Misinformed journalists, cynics, stupid people and the generally ignorant…. read on. In response to the repeated blog posts and articles that I’m getting frankly bored of coming across, the ones where Second Life is slated in a hugely uneducated manner, check this out.

Now, obviously whatever I write about Second Life will be largely good, given the fact that I openly champion the virtual world and actually spend time on my own Second Life blog. But rather than me just talking about how amazing it is and how fantastic the educational opportunities are, why don’t you go and take a look for yourself? Below are ten places in Second Life where you can learn something new. Go on…. try them and then go do your write ups, articles and blog posts.

1. Language Lab

The language lab teaches English to non-native speakers (and really, some of the ‘Second Life is shit’ type blog posts I’ve come across tell me that some apparently native speakers could use a lesson too). There is no charge here – all lessons are free and some classes are taught by qualified ESL tutors. And guess what? There’s nobody here naked/humping someone else’s wife/talking in binary code! Shock, horror.

Visit it here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Languagelab/100/177/35

2. Holocaust Memorial Museum

A 3D, interactive museum currently featuring an exhibition on the Night of the Broken Glass. Walk through a 3d replica at no cost to yourself and find out more about one of history’s greatest tragedies.

Find it here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/US%20Holocaust%20Museum1/43/52/26

3. The Learning Experience

The question about this is place is what can’t you learn? TLE is ‘Second Life’s free university’ offering completely free classes in a huge range of subjects including literature, various languages and computer related skills too.

Find it here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Raziel/115/129/24

4. HealthInfo Island

Healthinfo Island in Second Life offers information on health and health related issues. As well as plenty of text and reference materials, HealthInfo island is also striving to make someone available 24 hours a day for Second Life residents to direct questions to. There are frequently changing exhibits here too. Oh yes, and once again, it’s all free.

Visit here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/140/23

5. Smithsonian® Latino Museum

An incredible place featuring research and scholarship papers, exhibitions and a number of educational activies all relating to Latin America and US Latinos. This location is run by the real life Smithsonian Institution. And yes, it’s all free. Is that getting predictable? There are several sims here exhibiting latino art, culture and music amongst other things. You’ll need plenty of time here.

Teleport in world: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Smithsonian%20Latino%20Lobby/127/118/21

6. Virtual Stomach Museum

Fairly random, as far as Second Life education related venues are concerned. But nonetheless, you’ll learn something new here. The Virtual Stomach Museum is all about, well, as you may have guessed, the stomach. It deals predominantly with ulcers and stomach cancer and is highly educational. And yes…. cost free. Imagine that.

Here it is: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hoshi%20Island/242/228/24

7. Goethe-Institut

Learn German (yes, for free). There’s a daily German chat (moderated and including German native speakers) and plenty of German cultural information too. Anyone who’s ever learned a language will tell you the value of conversing with native speakers and here you can do so cost free from the comfort of your own home.

Go learn: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Goethe%20Institut/72/151/25

8. Raymaker Field Studies Centre at Praxis

An incredible sim with some amazing 3d builds, educating about geology and geography. Where else can you walk inside a volcano and learn about how they’re formed. This place is amazing. And it won’t cost you a penny to visit.

Go,go, go: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Praxis/226/193/101

9. First World War Digital Poetry Archive

A moving exhibition featuring war poetry, as well as audio accounts of life in the trenches as recorded by soldiers who served there. This one is one you should not miss. It doesn’t cost athing to visit and you will come out feeling inspired, enlightened and terribly saddened all at the same time.

Visit in world here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Frideswide/240/160/148

10. Spaceflight Museum

Go learn about space travel in this interactive, massively education virtual museum. There’s some great 3D replicas of various spacecraft here too. Yes, yes, it’s another freebie and it’s really well put together. Shock, you might even learn something new!

Visit it in world: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Alpha/55/72/23

And this list is just 10…. 10 of countless educational locations in Second Life. This doesn’t mention the Harvard Law School… the Open University, The Washington State University or any of the other academic establishments offering classes to their students in here.

Go on, go educate yourself.

Warning: Your mind may be expanded.

Categories: Places to Go

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 8:47 pm and is filed under Places to Go. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.