Extended reality (and the metaverse) can be a valuable tool for education. The virtual world opens avenues not possible in the real world. A good example of this can be seen in our textbook, Ready Player One, where Wade talks about how teachers on Ludus are able to teach their classes in more engaging ways, like going to the surface of Jupiter. While we don’t have quite the virtual capabilities of Ready Player One’s Oasis yet, using 3D worlds to enhance learning is still certainly possible!
For our section of Second Life, I think there are a few ways we could make the environment more interactive for students/visitors and give them new experiences. By adding interactive elements you make the world more real feeling, and give the user a sense of changing the world around them, which in turn makes them more invested in your project/world.
First, since the Tower of Power contains a rest area, perhaps we could set up a more annual meeting to take place there for visitors and students. Perhaps a digital book club, or study group, to encourage more bonding and learning between students. It is also helpful for students who may live far away or are unable to attend in-person sessions for other reasons. Perhaps it could also be used as a place to host occasional presentations, since it has seating. All of these would also encourage collaboration between students.
Second, I think that adding some kind of interactive display, or “game” could benefit people visiting. Maybe something as simple as a quiz about the different areas of wellness as you walk along the path. It could take inspiration from places like museums and zoos, which often have little interactive stations that allow visitors to learn new facts and answer questions. It would also be a good way to encourage learning about wellness for students.
Lastly, if possible, I think having a scavenger hunt throughout the island could be an excellent activity. It would encourage those visiting to explore all of the island and find the different objects that students have made over the years. At the end, the visitor could get a badge, or a different small reward for their avatar (such as a pirate hat or other pirate related object) as a reminder of their visit. Maybe we could even set up a similar, smaller scavenger hunt in the MEDIA classroom, as a way to bridge the gap between virtual and real world participation?
Over all, the 3D world is vast, and there are many ways people can interact with the spaces within it. I think that adding more interactivity into our Second Life world would provide a better learning environment and encourage more visitors!
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