Abstract

For the first time in history, an entire statewide public institution of higher education is extending all of its 16 campuses into the online virtual world of Second Life and is creating one of the largest virtual collaborative learning communities in the world. There are three levels of assessment and research for this initial-entry project: (1) at the System level; (2) at the individual campus level; and (3) at the course level. Questions to be addressed include: How can educators use virtual worlds to create large-scale learning communities? How do virtual worlds enhance collaborative and interdisciplinary learning? How are 16 geo-spatially separated campuses collaborating in virtual worlds? What have been major obstacles? How will this project continue to grow and evolve? The creation of the System's virtual collaborative learning community of students, faculty, researchers, and administrators has begun to allow participants to learn, share, collaborate, and grow alongside one another. The ethic of the model is generosity. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

Citation

Eaton, L.J., Guerra, M., Corliss, S. & Jarmon, L. (2011). A Statewide University System (16 Campuses) Creates Collaborative Learning Communities in Second Life. Educational Media International, 48(1), 43-53. Retrieved August 7, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/53501/.

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Keywords

• barriers
• Computer Simulation
• Computer System Design
• Computer Uses in Education
• Cooperative learning
• educational technology
• electronic learning
• ethics
• Interdisciplinary Approach
• internet
• Program Descriptions
• Program Evaluation
• Program Implementation
• Public Colleges
• Simulated Environment
• Surveys