Virtual worlds, real learning?

Originally uploaded by beewebhead.

Stumbled across the Eduserv symposium when Alan Levine posted a reminder on Twitter.

My first time video/sound combination of real and virtual in SL. Very exciting to think of the possibilities it offers, but the connection was slow so I had trouble in following it and got disconnected.

As Stephen Downes pointed out, SL is not an “open environment ” and as such does not cater for those who need it most. Very true, but then this should not stop us from experimenting with it and trying to find ways to make it more available to all.

Virtual worlds imitate but also extend the real world – by learning how to interact within them may provide better insights on how we understand and react to certain issues and behaviours. Using this knowledge to advance a better real world is what makes these virtual worlds so inspiring.