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The Second Life Researcher Toolkit – An Exploration of Inworld Tools, Methods and Approaches for Researching Educational Projects in Second Life

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Researching Learning in Virtual Worlds

Part of the book series: Human-Computer Interaction Series ((HCIS))

Abstract

Academics are beginning to explore the educational potential of Second LifeTM (SL) by setting up inworld educational activities and projects. Given the relative novelty of the use of virtual world environments in higher education many such projects are still at pilot stage. However the initial pilot and experimentation stage will have to be followed by a rigorous evaluation process as for more traditional teaching projects. The chapter addresses issues about SL research tools and research methods. It introduces a “researcher toolkit” that includes: the various stages in the evaluation of SL educational projects and the theoretical framework that can inform such projects; an outline of the inworld tools that can be utilised or customised for academic research purposes; a review of methods for collecting feedback from participants and of the main ethical issues involved in researching virtual world environments; a discussion on the technical skills required to operate a research project in SL. The chapter also offers an indication of the inworld opportunities for the dissemination of SL research findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London, UK

    Elena Moschini

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  1. Elena Moschini
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Correspondence to Elena Moschini .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom

    Anna Peachey

  2. Lancaster Literacy Research Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YT, United Kingdom

    Julia Gillen

  3. Dept. C.I.S., University Paisley, High Street, Paisley, Renfrews., PA1 2BE, United Kingdom

    Daniel Livingstone

  4. East 10th Street 1275, Bloomington, 47405, U.S.A.

    Sarah Smith-Robbins

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Moschini, E. (2010). The Second Life Researcher Toolkit – An Exploration of Inworld Tools, Methods and Approaches for Researching Educational Projects in Second Life. In: Peachey, A., Gillen, J., Livingstone, D., Smith-Robbins, S. (eds) Researching Learning in Virtual Worlds. Human-Computer Interaction Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-047-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-047-2_3

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-046-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84996-047-2

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