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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WSU Purchases Virtual Island in Second Life
December 6th, 2007 - Winona State University, funded through a grant from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Academic Innovations Group, purchased a parcel of land in the 3D virtual world of Second Life today. Second Life is a persistent, online, virtual environment in which residents, use self-generated characters or "avatars" to travel, interact, and create 3D structures (e.g., buildings, vehicles, clothing), simulations, and other online activities using built-in functions and tools.
A growing number of colleges and universities are evaluating virtual worlds like Second Life as platforms for supporting student services and educational opportunities. WSU, a member of the New Media Consortium (NMC), purchased a parcel of land on the sprawling NMC Second Life Campus so that WSU developers and instructors can be in close proximity to their peers at other educational institutions and benefit from the rich virtual community and services maintained by the NMC.
WSU faculty members from Education, Computer Science, Nursing, and the Residential College are part of a group that will engage in Second Life projects next term. This will include the use of Second Life to support instruction and student interation and the development of several new vitual learning spaces. Some of what's learned and built on WSU's island will be transported to a similar parcel of land maintained by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
If you are interested in exploring Second Life and visiting WSU's island, start by creating an avatar. Basic access to the Second Life grid is free. The NMC has created a wonderful "Orientation Island" within Second Life that will help you learn the basics.Visit the WSU island using the Second Life URL ("SLURL") below. This SLURL will allow you to teleport directly to the desired location. You will need to create an avatar before you can visit either of these locations.
Contact:
WSU eLearning Center
Winona State University
220 Krueger Library
175 West Mark Street
Winona, MN 55987
507-457-2900
elearning@winona.edu
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