Department of Psychology students will be the first at the University to experience a lecture through the virtual world Second Life.
Second Life is a 3D virtual online world where users can customise their own character known as an avatar. Second Life residents can explore, meet other residents, socialise, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services with one another, or travel throughout the world.
A wealth of research has indicated that the active participation within virtual environments can enhance learning. One of the features of Second Life is virtual universities with lecture theatres which can be used to enable distance learning so students can log into lectures from anywhere in the world. Many universities, particularly in the USA, are incorporating Second Life into their academic provision.
The 16 Cyberpsychology students will engage with the lecture, which takes place in February, through computers, either at the University or at home, as it takes place in Second Life.
Senior lecturer Dr Mark Brosnan said: “The idea behind the virtual lecture is to highlight some of the concepts of psychology that underpin the phenomenon of social networking and how the internet can facilitate learning.
“Rather than simply lecture upon the principles of Cyberpsychology, students will actually be immersed within the very environments that they are learning about. Students will critically reflect upon how psychological theory relates to their online experiences.”
Dr Richard Joiner, who is also involved in the project, added: “In the future this sort of lecture could be delivered to students at home or elsewhere in the University.”
The team led by Dr Jeff Gavin, was successful in a bid to the Teaching Development Fund to purchase land and some rooms in Second Life.
The funds also gave students the chance to design their own Second Life character and they are asked to keep a journal of their experience.