A 3D Virtual World Teaching and Learning Platform for Computer Science Courses in Second Life

Abstract

Key factors contributing to the high attrition rate for computer science students include loss of interest in material and lack of practice. In order to better engage students and improve retention rate, we have developed a novel teaching and learning platform in the Second Life to immerse and engage students in the same way that today's best video games grab and keep players' attention. Our goal is to stimulate students' interests, motivation and creativity and help them overcome the difficulties in study. The platform can enrich the existing curriculum and can be used as a supplement to the traditional classroom environments. It may also be applied to distance learning courses.

Design, simulation and virtual implementation of a novel fundamental programmable logic controllers laboratory in a 3D virtual world

“…12,[15][16][17][18][19] Technical details about SL are examined in reference studies. 14,20,21 Many universities, more than 400 educational institutes, educational organizations, companies such as IBM, Intel, NASA, commercial and social networks are using SL. [14][15][16]19,[22][23][24] In SL, an emergency evacuation simulation, 25 an emergency service for emergency medical education, 26 an interactive museum, 27 an English language learning environment, 28 a course environment for electromagnetic theory, 29 an educational environment for power transformers, 30 a hydropower power plant for the education of students 31 and a 3D virtual classroom environment for the training of renewable energy systems 32 have been created.…”