Second Life™ and the novice user: What issues exist prior to commencing teaching in a virtual environment?

Abstract

With more and more universities developing online modes of teaching and learning and embracing a range of technologies including web 2.0 and social networking tools, virtual worlds are becoming more common as learning spaces and many universities have a virtual presence, particularly in Second Life™. Over the last 18 months two pilot studies have been conducted into the efficacy of Second Life™ as a learning environment with teacher education students at the author's institution. These studies were shared research between an expert user of this particular virtual environment and an academic who was 'old' in teaching, but who was a novice in terms of using virtual worlds and who had only just been introduced to Second Life™. This paper discusses the experience of the novice user as she became familiar enough with Second Life™ to teach there and provides a commentary on the journey undertaken. It explores some of the instrumental areas for consideration if higher education institutions wish to explore the possibility of academics transforming their teaching and learning environments and routinely using Second Life™ within their repertoire of e-teaching.