University Of Texas Moving Into Second Life

September 21, 2009

The University of Texas launched a year-long, state-wide initiative to use Second Life in the curriculum for all 16 of its campuses, experimenting with using the platform as a means of providing innovative, low-cost undergraduate instruction involving students, faculty, researchers and administrators.The Transforming Undergraduate Education Program at the University of Texas System awarded a grant to fund the initiative, driven by a mandate common to many higher education institutions: Reducing or eliminating expensive brick-and-mortar costs while becoming energy efficient. Linden Lab, which developed and operates Second Life, announced the Texas initiative on its blog.

UT has 9 academic university campuses and 6 medical and health science research campuses, and each will develop its own SL project plan, Linden Lab said. The University will collect and share evidence with the Second Life research community on best practices for all educators, and other organizations interested in holding classes and building campuses in Second Life.

"Hundreds of educational institutions from around the world" use Second Life for remote learning, but the Texas program will create the largest virtual learning community in existence, Linden Lab said.

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