Second Life: A Virtual Learning Center for the Study of Sharks

• Main Authors: Tryfonas Papadamou, Costas Gavrilakis, Costas Tsolakidis, Georgia Liarakou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kassel University Press 2011-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET)
• Subjects: education; sustainable; development; life; virtual; museum
• Online Access: http://online-journals.org/i-jet/article/view/1580

In this work the educational capabilities of the virtual world Second Life are researched and tested. A virtual world is constructed to support education for sustainable development. The life and characteristics of the shark is studied as this fish has received a lot of negative publicity and is in the danger of extinction. A virtual museum was developed for this purpose. The research question is focused on whether it can be used effectively in a modern classroom and how difficult is for an educator to develop such an application. To achieve that, a number of learning activities were developed, a number of on line questionnaires were issued and a series of virtual meetings were held. Teachers used the application and answered the questionnaires. The entire effort was attempted through Internet exclusively.