Education in Virtual Worlds, Second Life

Breaking Barriers: First Virtual Grad in Second Life

As the shape of education changes and educators slowly move some of their coursework to virtual worlds, Texas State Technical College’s virtual college in Second Life has announced its first graduate, becoming possibly the first graduate of a certificate program entirely in a virtual space, according to eMediaWire.

Julie Shannon completed the school’s digital media design program, which was offered exclusively in SL. The virtual ceremony included a processional, a pledge of allegiance, the national anthem and the conferring of her degree. The ceremony was also notable as representatives from Linden Lab were on hand.

“This is a significant milestone for education not only because it is the first graduate from an environment of this nature, but due to the fact that this single event represents the validity of virtual world education as a real method for educational delivery,” said Chris Gibson, associate vice president of Educational Technology.

“Thank you again for this once in a (second) life opportunity,” Shannon said in her address.

No word on whether the grad rented a super-stretch Hummer limo or arrived in a steampunk airship.

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