from reality to second life

From Reality to Second Life®: Presenting Student Research in a Virtual World

Patricia Edwards, Ph.D.

Mary Bold, Ph.D., CFLE

Catherine Dutton, M.A.© 2008 Texas Woman’s University

The Challenge

How do we offer distance

education students the means

of participating in a

campus event?

The Solution

Provide an equivalent virtual

experience with as many of the

same functions as

possible.

The Context

TWU Student Creative Arts &

Research Symposium

2007- Virtual Posters

with Wikis

2008- Second Life

The Process

Identify

Staff

Determine

Platform

Regents

Presentation

Develop

Policies User

Support

Presenter

Support

Quality

Check

Community

Presentations

Develop

Space

Copyright

Compliance

The Event

Real Life meets a Second Life

“So, in a virtual

world, we don’t

have distance.”

“Additive rather

than distractive.”

The Debriefing

Presenters“The experience exceeded my expectations!”

Feeling of accomplishment and excitement to share research.

FacultyPlans & requests for

more uses of platform

StaffOverall Success

Adjustments and changes

for future events

1014

11

2319

0

10

20

30

VP1 SOA1 VP2 SOA2 VP3

Session Attended

Real Life Attendees

The Future

Symposium Alumni Activities Teaching Student Research

Patricia Edwards, Ph.D.: pedwards@twu.edu

Mary Bold, Ph.D., CFLE: bold@marybold.com

Catherine Dutton, MA: cdutton@twu.edu

SL contact: Catherine Soderstrom© 2008 Texas Woman’s University