-What+is+SL?

=What is Second Life?=

Second Life is a digital 3D virtual world originally developed by Linden Labs in 2003 (Linden Research, Inc., 2008). Second Life provides a common platform for users to create personal experiences through immersive environments.

The evolution of Second Life is largely due to the fact that residents build and create their own environments and interact with others from around the virtual world (Linden Research, Inc., 2008). Second Life residents learn, educate, conduct business, entertain, socialize, collaborate and do many other real world activities through their virtual lives.

Second life has been described as serious gaming or educational gaming. It has likely been placed in this MMORPG (Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Games) category due to the cartoon-like avatar s representing its residents. It seems when the term gaming is associated with learning the educational value is reduced. This is where we must be cautious with immersive worlds, where unlike games do not have specific game rules or objectives to follow. Objectives and laws/rules are created by the residents, allowing for the creation of communities within the 3D digital world.

To learn more about second life and it's educational potential, view the video created by Jokay Wollongong and Sean McDunnough (2007) below.

media type="youtube" key="FZAj8Cg4bLo" height="344" width="425"

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