Summaries of Research Papers

Meggs, Susan M., Greer, Annette G., & Collins, Sharon. (2011). Integrating second life as a pedagogical tool for interactive instruction. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 7(3), 380.

This is a case study of a 3-year project on the use of the online virtual world, Second Life, in an Interior Design class at East Carolina University. Second Life was used primarily as an art gallery and peer-review conduit for students. Using Second Life greatly facilitated frequent and quality art criticism within the class as well as gave opportunities to outside sources to review work. It also addressed certain learning needs of different types of learners including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and social. Overall, a platform like Second Life can work very well for an art or other media-type of class: face-to-face, blended, hybrid, or fully online.