Earn college credit in Second Life
by Ross Miller 
{ Aug 10th 2006 at 2:55AM }
Bradley University's Ed Lamoureux and his online counterpart, Professor Beliveau, will soon be teaching an entire course in Second Life. Entitled "Field Research in Second Life" (Multimedia 490, MM 490), up to eight students will spend three weeks examining life from within the MMO. There will be a one-hour lecture class each week; you can read all about Lamoureux's class objectives here. Furthermore, you can read about his initial struggles in Second Life here. Part three of his tales should be up soon.NMC Campus Observor conducted an audio interview with the professor. Second Life as field research is a brilliant idea and we hope he succeeds. For his next course, how about a sociological study of behavior in World of Warcraft?
See Also:
Second Life Insider
[via Kotaku; thanks, vidGuy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Keith L. Dick @ Aug 10th 2006 3:25AM
Barely got out of High School, what would a College Credit do for me???...
Come on, Tell the truth what would it do for me or anyone else???...
The ZeroCorpse @ Aug 10th 2006 3:49AM
This is actually a good idea. I currently attend college classes online, and we do it via newsgroups. We have to enter the "classroom" a set number of times each week. It's all so abstract, though. I'm not "IN" anything. I'm just posting to a newsgroup.
With Second Life, someone could actually do an online class with real presence. You'd be "in" their classroom- virtual though it may be- and it would have seats, walls, floors, a blackboard, and your fellow students in the class with you- even though they're from all around the country. The instructor would be able to give a lecture, or do visual demonstrations. You could actually have a sense of community and partnership in the classroom.
This is a fascinating idea with real possibilities.
Aaron @ Aug 10th 2006 6:09AM
Very cool class! As far as ethnographic studies of WoW and Everquest II are concerned, check out what these students have done at Trinity University:
http://www.trinity.edu/adelwich/worlds/students.html
http://www.trinity.edu/adelwich/mmo/students.html
Corey @ Aug 10th 2006 7:23AM
AWESOME.....Mom, I just got my degree in flexi-structure with a minor in scripting and a camping option :-P
vidGuy @ Aug 10th 2006 8:13AM
I sent this in because I think it's pretty neat and I may go check it out. I don't attend the college myself, but I have a ton of friends that do, so I'll have to go sit in on a class some time.
Like The ZeroCorpse, I've had several classes that only meet physically once or twice a semester (for the midterm and final exams). Otherwise, you meet online at specific times and post your thoughts abot the material. You then take online quizzes and tests.
My understanding is this class is a high (senior) level class, so it's not going to be a blowoff. But it's an interesting concept, turning a SIMing game into something of real world value. Just like those people that turn a profit in the game into real currency.
Virtual reality isn't just for the 80s anymore!
team steve @ Aug 10th 2006 2:58PM
New course coming soon: "Field research in the unemployment line"
DidYouLoseASock @ Aug 10th 2006 5:44PM
Wow, ironically I plan on going to Bradley next year to finish up my multimedia degree. I dont think it will be possible for me to sign up for the up coming class but if they offer the course again I might just try to sign up for it because I play Second Life every so often.
djpkp @ Aug 10th 2006 5:47PM
Too bad I graduated from Bradley a year ago. Lamoureux was an awesome teacher for MM250. Would have been great to have him for a class like this.
Matt @ Aug 11th 2006 10:59AM
This is a very cool Idea. I find the virtual world extremly facinating and absolutely worth studying in an academic mode.
There is a wonderful, and scary future to be found in virtual worlds. I believe our virtual lives have the potential to become just as important socially as our real lives.