Response

I enjoyed your post Sandy [http://normanwoofs1.blogspot.com/ ] about the use of Second Life.  In particular I found the limitations that you outlined to be particularly relevant.  I too discussed how Second Life could increase student engagement and presence but not without a cost.  Increasing presence and participation through Second Life runs the risk of exposing students to controversial material (outside the scope of your class), stretching the capabilities of students by challenging them with technology and costs that could diminish their investment in other aspects of the course (of particular concern to me would be a diminished investment in the material as they are spending more time learning about Second Life) and perhaps spending their funds in this virtual world and/or on the program itself limiting funds for books and other supplies.  One thing that I found in your post that I had not taken up in my own that is worth mentioning is the notion of ownership that you raise.  Increasing student ownership of the learning process is a challenge for me in my online teaching and certainly, as reflected in the literature we have read thus far for the course, important in creating a productive learning environment.  I had not really thought about how having an avatar and participating in this virtual world would increase students feelings of ownership over the class and potentially their motivation to participate and actively engage until reading your post.  After reading your post I can see how having an avatar and a Second Life “island” to explore as a class could address what Paloff and Pratt (2007) call the “anonymity of this medium” (p7). 

I also believe Holder (2005) would find an interesting area of exploration if he were to take up the idea you present and examine how avatars contribute to learning communities and if they increase student motivation like other forms of online interaction may do!  I am very pleased that you brought this up as it opens my eyes to a side of the Second Life program that I had not explored and might find useful!