Higher Education Professional Development on Virtual Worlds through Machinima of SLOODLE: Linking Moodle with 'Second Life'

Abstract

2012 saw Australian higher education institutions competing in a new demand-driven marketplace, to enrol students through engaging and innovative teaching strategies. One such strategy is the implementation of a virtual world into an educator's repertoire of teaching and learning materials. As virtual worlds are coming to the fore, and more educators want to use them in their teaching, a plan needs to be put in place to enable the smooth transition to implement them. Professional development through virtual world video (machinima) will enable educators to use SLOODLE, a set of tools which integrates the virtual world 'Second Life'™ with the learning management system Moodle. This professional development can take place at the educators' own pace and in their own place. Professional development undertaken via machinima of SLOODLE can be a more effective way of providing the learning for the educators. By having educators able to teach using SLOODLE, an institution could attract more students and therefore increase student enrolment due to its innovative and engaging teaching model.