I have only recently been introduced to Second Life and my feelings are mixed. It is very dependent on your connection speed. The slower the connection, the worse the experience. It can be confusing controlling your avatar and figuring out where and what you need to do.
The educational applications hold promise. Here is a video about some of the possible uses.
MaryAnnCLT (August 2007) Educational Uses of Second Life [Video File]. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA
There is also this video from the International Society for Technology in Education on the use of Second Life in education.
KnowclueKidd (2008, August 28) International Society for Technology in Education – ISTE Second Life [Video File]. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP137QgYKvQ
Rachel Gollub also lists the ability to illustrate points visually as an advantage to using Second Life in the classroom.
While there are some advantages to using Second Life in the classroom, I cannot foresee using in my classrooms. I am having trouble getting time in my lab for internet time as it is. Several of my students do not have access to computers or the internet which further complicates matters. There is also the adult section of Second Life that students could wander into.
Gollub, R., (2004). Second life and education. Retrieved from acm.org website: http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds14-1/secondlife.html
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