Welcome to Second Life

Second Life - Launched by Linden Research, Inc in 2003, is a three dimensional virtual environment, whose buildings and simulations are created by the users who come from all over the world. From the moment one enters the environment they discover a vast digital continent composed of people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Higher Education institutions have joined SL seeking to utilize its potential application in education. SL provides a social arena where role-playing, simulations, exploration, and experimentation can occur. Students can benefit from SL through the opportunity to interact with people from around the world.

SECOND LIFE AND EDUCATION:

The goal of all educators is to teach students essential skills that will help them become productive and successful members of society. Leveraging new technologies for education, particularly ones that students already use as part of their daily lives, is a key way to make learning both effective and engaging.

We live in a world that is becoming more networked every day, and the Internet has grown into an essential medium for communication, socialization, and creative expression. Virtual worlds like Second Life represent the future of human interaction in a globally networked world, and students who have grown up with the Internet naturally swim in these waters. These “digital natives” eagerly embrace tools such as Instant Messaging, social networking spaces, and massively multiplayer online games. And as the students of today grow into the leaders of tomorrow, they will bring these technologies into the workplace, making their use an essential part of the future of work and business.

- Daniel Livingstone & Jeremy Kemp, SLCC 2006

The University of Texas – Pan American, in pursuit of keeping with innovative educational technologies and research, has purchased an Island of its own in Second Life. The Center for Online, Learning, Teaching and Technology has created a Second Life team of experts to help support the efforts of our faculty in utilizing Second Life in their classes. Though it is only in the infant stages of development, it is our hope that it will soon be a place for students and faculty to enjoy an enriching educational and research experience.

Are you a UTPA student/faculty/staff? Register your username to our database here.

If you are a UTPA faculty member interested in using Second Life please contact Jessica Sanchez at secondlife@utpa.edu