The Potential Adoption of Second Life as a Platform for Learning

Abstract

Second Life (SL), an advanced virtual world technology used in education, creates an environment that facilitates engagement, collaboration, and conceptualization of knowledge to improve teaching and learning. The chapter investigates the potential of SL as a learning platform and students' perceptions on the ease of use of SL and usefulness as a learning platform, and challenges with SL implementation. The chapter adopts the qualitative research method, the Technology Acceptance Model, and a purposive sample drawn from fourth year Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The chapter reports that SL is perceived to be a useful learning platform by students and improves students' instinctive and creative learning ability. However, inadequate training and insufficient information technology (IT) infrastructure are the challenges that hamper SL implementation efforts. Thus, the chapter suggests adequate training, provision of infrastructure and creation of a support pathway for SL as a learning platform as the possible solutions.