Virtual Worlds:Virtual Worlds:Making History Making History

InteractiveInteractiveZack NorredZack Norred

Larissa O’BrienLarissa O’BrienJonathan WalkerJonathan Walker

OverviewOverviewPurposePurpose

Using Second Life to Make History Using Second Life to Make History “Real”“Real”

Educational benefits of “visiting” historyEducational benefits of “visiting” history

TutorialTutorialHow to find historical locationsHow to find historical locations

Teleporting as an individual or a groupTeleporting as an individual or a group

The virtual tour experienceThe virtual tour experience

Examples: Historical Locations in Examples: Historical Locations in Second LifeSecond Life

PurposePurposeConsider lessons that teachers at SAC Consider lessons that teachers at SAC could present to incoming freshmen that could present to incoming freshmen that would benefit from learning components in would benefit from learning components in the virtual worldthe virtual world                                                                                                                         

Create a tutorial to illustrate how a teacher Create a tutorial to illustrate how a teacher could incorporate resources from Second could incorporate resources from Second Life into history lessonsLife into history lessons

Include examples of specific locationsInclude examples of specific locationsExplain how using these locations would Explain how using these locations would create a truly engaging educational create a truly engaging educational experienceexperience

Making History Making History “Real”“Real”

Educators, artists and historians model real-world Educators, artists and historians model real-world places in virtual worlds out of a desire to share places in virtual worlds out of a desire to share knowledge and experiences with othersknowledge and experiences with others

Educational benefits of “visiting” historical Educational benefits of “visiting” historical locationslocations

Reinforce lessons and increase interest among Reinforce lessons and increase interest among students by engaging their sensesstudents by engaging their sensesImmersive without travel expenses and Immersive without travel expenses and inconvenienceinconvenienceRemove element of dangerRemove element of dangerAbility to visit places that no longer exist in the real Ability to visit places that no longer exist in the real worldworld

Student and instructor avatars assist with Student and instructor avatars assist with suspension of disbeliefsuspension of disbelief

Tutorial: Tutorial: Finding Historical LocationsFinding Historical Locations

Multiple optionsMultiple optionsThe Second Life website has a search feature for The Second Life website has a search feature for specific locations (http://search.secondlife.com)specific locations (http://search.secondlife.com)

Location name (e.g., “Great Wall of China”)Location name (e.g., “Great Wall of China”)Special tags (e.g., “World Heritage Site”) Special tags (e.g., “World Heritage Site”)

Look in the “Real World” section on Second Life Look in the “Real World” section on Second Life sitesite

http://secondlife.com/destinations/real

Use your imagination! Use your imagination! Try the “Destination Guide” (Try the “Destination Guide” (http://secondlife.com/destinations/) for inspiration) for inspiration

““Castles & Ruins,” “Memorials,” “Historical Role-Castles & Ruins,” “Memorials,” “Historical Role-playing Communities”playing Communities”

Even fantasy lands may have elements useful for Even fantasy lands may have elements useful for lessons in cultural beliefs and mythologylessons in cultural beliefs and mythology

TutorialTutorial::Teleporting as an individual or a Teleporting as an individual or a

groupgroupLog into Second Life Log into Second Life and and the Second Life websitethe Second Life website

Once you find the place you are looking for, click Once you find the place you are looking for, click “Visit This Location” or “Teleport” from the page “Visit This Location” or “Teleport” from the page on the Second Life websiteon the Second Life website

Traveling as a group? Invite others!Traveling as a group? Invite others!Can copy and send URL from your Second Life viewerCan copy and send URL from your Second Life viewer

Send teleport request to other members of the Send teleport request to other members of the groupgroup

Tutorial:Tutorial:The Virtual Tour The Virtual Tour

ExperienceExperienceNot all Second Life locations are created equalNot all Second Life locations are created equal

Developers design locations with different Developers design locations with different purposes in mindpurposes in mind

MuseumsMuseums

Guided tours (with signs, text and audio Guided tours (with signs, text and audio descriptions, etc.)descriptions, etc.)

Immersive role-playing environmentsImmersive role-playing environments

Educators should explore locations to Educators should explore locations to determine if they are appropriate for a determine if they are appropriate for a particular lessonparticular lesson

Locations:Locations:Chernobyl (Pripyat)Chernobyl (Pripyat)

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gungnir/101/66/22

Description: “At times creepily abandoned, at other times Description: “At times creepily abandoned, at other times bristling with gunfire, this is a homage to a Chernobyl nuclear bristling with gunfire, this is a homage to a Chernobyl nuclear disaster site. While this Pripyat takes some creative liberties disaster site. While this Pripyat takes some creative liberties influenced by Russian science fiction, as you walk closer into influenced by Russian science fiction, as you walk closer into the heart of the zone, you can't help but expect the telltale the heart of the zone, you can't help but expect the telltale clicks of Geiger counters.”clicks of Geiger counters.”

Locations:Locations:Great Wall of ChinaGreat Wall of China

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/China%20Sichuan/131/14/24/

Description: “The most beautiful designed islands Description: “The most beautiful designed islands in Second Life featuring a stunning replica of the in Second Life featuring a stunning replica of the Great Wall of China. Built originally to protect the Great Wall of China. Built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire.”northern borders of the Chinese Empire.”

