When I first heard that a site like Second Life existed, I have to be honest in saying I thought it sounded like a big waste of time. I'm one of those parents who tells his son two or three times a night to "Get off the computer, and get outside and meet people." Now he can do both....
I don't advocate he spend his entire night on the computer in Second Life, but at least his time spent there would be interacting with "real" people...sort-of. Second Life is a site where you can actually live and interact as a different person. You create a vitual person that walks, runs, flies, or is magically teleported from one location to the next.
You can buy property, build homes, hold a job, get married, buy clothes, furniture, or anything you have enough money to afford...just as in real life. The implication in education and training are endless, and for me begin with the idea that an instructor, school, trainer, etc. can reach non-traditional students who are spending their time in Second Life.
Any organization can set-up a virtual classroom to hold classes or provide training for those unwilling or unable to attend in the traditional format. For me, I enjoy the personal interaction that comes with attending classes in-person, but for others, it might be the perfect solution to get additional knowledge without the need to leave their home.
A Few Words On Healthcare
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I just attended an online demonstration of how Second Life is being used to deliver graduate level classes and training at companys' like IBM. Interesting. Some of the examples seemed like they were using the technology just for the sake of using it (seemed like other delivery methods might have been more appropriate for that particular topic), but in general, it was effective. My biggest "concern" was that several participants were having trouble maneuvering their avatar. It made me wondered if the technology itself created a barrier or an added level of difficulty to the training.
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