Proactive Retrospective Installation in Second Life

• In Event: Roundtable Session 75
  In Roundtable Session: Second Life to Support Learning Across Contexts

Abstract

The study utilizes the 3-D virtual world of Second Life (SL) to deliver a meaningful curriculum. The SL installations and data collection were designed and conducted on the basis of William Pinar’s (2004) currere approach - a curriculum technique used to reconstruct social, intellectual, and physical structures. The participants were 31 education graduate students. Data were collected from their virtual reflection writings, four-stage currere writings, and interviews. The study is significant as it uses a novel currere curriculum approach situated within the SL environment. The study reveals that SL affords the effective delivery of virtual simulations for graduate students to engage in complicated conversations that can enhance their understanding of global issues (e.g., war, ecological issues).

Authors

• Chih-Feng Chien, Texas A&M University

• Trina J. Davis, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Patrick Slattery, Texas A&M University