Locations:Locations:Borobudur TempleBorobudur Temple

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mago/187/126/1000

Description: “Journey to this expansive replica of Borobudur, a Description: “Journey to this expansive replica of Borobudur, a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang in ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang in Central Java, Indonesia. This World Heritage site lay hidden for Central Java, Indonesia. This World Heritage site lay hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth, but centuries under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth, but has undergone restoration by the Indonesian government and has undergone restoration by the Indonesian government and UNESCO.”UNESCO.”

Locations:Locations:The Sistine ChapelThe Sistine Chapel

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vassar/166/88/25

Description (from Vassar Island, the Second Life Outpost of Description (from Vassar Island, the Second Life Outpost of Vassar College): “From students at Vassar College comes this Vassar College): “From students at Vassar College comes this stunning and accurate-to-scale recreation of The Sistine Chapel. stunning and accurate-to-scale recreation of The Sistine Chapel. This build demonstrates how virtual reality can be used to learn This build demonstrates how virtual reality can be used to learn about architecture, as well as offering a place to admire the about architecture, as well as offering a place to admire the historic and beautiful artwork without the crowds.” historic and beautiful artwork without the crowds.”

Locations:Locations:The MayflowerThe Mayflower

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SouthernLocation: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Southern%20Cross/127/15/25%20Cross/127/15/25

Description: “Set sail on a perfect reconstruction of the Description: “Set sail on a perfect reconstruction of the Mayflower, which transported the first pilgrims from Mayflower, which transported the first pilgrims from Plymouth, England over the Atlantic to the New World in Plymouth, England over the Atlantic to the New World in 1620. This historic vessel includes the captain's quarters, 1620. This historic vessel includes the captain's quarters, gun deck, forecastle and powder room.”gun deck, forecastle and powder room.”

Locations:Locations:Basilica of St. Peter the Basilica of St. Peter the

ApostleApostleLocation: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mediterranehttp://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mediterraneo%20OC/50/29/29o%20OC/50/29/29

Description: “Give thanks at this beautiful church, Description: “Give thanks at this beautiful church, which is inspired by Italy's famous cathedral.”which is inspired by Italy's famous cathedral.”

Locations:Locations:The Oval OfficeThe Oval Office

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sialimonus/189/215/69http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sialimonus/189/215/69

Description: This replica of the Oval Office mimics the current decor of Description: This replica of the Oval Office mimics the current decor of the real-life building, capturing all the tiny details — even down to the the real-life building, capturing all the tiny details — even down to the paintings on the walls and the screen on the laptop! Have a fireside paintings on the walls and the screen on the laptop! Have a fireside chat or sit in the presidential chair as you experience what it's like to chat or sit in the presidential chair as you experience what it's like to make key leadership decisions for the United States. make key leadership decisions for the United States.

Locations:Locations:Vietnam WallVietnam Wall

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Thehttp://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Wall/36/31/25/%20Wall/36/31/25/

Description: “Meme Science's recreation of the Description: “Meme Science's recreation of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall in Second Life.”Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall in Second Life.”

Locations:Locations:AcropolisAcropolis

Location: Location: http://maps.secondlife.comhttp://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/GREECE/67/76/3/secondlife/GREECE/67/76/366

Description: “The Acropolis Description: “The Acropolis of Athens is the best of Athens is the best known structure of its kind known structure of its kind in the world. Come visit in the world. Come visit this impressive landmark this impressive landmark and then take a tour and then take a tour around Plaka, the old around Plaka, the old historical neighborhood historical neighborhood surrounding the Acropolis.” surrounding the Acropolis.”

Locations: Locations: Blackfriars TheatreBlackfriars Theatre

Location:http://Location:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shakespeare/23/112/38Shakespeare/23/112/38

Description: “Blackfriars Theatre Description: “Blackfriars Theatre is a marvel of both art and is a marvel of both art and engineering. Based on engineering. Based on archaeological data and using archaeological data and using custom textures, Blackfriars is a custom textures, Blackfriars is a historically accurate recreation of historically accurate recreation of Shakespeare's famed indoor Shakespeare's famed indoor playhouse. What better place to playhouse. What better place to experience some of the Bard's experience some of the Bard's greatest works? The world's only greatest works? The world's only complete replica of the complete replica of the Blackfriars Playhouse, Blackfriars Playhouse, Shakespeare's indoor theatre. Shakespeare's indoor theatre. Tudor private theatre interior Tudor private theatre interior design inside a historic design inside a historic Dominican monastery building Dominican monastery building that has also been used for royal that has also been used for royal parliament meetings.” parliament meetings.”

SummarySummaryPurposePurpose

Using Second Life to Make History Using Second Life to Make History “Real”“Real”

Educational benefits of “visiting” historyEducational benefits of “visiting” history

TutorialTutorialHow to find historical locationsHow to find historical locations

Teleporting as an individual or a groupTeleporting as an individual or a group

The virtual tour experienceThe virtual tour experience

Examples: Historical Locations in Examples: Historical Locations in Second LifeSecond Life