Dr. Thornburg (Laureate Education Inc., 2009) defines a disruptive technology as a “new technology with the same functionality of an existing technology, but it functions more efficiently, and then obsoletes that technology.” Second Life is a virtual reality online world that has made the technology behind chat rooms obsolete. The technology uses the same idea of allowing people to communicate and collaborate, but Second Life also allows the users to create their environment using graphics, the ability to personalize an avatar, and the ability to hear and participate in chats through microphones and speakers.
According to Rosedale (2008), Second Life is a rapidly expanding virtual world, with infinite possibilities of user-created products and data. Virtual worlds allow information to be presented using powerful iconic symbols versus text to organize and experience information. Due to the rapid expansion of Second Life, I think that it will be at least another 8 years before another emerging or disruptive technology replaces it. According to the Elon University/ Pew Internet Project (n.d.), immersive virtual reality worlds are predicted to emerge between 2016-2025. Second Life still has the power to grow in size, graphics, and abilities.
Another benefit to Second Life is that it creates a social experience to explore information, allowing for communication and collaboration. In my field of elementary education, virtual worlds such as Second Life are beneficial in motivating students to participate in expressing themselves and working with others. Yet, Rosedale (2008) addressed a concern of the social implications of Second Life, explaining how we may begin to like our virtual image more than our human selves. Students creating their own avatars allow them to express their individuality, but we do not want them to become so consumed in their virtual reality that they withdraw completely from face-to-face social interactions. With the future emergence of immersive virtual realities, students will become more likely to use virtual worlds such as Second Life for a majority of their social interactions and searches for information.
References
Elon University/Pew Internet Project. (n.d.). Imagining the Internet: A history and forecast: Forward 150 timeline. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/predictions/forward150years.pdf
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Emerging and future technology: Disruptive technologies. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Rosedale, P. (2008). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point about the possibility of students becoming too consumed with their avatars, and withdrawing from reality. I teach middle school, and students in middle school are really trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in. I would be concerned that they would focus more on their virtual reality world, where they can control how they look and how people perceive them, than on building real relationships with real people. Great post!
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your view point that k12 still has a long way to adopt technologies like second life. Probably K12 is the last one to embrace any technology because of funding, legal issues and student safety concerns. Primarily it is only for entertainment or business. Few Medical institutes and few higher education institutions have started to use second life. I still need to explore much about it. Are you registered on second life? Did you get a chance to explore second life on your own? If so, please share your experience.
Nice post.
Anwar
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI read that Second Life was intended for ages sixteen and older. I think elementary students would benefit from a 3D virtual world. Last year I registered my students in Edmodo, a secure social network site. I posted assignments and students could talk to me and each other online. They loved it! I teach second grade and they would love to be able to create an avitar and interact with each other in a virtual world. I also agree that education will lack in embracing the technology of Second Life. My school does not have iPads in the classroom. I agree that as educators we would not want our students to become consumed with the virtual world and withdraw from reality. Great post!
Tracy
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteChat rooms might still be used for private, group, and educational purposes. The Second life seems to be collaborative more with a public accent. Also, with Second life the individual is being represented with an Avatar. Coon we forget who we are communicating with. But I concur with you, Second life gives us the robot style.
Symbols are universal and this is where Second Life makes a break through to conquer people globally although they speak different languages. A new technology culture is being formed with global effects. I agree with you Second Life will have another 8 – 10 years of life. And, it could very well take off with more public relations by Rosedale and innovative designs in technology. Rosedale had captured diverse innovative technology to set up the Second Life from his Linden Labs.
Second Life enhances the social world, and since education can be recognized from an informal perspective, Second life helps to give prior knowledge. This might be fragmented but there are the possibilities for positive results. Face to face social interaction is a part of the holistic development of students and while we need them to be motivated there must also be a watch for being too personal and becoming dictatorial in the real world.
Your post was informative, thanks for reading.
It is my belief that technologies, such as Second Life, pose a ‘Catch 22,’ as there are some likely advantages and likely disadvantages of incorporating it into K-12 classrooms. I agree that Second Life can serve the purpose of allowing students to communicate and collaborate with their peers... These are two things that students are always going to be expected to do in the classroom. Their communication, problem solving, and critical thinking and reasoning skills can most definitely be developed as they work together via this virtual world. On the other hand, I think that although their social skills will be enhanced electronically, they will not be enhancing their social skills personally. I think we are already living in a society where people don’t communicate in person as much anymore because of advances in the Internet and cell phones. It’s almost like it’s no reason to meet someone to have a face to face conversation when you can just as easily text or instant message them and have the same conversation in writing.
ReplyDelete