I just love this article from bbc news that Hannah sent me. It gives an insight in how Second Life is used for learning, it’s not just a game. In my book I have written quite some stuff here.
“Imagine if we were to use the concept of virtual worlds more as a learning aid or experimental tool, to have the ability to get out of ourselves and see the world through the eyes of somebody else. Imagine if children were to learn history and geography by interacting with a virtual world in addition to learning the dates and facts from a textbook. Would this not help us to become better people who are less judgemental and open to new ideas?”
OK maybe I’m dreaming here, always the optimist but what the hell, what have we got to lose by trying. If using virtual worlds as a tool to enable us to understand better real life problems, seems a pretty good idea to go there actually, check it out, try and understand all this hype, what are people talking about. What do you think?
your words are like music to my ears hannah, let us hope that we are many 🙂
I think you’re spot on, Karen. There are many problems in this world today, because we CAN’T (or won’t?) see the world from someone else’s viewpoint. It’s all about me me me. If I could stand in another’s shoes, I may begin to understand the value of tolerance, understand the fears and darknesses of another being and show that we are all capable of more than we give ourselves credit for! That level of empathy and interpersonal capacity has the power to create true change.