I found the Second Life campus by searching for groups, and later as I looked up information about figurative language and literary devices. I was pleased to find that creators had taken the time to build a beautiful area that appeals to the senses and inspires a visitor. I collected a great amount of useful information here, and plan to visit again in the future.
Though I would love to use Second Life in my classroom, there are still problems to be confronted. Administration is not always open to the idea of letting students romp freely through a "game" during school hours, and without spending time in Second Life, it is hard to explain to someone that it isn't really a game at all, so much as it is a virtual world. Still, even if it were possible to convince administration to allow students to explore Second Life, it is very easy to get to inappropriate areas, either intentionally or by sheer accident. My first foray into exploration landed me accidentally in a "night club" with scantily clad female avatars dancing around metal bars that extended from floor to ceiling...
And finally, even if it were possible to steer students away from the mature areas of Second Life, is it possible to make sure my students are protected from other people that might cause trouble? Although there are teen areas in Second Life, is there any guarantee that the "teens" there really are teens? And if I limit students to only the teen areas, will they miss out on the vast opportunities that await them in the bulk of Second Life?
There is no denial that there are great opportunities for students in Second Life; however, without more control over what my students are exposed to, it might be safer for now to keep my middle school students firmly rooted in the Real Life, as opposed to a Second one.
No comments:
Post a Comment