Virtual Worlds and Learning

I started my research on Virtual World Learning in general, not specifically Second Life and I found some very interesting articles.  I was disappointed on the dates of most of the information I was finding, everything seemed to be from around 2006.  I thought this was very old for such a dynamic topic but then got to thinking that maybe this is when the popularity was increasing and it was the big buzz.  So maybe, just like good teaching, the ideas and concepts behind Virtual World learning might not have changed that much in the last 5 years or so. 

The most informative and helpful article was by 3 men; Tony O'Driscoll from IBM On-Demand Learning.  Eilif Trondsen,director of  Learning on Demand project at SRI Consulting Business Intelligence and founder of eLearning Forum.  Jay Cross author of Informal Learning: Rediscovering the Natural Pathways that Inspire Innovation and Performance.  From looking at their credentials, I found them and their opinions very valuable.  Some of their main points were: (my thoughts/comments will be in italic)

·         Virtual learning will not replace other forms of learning but it will enhance the experience and transfer of learning.  Virtual Worlds won’t every replace good teachers (hopfully).

·         VWs are somewhat a solution looking for a problem. VWs can provide a platform for collaboration, community, and commerce, but so can a sofa. Aside from entertainment appeal, what's new here? The most powerful learning technology ever invented is conversation, but most VWs lack the horsepower to entice people to converse naturally. Time will bring voice, more expressive avatars, and higher resolution to VWs. When the virtual environment functions much like the real world, conversation will flow-making it easier to mentor, coach, teach, brainstorm, discuss and manipulate prototypes, and to collaborate on problems. Sometimes I think we’re putting the cart before the horse with the technology, and I’m skeptical of those that make money off education and kids.  But if it’s useful and engaging enough teachers should be using it. 

•         VWs are what we like to call a Learnscape. They are learning/working ecosystems that by their very nature embrace:

• Flow, balancing inactivity and challenge in just the right proportions to keep people moving through the experience
• Repetition, which allows learners to try-and-try again as many times as they choose.
• Experimentation, encouraging learners to try new things and learn in the process.
• Experience that is much more engaging than other digitally mediated technologies.
• Doing, because practice makes perfect and VWs are big practice fields.
• Observing, because if you're not ready to act now, you have plenty of opportunities to observe others and learn from them.
• Motivation, because all of these factors culminate in an environment that cultivates teachable moments at every turn. Motivation is baked into the context as people want to learn within it.  All of these take TIME and classroom time is so precious, I would hope most of this could be done as homework.  But then we keep saying kids should be restricted to how many hours a day they spend in front of a screen.  It’s a hard balance.
•  The industrial-age approach to learning put a wall around schools and training departments. This "protected" the learners from outside interference and distraction. Children were kept at school rather than sent out into the community. Workers left work for training. Talk about artificial life! It's so much more effective to learn from the real thing, and VWs are the closest we've got for practicing without customer consequences.  I agree that getting them out into a community is a great learning experience.  I can imagine how much time and money could be saved it a 3^rd grade class went on a virtual field trip to the zoo instead of the real thing.  However, if the real experience is available it should be obvious choice. 

I enjoyed doing this research on the bigger picture rather than specifically Second Life.  I did poke around in SL using my Tracy Mellow avatar again, she was brought to life in my Communications class and has been idol ever since.  I’m not a huge fan of the virtual world, it just doesn’t appeal to me.  I first landed on Moose Beach Info Hub (58,57,24) and heard all these people talking about strange foods they have eaten.  It was strange and intrusive I thought to be walking in on someone’s conversation.  So I teleported to UCMO and walked around.  I had never noticed the little airport before so I checked that out.  Is there an aviation department at UCMO, or is this just for fun on SL?  Then I noticed a brown unicorn and went to investigate, but it turned out to be the UCMO Mule, so I pet him and took my picture.  I never chatted with anyone, I’m not a real conversation starter and didn’t see anyone to chat with at UCMO so I just checked out the campus a bit more.  It’s fun and I appreciate getting to spend a bit of time in SL.