Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds: Second Life and Google Earth Rome, London, California‌even the Moon. Locations that are physically impossible to travel to from a classroom in New Jersey are no longer inaccessible to students thanks to technology and the Internet. In the past, students were only able to see pictures or videos of places that they have never been. Now, however, through advancements in technology, vast interactive worlds have been developed through which teachers and students can explore all over the world – and beyond. In a matter of minutes, students can go from examining a 3D scale layout of Big Ben and the Parliament in London, to exploring craters on the moon.

Two different services that both offer the virtual world experience are Google Earth and Second Life. While these are not the only options available, they are two of the larger, more developed, and more popular programs currently available – and while they are both free, the programs are vastly different in their approach and resources.

Additionally, both programs have some areas where they either excel or are lacking. This is to be expected, however, since technology is ever evolving and rarely perfect. The goal then, as an educator, is to locate and utilize the best tool for the job. There will never be one perfect one size fits all solution.

This booklet will take you through both Second Life and Google Earth, discussing the pros and cons of each site, and looking at 20 different examples/reviews of places you can visit in either program. These reviews will provide a beginning foundation of how you, as an educator, might use either of these programs in your classroom.