Reflection+3

Learning in a virtual world.

What are some of the affordances of a virtual world for education?

Greetings from a mid-skill flyer.

For me this was the least successful part of the course. I missed the guided tour and the lack of fast internet speed at home and the site being blocked at my workplace meant a frustrating expeinece all round. Then the video of the tour wouldn't work either and I felt like little Heathcliff and Cathy looking in through the window at the riches of the Lynleys' house.

I was fascinated by the pageantry of //Second Life// and the sheer scope and detail of the settings. Once I had chosen my name and created my avatar I enjoyed playing with my new-found flying skills and decided that swooping and soaring were excellent experiences. When it came to locating places to visit I was less successful and a bit fearful of not knowing the mores of the society. Without a guide I quickly became impatient and frustrated and in a hurry to leave. Since I am quite a shy person I don't enjoy conversing with strangers and would prefer to take the role of an observer. I am particularly uncomfortable encountering people who may be wearing a mask or adopting a role if I am not sure of the script and my own role.

For educational purposes I can see that the virtual world offers opportunitiies for exploration, using the imagination, analysing texts and composing texts. The //Virtual Macbeth// wiki showed me ways of engaging students that I am not currently utilising and which may be denying some students the chance to explore and express meaning in ways that suit them.

I will come back to this!