be less vocal in a face to face environment can feel comfortable and free to be active. Likewise, the ability to create this other "you" is a great perk as well. You can be who you want to be "in world"
These are wonderful benefits to make any distance education course "real", however, not without a couple flaws.
1. Robust may be too much for some. Those with older systems or units may have to relocate to be able to enjoy Second Life.
2. Steep (it appears) learning curve. As with anything, how to do or work something comes with instruction. If that instruction is too overwhelming and/or difficult to learn in a somewhat timely manner, students may lag behind or become disgusted with the system all together. Ample time to learn the system and/or acknowledgement prior to enrollment (as the presenter stated she does with her courses) should help alleviate difficulty learning the program.
After reading the .pdf about Second Life, I initially was not certain I would enjoy our be interested in using an application such as this. I've since read the article again as well as that of the avatars and the presentation to better understand the app. I must say that I am indeed a believer in this software. I love technology, and although it can be a burden as much as a help at times, the benefits outweigh the limitations immensely with Second Life. A few key points I recognize as great are:
1. It's robust. The ability to function smoothly, be/stay powerful, and still handle a multitude of visitors for all over the world is awesome. Second Life would have been an easy fix for the case study by Morin (2005) where the Personalized System of Instruction model was used to integrate a college course at a university in Texas using Japanese students and American students. One issue with the case is that the attempts to build a community amongst the Japanese & American students failed. There appeared to be no sense of any motivation to even want to reach out and get aquainted.
2. Real life simulations. The software gives the look and feel of being at an actual institution or any where in the world.
3. The avatars. Just as with any online course, students who would otherwise be less vocal in a face to face environment can feel comfortable and free to be active. Likewise, the ability to create this other "you" is a great perk as well. You can be who you want to be "in world"
These are wonderful benefits to make any distance education course "real", however, not without a couple flaws.
1. Robust may be too much for some. Those with older systems or units may have to relocate to be able to enjoy Second Life.
2. Steep (it appears) learning curve. As with anything, how to do or work something comes with instruction. If that instruction is too overwhelming and/or difficult to learn in a somewhat timely manner, students may lag behind or become disgusted with the system all together. Ample time to learn the system and/or acknowledgement prior to enrollment (as the presenter stated she does with her courses) should help alleviate difficulty learning the program.
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