The Drax Files: World Makers [ Episode 19: Virtual Chemistry]
"The students using the replicated lab in Second Life had better retention of information than the students only using the physical lab!" Wendy Keeney-Kennicutt from Texas A&M University is excited about the preliminary findings of her study about how the unique affordances of virtual reality platforms like Second Life can facilitate and enhance the learning process.
Conducted together with Kurt Winkelman from the Florida Institute of Technology, the study comparing physical lab and virtual lab is funded by an NSF grant and slated to be finished in April 2015.
While the findings [so far] maybe indeed eye-opening for many who have not engaged with virtual reality in an educational context, for pioneering teachers and enthusiastic students alike they can hardly be seen as a surprise: learning in virtual worlds creates a strong sense of being together and collaborating in one shared space irrespective of physical location powerfully transcends - via avatar-based interaction - a multitude of social issues.


视频来自：优酷

厉害 这已经最新的一部视频了

The Drax Files: World Makers [ Episode 20: flokers]
"Second Life changed my life", says the Italian designer and illustrator flokers: "It allowed me to become the artist I really am and turn my passion into a full-time job."
The 29-year old Sicilian native credits the freedom to express oneself and the ability to effortlessly connect to a global community of like-minded people through art and play in the virtual world as the main reasons she was able to come out of her shell in "real" life and gain the necessary confidence to pursue a full-time career as an artist.
flokers now works as a designer for the city council of Derby in the UK, conceptualizing websites, co-working spaces and apps with her innovative "smart city" team.
"People still think this is just a game, which is strange because it really is so much more: you can set your own goals and achieve anything you can imagine!"
Despite a hectic work schedule, flokers can still often be found at her SL studio, where she draws and paints her friends: capturing the "inner persona" that is shining through that digital extension of the avatar and trying to find the essence of who we are, the true self beyond label, stereotype and stigma.


视频来自：优酷

很不错