T-Learning

T-Learning is an elearning services company based in the Liverpool, UK supporting teaching and learning to schools across the world. Taecanet delivers personalised learning for teachers and students accessible at school or at home. More info can be found at www.taecanet.com

Monday, October 30, 2006

How do teenagers use digital technologies and Second Life?

A number of weeks back, I touched on the emerging phenomenon that is Second Life (see post 4th Oct 06). I have just read an excellent blog post by Arlene Goldbard relating to the use of digital media by teenagers today, under the title 'Worlds within Worlds'.

Her opinion is based on having read hundreds of essays by members of the teenage American population on the topic, and she has made a number of valid points. These points relate to the significant level at which ICT is embedded into teenage lives, and how they perceive a negative distrust amongst their parental figures, where devices such as the Internet are concerned.

Arlene's post develops to discuss Second Life and how these teenagers use Teen Second Life to prepare for their 'real world' future (otherwise known as First Life). This can be found at http://arlenegoldbard.com/?p=183 . It is a great piece and I found myself asking many questions about how such technologies could be harnessed by educators, as they seem to capture the imagination of students so well. It seems an ideal place for a strong educational presence by making the best educational materials available to all. I'm sure there are many people who would be interested in re-visiting topics of interest in this new and free format.

On the Internet and in Second Life, all the bounds of traditional schooling have been freed and the power now lies with the learner.

2 Comments:

  • At 10:27 PM, Blogger Digitalkatie said…

    I was involved in a summer project using Second Life with kids in New York, and it's incredible how quickly they see the potential and possibilities of this virtual world. Also, there was always disappointment at the end of the day when it was time to leave - I don't get that when I'm teaching programming in a more conventional way!

    I'm still working on the technicalities of getting Second Life working back in Scotland (firewall and network issues), but it is an amazing learning environment that I really want to use in class.

    I've put together a wiki of more information about using SL in schools, if you're interested.
    http://digitalkatie.wikispaces.com/Secondlife

     
  • At 3:35 PM, Blogger Chris Davison said…

    Thanks v much for your comments and the link. Certainly some very interesting insights from you re SL. I hope we (Taecanet) can enter SL to help offer an interesting and beneficial educational programme. Watch this space....

     

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