Online Campuses

Initially, I have to say that I have my doubts about the use of Second Life (or other such communities) in schools. I realize that I am saying this with never having experienced Second Life. I guess I am a skeptic when it comes to using things like myspace and Second Life in the classroom simply because there are so many ways for it all to backfire on the teacher.

After watching the Ohio University clip, I can see how it would be a cool way for a college or university to network student to student and teacher to teacher. But college students are adults and are responsible for the decisions they make regarding their education. High School students are largely at the mercy of their parents/guardians, administrators, and teachers when it comes to how they learn and what they learn.

I guess I can see how it might be helpful for some settings to give students a deeper learning experience. I favor student to teacher contact and setting up school in Second Life would eliminate that aspect of the learning experience. I think Second Life may be used as a resource in the classroom but it should not in any way replace teaching or interaction in the classroom.

For example, some advantages I can see from Second Life would be as Cool Cat Teacher Blog showed: Second Life can show students places and life that are in the past or where they cannot visit. It could potentially be a great way to enhance a lesson or to give a new perspective. Second Life could also be a way to reach students who are more introverted or with special needs.

The major disadvantage with Second Life would be limiting what the students can view or get to. There is really no way to monitor who your students talk to or what they do with Second life and as with all online communities it could quickly spiral out of control with just one student using it in a questionable manner.

I think that virtual schools will continue to grow because online is easy, convenient, and new. But, that doesn't mean that it will provide better students or that it will make learning deeper. I believe they have their place, and I don't feel that using them for complete classes is the answer.