Using Second Life to Teach Difficult Concepts

Dr. Edina Renfro-MichelAJ KeltonMontclair State University

Our Second Lives

Agenda

Integrating Technology

Difficult Concepts

Holistic Learning

Second Life Learning

How We Utilize Second Life

Great Places

What does it take to teach a technology rich class?

Relevance

Planning

Flexibility

Experimentation

Research

Difficult Concepts

Abstract

Theory Based

Combine Multiple Points of Knowledge

Beyond Student Experiences

Holistic Learning

Concrete Experiences

Reflective Observation

Abstract Hypothesis

Active Testing

Goals of Holistic Learning

Students Construct Own Knowledge

Integrate New Knowledge into Current Constructions

Individualize Education

Bring Abstract into Concrete

Second Life: By the Numbers

2003 (1999)10,000 - 15,000

50,000 average / 70,000 (approx)roughly the population of Montclair and Little Falls combined

$1,000,000.00300 and 5,000

0

Second Life as a Learning Tool

Interactive

Immersive

Student Controlled Learning

CreativeExperiences Not Available in “Real World”

Holistic Learning

Ways to Utilize Second Life

Experiencing

Interacting

Create Hypotheses

Reflecting

Creating

Building

1818

Questions?

Using Second Life to Teach Difficult Concepts

Dr. Edina Renfro-MichelAJ KeltonMontclair State University