Examining the Ways in which People Learn in Social Groups in Second Life: An Ethnographic Study

摘要

Virtual worlds are computer-simulated spaces which allow a large number of users to interact in real-time through an array of communication modes. The social and participatory nature of virtual worlds provide new places of assembly and generate opportunities for forming groups in which users can share information and engage in joint activities, potentially leading to a range of learning outcomes. The purported benefits are especially evident in user-created virtual worlds such as Second Life* (http://secondlife.com). Given the possibilities that virtual worlds may have for information sharing and learning, there is a need to understand these relatively new environments and the activities within them. This study adopts an ethnography of three social groups in Second Life over a nine-month period, employing methods such as participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Specifically, it seeks to examine information sharing within the groups and investigate the extent to which members learn from the group's activities.