'71 SA Grad Teaches Innovative Course at Bradley
Dr. Ed Lamoureux, a 1971 St. Anthony College Prep graduate, is teaching an innovative course at Bradley University (Peoria Illinois) in virtual reality.
Second Life* (SL) is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by almost 3 million residents from around the globe. SL has its own economy based on the Linden currency and residents buy and sell goods, services, and even property. Originally the “world” consisted of 64 acres, but now covers more than 65,000 acres.
Lamoureux is teaching a university class about the virtual world called “Second Life” in the virtual world. This fascinating course concept allows multimedia students to learn about a program similar to the products they hope to create in the real world.
“Most of our students want to learn to author things like Second Life,” Lamoureux said. “Doing meaningful things therein will help them further understand the products they want to make someday.”
“I benefit from being involved in the sorts of activities my students use new media for,” he said. “Doing so helps me keep up with the kids.”
The primary residents of the Second Life world are the 20 and 30 something's that grew up on video games. The difference here is that the residents do not just watch, but they create - everything from buildings to candles and open businesses that can generate real US dollars. Some of these residents are now earning more than US$100,000 per year from there Second Life operations. Additionally, with the number of residents spiraling, real world big business is starting to take note. Where else can they tap into this type of market segment?
In some circles, Second Life is becoming the golf of prior generations. People meet and socialize over their creations and discuss both the Second Life world and the real world. It is an interesting connection that is catching on in many of these circles.
Second Life (SL) is offered by Linden Lab, which is a privately held company based in San Francisco and was founded in 1999. According to their web site Linden Lab employs a senior development team bringing together expertise in physics, 3D graphics and networking. Team members have previously worked at leading entertainment companies such as Electronic Arts, Disney, THQ, Acclaim, Hasbro, and Mattel.
Getting back to Dr. Lamoureux, why is he interested in developing and teaching this course? Why am I interested in doing this?
"I’m a pretty strong game skeptic. However, most of our students are gaming enthusiasts, many of them entered our program so that they can learn the skills required for entry into the game production fields. I’m (mostly) the theory guy here, so I have to see how this stuff works. I don’t play games… so SL gives me a chance to see some of the stuff that 'they' do, but not have to get into X boxes and the like. "
"Further, distance and online learning are interesting to me, and in my view, are of crucial importance to the future of education. Our program is pretty interested in innovation- our students need exposure to great new stuff (though we can’t keep up with everyone on everything). We’ve decided to take the 'learning simulation' tack on games; the kids come in wanting games so we are teaching information that could be used that way, but we’re approaching it from a learning environment perspective."
Now this is innovative learning.
For additional information on Second Life*, please see this article, and then visit Ed's Bradley University site.
Ed would love your feedback and to catch up with old friends, drop him a line.
*Second Life has a teen grid for 14-17 year olds and an adult grid for those 18 and older - it is important to stay on the age appropriate grid.