...and a race it is, for dominance of the Second Life Educational Space. At the moment, the bulk of the activity is in the time consuming modeling and builds of the actual visual assets. At some point however, we all really need to think hard, very hard about how we use our new, stunning 3D campuses. If they are used as no more than a fancy, 3D lecture space, then we might as well build dynamite into the foundations of each and every building and level them now to keep our students from suffering such a boring fate.

There are a very few people out there right now actually testing the waters of offering all or part of a course in the Second Life environment. As to whether these offerings justify the use of the new medium or ultimately offer students a superior learning experience is to be decided. If nothing else, these folks are giving us something to think about and build upon.

Here is a link to a real-live Harvard law course that takes place in both the 1st and Second Life space. Make sure to check out the trailer. It says it all:

http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/

Aline Click is a designer at Northern Illinois University who is creating the Glidden Campus representation at Northern Illinois. It is a massive and impressive structure and looks visually to be a strong frontrunner for aesthetic best practice in a virtual campus (behind Ohio University of course ;) Here is some info on Aline:

http://www.glsconference.org/2006/pop/click.htm

Bryant Carter partnered in 2006 with Aline Click and Northern Illinois to offer a Cyberculture course in Second Life through Central Missourri State. The course explored various themes pertaining to Cyberculture. Here is some info on Bryant and his work:

http://www.glsconference.org/2006/pop/carterb.htm

Finally, Here are the top 20 educational destinations in Second Life according to the simteach site:

http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Top_20_Educational_Locations_in_Second_Life