Virtual+Learning+Environments

The Office Intro Video

Second Life Video



Issue Presentation: Virtual Learning Environments / Second Life

What are VLEs?

 * Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) are internet-based environments that are either an extension of or replacement for a more conventional in-person learning environment.
 * Provide additional services that regular learning environments may not have readily available
 * May be wikis, blogs, D2L, or 3D environments such as Second Life

Uses
VLEs are becoming increasingly popular in a college setting. Professors upload the class syllabus, assignments, and/or grades onto many sites such as D2L. 3D VLEs such as Second Life are becoming more popular in the social realm. Combining elements of the Sims, Facebook and attempts at actual academic value are becoming accepted worldwide.

The Skeleton of a VLE
What are the components? · The course syllabus · Administrative info (location of sessions, details of pre-requisites, how to get help) · Notice board for up-to-date course info · Basic teaching materials (complete content of the course, copies of visual aids used) · Additional resources, reading materials, links to outside resources in libraries or on Internet · Self-assessment quizzes, with automatic scoring · Grades · Formal assessment procedures · Electronic communication (e-mail, threaded discussion, chat) · Different access rights for students and teachers · Easy maneuverability and authoring of pages in the environment

Specific Examples of VLEs
Second Life, Elluminate, Edusim, Blackboard, WebCT, WebTrain, Utherverse

Second Life

 * [|Second Life Video]
 * Gives the feeling of a cult.
 * It would be quite easy for people using VLEs like Second Life (as opposed to D2L) to get caught up in the wrong aspects of it. Dwight wanted to make the exact same life for himself, but with the ability to fly. While Second Life offers the ability for users to create artwork, conduct scientific research, hold corporate training sessions or connect with religious groups, most people would be more easily distracted by games, the ability to fly or anonymously socialize and/or purchase things.

Problems with Second Life
Technical problems with Second Life specifically range from a lack of regulation on content or the maneuverability the game, to unstable server performance, to fraud (stealing information, posing as administrators, pyramid schemes, etc). Also, do characters have certain rights (civil rights, etc) or are there no set ethics codes online?

Educational Attempt of Second Life
Second Life does make an attempt to have educational value. It incorporates over one hundred regions (such as Info Islands or SciLands) for educational purposes. Having virtual interaction in Second Life may be considered more personal than other VLEs (such as D2). There isn’t much use for gradeschool students, because there is an age restriction on Second Life (18 and older) which would make this particular VLE unsuitable for most school settings.

Pros and Cons of Second Life
Pros: Alternative learning environment, interesting and inviting, could have actual educational value Cons: Easily distracting, generally a poor learning environment, technical problems, the economy of the game, fraud, gimmicky, edutainment, potentially addicting

Desire2Learn
Simple alternatives that are less flashy could be much more valuable to everyone. D2L is one such example. We've all used D2L pretty extensively in college. Having the course syllabus on-hand at all times is convenient and useful. Class assignments, announcements, extra links or readings and especially grades are much more readily available on D2L. When a teacher properly integrates D2L, it has a huge benefit to the class. Just think how much it could help high school classes to have the same resources available to them? Or even 4th or 5th graders who are spending time online already, they could get used to finding information on in a secure environment and also talk to their friends from class without having to have a facebook or IM profile, which could be dangerous.

Downsides of D2L
We have all had experience with teachers who don't properly use D2L. More accurately, teachers who don't use D2L for anything more than a place to stick the syllabus so the students won't have to ask him/her for another copy. The biggest problem in these situations is that the student is looking to D2L for information when there will be none available. If teachers who don't want to use D2L simply don't use it, then students will know they must go to the teacher for all their questions, grades, assignments, etc. But if a teacher says they will use D2L and then doesn't use it for anything meaningful, it could leave students scrambling for guidance.

Conclusion
VLEs are not a revolutionary tool, but they could be useful in more college, high school and even a select few elementary classrooms. Giving students greater access to the class' information, allowing for carry-over from the classroom itself to home, etc and providing students with an efficient and convenient method of communication would be the main benefits to teachers incorporating a VLE into their curriculum. Not all VLEs are created equal! While 3D environments such as Second Life may seem to be flashy offer more possibilities, they are also accompanied by bells and whistles than anything educational.