Virtual Societies as a Platform for Life Long Learning: Using Second Life in 3D Design Judith Molka-Danielsen Molde University College October 2, 2008

The virtual platform of Second Life Second Life er et hurtigvoksende, virtuelt samfunn som ligner mye på vår reelle, vestlige verden. Det er ikke et spill, men en møteplass hvor alle som er pålogget har sin egen figur som kan bevege seg rundt i et tredimensjonalt metavers. Her holdes konserter og platepromoteringer (se: Susanne Vega), tyske politiske debatter, franske valgkamper og italienske missekåringer, i tillegg drives det handel, clubbing, nyhetsformidling og undervisning.Susanne Vegapolitiske debattervalgkamper missekåringer handelclubbingnyhetsformidlingundervisning.

SL Development 4.5 M registered residents; 1.6 M logins in the last 6 months; 80K premium accounts; 24K concurrent logins. Recent currency rate is about 270 Linden Dollars = 1 USD Economy: Source:

Uses of SL in Learning Role play Historical representations Information sharing Theme awareness 3D visualizations Simulations (weather) Virtual office space, campuses, stores.. Museums, libraries, art galleries Scripted tools, objects, animations Performances, theatre, social events, parties Political campaigns Workplace collaboration and meetings

Kamimo in Second Life - Kalmar, Missouri, Molde Project Financed by Norgesuniversitet (NUV)

Kamimo focus areas Combining SL with other tools - e-meetings, LMS Co-operation - inter-disciplinary - between universities - contacts with business Social factors - can we add a social dimension to distance learning?

Molde University College activities 3D Design in Virtual Worlds (fall 08) Social English for Doctoral Students, Oral Production for Business students (fall 07, spring 08, fall 08) Pilot lecture on Role Play in Procurement (spring 08) Presented at conferences: –League of Worlds-4, Karlskrona, SE 2007, –NOKOBIT 2007, 2008 –Struktura Futura 2008, –UNINETT/NTNU 2008 EuroCall 2008 in Hungary: “Designing Transient Learning Spaces in Second Life” (Molka-Danielsen); TEACHINGDISSEMINATE

Easy SL Learning Curve Motion –walking and flying Communication – chat and IM Appearance – changing body and clothes Teleport / Map / Search / Inventory

Design and evaluate a variety of classroom facilities

Courses in Building Objects

Affordances for 3D Design

Building designs can be accurate. Opportunity is based on the skills and knowledge of the designers.

On the Digital Humanities island developed by the University of Pisa one can rez Galileo’s museum and then go inside it!

Alternatively one can rez the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Replicating a floorplan for testing emergency evacuation procedures

The students have been assigned to design an information kiosk for this bridge in the style of ”Steam Punk”.