Journal 9

A Second Life for Middle School Science
By Linda Briggs


There is a new virtual online world that is catching attention among colleges and universities; unfortunately it is not suitable for middle school use due to the age limit. The policy placed by Second Life bars anyone younger than thirteen, although most 12-year-old could probably find the site very intriguing. Middle schools typically have security requirements more strict on their networks to keep students from wandering freely about the web. But there was hope out there for this age group. Graduate students from Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology have stepped in and changed that. The students working along side with Linden Lab, the company that owns Second Life has developed a special protected island located in a virtual world. This island is only accessible to middle school students. The graduate students have created games and are constantly working with middle school science teachers to design more interactive games. So far, the students have developed four games, each designed to address different learning elements. Middle age students can walk and even fly through the virtual island, chatting with friends along the way. The can make a place for themselves in this virtual world just as they might in the real world. The graduate students have made the island safe by allowing the middle school students access to the island only at school and they must have their teacher’s permission. Developing these educational games is beneficial to student learning. They kids are having fun but at the same time learning and retaining whatever lesson is at hand.

Would you use Second Life in your classroom?

Yes, if I were a middle school teacher I would defiantly take advantage of this type of learning tool. Let’s face it, most kids go home and play video games anyways and they are really good at them too. Why don’t we divert their attention away from these violent games and turn them into learning games. This way everyone wins! The hard part is most kids like playing violent games at home. But getting them to see there are more options out there is productive. Also, using different methods of teaching in the classroom will keep your students involved so why not make it fun? I’d defiantly use Second Life in my classroom.

Do you think students should be able to access Second Life from home?

No, I do not think they should be able to access their virtual world at home. They have enough on their plates with homework, and I think the whole point to having this world would be lost. In my classroom I could control what they are working on their virtual world and regulate their chats. We don’t want kids gossiping outside the class and doing anything inappropriate.