Journal # 10 1,4, 5

Wheelcock, Andrew. "Social Studies in a Virtual World." International Society for Technology & Education 37.6 (2010): 26-27. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. < http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100304?pg=22#pg28>.

Journal # 10 Social Studies in a Virtual World by Andrew Wheelock

This article discusses the advantages of “Second Life”, a multi-user virtual environment called MUVE for both students and teachers. According to the author Second Life gives teachers the opportunity to connect via an Internet network with their colleagues around the world about many subjects including literature, science and history themes. Educators are able to get information from Virtual Harlem, Roma or even the Antiquity Texas. Educators who use Virtual Pioneers are known as Virtual Pioneers. This all started with a group of teacher in New York who used Second Life to learn more about historical landmarks that the virtual world offered. The virtual headquarters is now in the Western New York Regional Information Center’s Model School. Second Life has many activities including historical costume parties where members arrive with a note card with information about the era or person they represent, after meeting, a class for creating historical artifacts and structures, a role play acting focusing on the different perspective on World War II and the atomic born, a discussion led by Carnegie fellows on the misconceptions surrounding Islam, teacher resources, a tour of the Virginia society for Technology in Education’s build of historic Jamestown and an outstanding multimedia presentation about China, a look at Kenya, a tour of the Holocaust Memorial Exhibit among many others.

Question 1: How would I see myself using Second Life in my classroom?
Second Life seems like a wonderful idea where teachers have the opportunity to communicate with each other about social issues, historic debates, and present history around the world. I think it will be to a great advantage to join a network group like Second Life since it has many activities including a tour of the Holocaust Memorial Exhibit among others that can be used to teach and show student in the classroom to help students learn more about the world’s history and its impacts.

Question 2: What can I learn from Second Life that I already don’t know about? There are many activities that I can learn from joining Second Life including a tour of Kenya and its people, a multimedia presentation about China, and a discussion led by a pair of Carnegie fellows, on the misconceptions surrounding Islam.