Virtual Reality and Avatars: Examining virtual educational environments.
Concurrent Session 3
Brief Abstract
The session will discuss considerations of virtual reality in educational environments. It will also examine the viability of Second Life as a platform in education. This session will highlight Valdosta State University’s virtual campus in Second Life. Second Life is an internet-based virtual environment program, which allows users to interact with other users through the use of motional avatars.
Extended Abstract
The presentation will provide an overview of “Second Life” and how it can be used as an education resource. This session will examine Valdosta State University’s virtual campus in Second Life. Second Life is an internet-based virtual environment program, which allows users to interact with other users through the use of motional avatars. This program allows students and instructors to virtually immerse themselves into a virtual animated environment. It has been identified that instructors and researchers in Second Life favor it because it can be more personal than some traditional distance learning formats. Second Life is used as a platform for many educational environments. Virtual learning platforms, such as “Second Life” and truly in their infancy in the field of education, but will undoubtedly grow in the not so distant future. Educational environments have yet to realize the full potential of these unique platforms.