Graphics Programs Reference
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or architectural monuments can be recre-
ated in a virtual world, giving students an
opportunity to view historically significant
architectural sites.
Towson are becoming interested in holding
office hours in the Towson Innovation Lab
in SL. Towson faculty can ask for research
space and get technical support from
Center for Instructional Advancement and
technology (CIAT) on campus. Students
are able to meet their instructors in com-
municate by way of either texting messages
or voice-chatting. The president of Towson
University, Dr. Caret, held a Study break
in Braman Hall on the Towson Innovation
Lab Island in SL on April 2 nd , 2009. Dr.
Caret and students communicated effec-
tively in SL on topics such as non-smoking
regulations, tuition, and parking space. In
the future, SL will be used more and more
as a communication tool between students
and teachers.
SL as a platform for role-playing. “I have
been to a place where you can act in a
Shakespeare's play, for example, Hamlet.
You can dress up as the characters in the
play and act. It is a lot of fun. The only
thing you need to do is that you need to get
your costumes by yourself .” -An interview
with a staff member who holds office hours
in SL
It is easy to do role-playing in SL due to the self-
constructed and usually narrative environment.
For example, there's one area in SL with a theme
influenced by a science fiction called “steampunk,”
which imagines that the Victorians developed
advanced technology like computers, robots,
and spaceships. The purpose of role-playing is
to experiment something that cannot be experi-
enced in real life classroom due to time and place
constraints (e.g., we can never go back to the 18 th
century). In addition, people's identities are fixed.
Therefore, careful design of role-playing may
support different kinds of instructional purposes,
such as language training, interpersonal skills
training, interactive novels and representation of
the historical events, or even firefighter training.
Generally speaking, SL can provide various ways
for role-playing in narrative environments. The
only limitation is people's imagination.
What makes Second Life a unique commu-
nication tool? How is it different from MSN or
a chat room? One of the instructors in our study
commented, “Some students have come to the
office hours just to socialize, explore and to
gain more experience building in SL. We have
taken groups of students around Second Life to
explore other interesting areas. I also sometimes
meet students in SL outside of the regular set of-
fice hour time if it doesn't meet their schedule.”
More importantly, students will find the realness
of their communication because of their virtual
presence in SL.
Why Use Second Life?
Developing a Rationale
SL as a communication tool. SL is an
emerging phenomenon. Some teachers
have realized the merits of SL and have be-
gun to take advantage of it. For example, in
Towson University, Towson faculty mem-
bers Jan Baum, James Braman, and Bridget
Sullivan meet with students Monday night
to chat about Second Life, share SL tips
and tricks, and tour a couple of amazing
places in-world. More and more faculty at
Although there are various teaching activities
in SL, there is not much rationale for teaching
in SL. The most distinctive advantages of SL
are dynamic interaction and students' intrinsic
motivation, both of which are characteristics of
constructivist instructional approach.
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