Research Information System
17th International Conference on ICT in Education, Research and Industrial Applications. Integration, Harmonization and Knowledge Transfer. Volume I: Main Conference, PhD Symposium, and Posters, ICTERI 2021, Kherson, Ukraine, 28 September - 02 October 2021, vol.3013, pp.217-225, (Full Text)
The purpose of this qualitative research study is to investigate teachers' perceptions of the use of the 3D simulated virtual world Second Life, and factors that affect their willingness to integrate virtual worlds into foreign language instruction. Specifically, participants' perceptions toward issues and viability of their current practices of Second Life (SL) were examined. The potential of SL in education has yet to be fully explored and exploited. Eight educators who have been teaching English as a foreign language online and utilizing SL to adult learners since 2006 were interviewed. Data analysis consisted of three phases: Phase I-Breakdown of the text; Phase II- Examination of the breakdown; and Phase III- Integration of the examination. Themes of the interviews that surfaced during the interviews were categorized into current practices, perceptions, and viability. Analysis of responses indicate that SL is used as pedagogy and another form of education for meeting students' social needs using today's advanced technology. Regarding the viability of SL were as follows: building 3D representations of learning objects; attractions: animation/graphic design/virtual words/games; and cultural diversity The viability and future of SL are promising; in particular, Second Life has great potential as a 3D simulated virtual school that provides newly developed pedagogy to meet participants' social needs.