The Second Life of UK Academics

Second Life (SL) [1] is an Internet-based virtual world developed by Linden Research Inc (commonly referred to as Linden Lab) and launched in 2003. A downloadable client program called the 'Second Life Viewer' enables its users ('residents') to interact with each other through avatars, providing an advanced level of social networking in the setting of a virtual world. Residents can explore, meet other residents, socialise, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade items (virtual property) and services. Interest in SL among academics has been growing for some time. This has been fostered by Linden Lab, who provide various information resources [2], support and (heavily trafficked) mailing lists [3] for educators developing within SL. Various surveys into education use, such as that recently released by the New Media Consortium (NMC) [4], has also stoked academic curiosity. Consequently, an increasing number of universities, colleges, libraries, research centres and other academic entities have created a presence within SL (more commonly known as being 'in-world'). In the UK Higher and Further Education sector, it is not just universities and colleges which are developing in SL. For example, JISCmail [5] and the JISC Regional Support Centres [6] have an SL presence, as has the Scottish Further Education Unit [7]. UCAS [8] even built an island to assist potential students going through the clearing process this year.