The virtual world of Second Life offers users places to meet, explore, share, learn and socialize. Where a few years ago everyone would have to meet physically to attend a workshop they can now have an equivalent experience, with equivalent content and educational value in a virtual space. The same way, there are places to meet and socialize, make new friends, hold conversations and satisfy that need to be around others.
While this initially may seem like a trend I believe that a new generation growing up to having virtual socialization will increasingly use virtual spaces for many aspects of their everyday life. Distance education is rapidly becoming part of every College and University's offerings. Soon every graduate will have had, at some point in their education, taken an online course. At the same time soon every adult in our society will have participated in a videoconferencing session, a video phone call, a Skype call, or any other experience where communication has taken place remotely. The use of virtual environments for these purposes will keep growing for it satisfies a human need and offers users a satisfying experience.
Rhymes of History (Thornburg, n.d.) speaks to the human being, the social creation that we are, pointing how as a group we experience and learn. Finding new ways to keep improving what makes us how we are will always be welcomed and accepted provided it makes being so easier. Virtual socialization enables communicating with many from anywhere in a simple way. Barriers of language and culture are minimized. Barriers of skill and access are established. New experiences affect our development and transform our future. New tools, new schemas, new results...
Luis,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you've submitted for our approval an excellent posting :o) As I read our respective blog entries for this module, it became apparent we each had recognized that "rhymes of history" speak to our existence as inherently social beings. Our need to connect with other human beings -- from our moment of birth -- is surely a critical factor in the perpetuation of the human race through the ages. Today virtual socialization is allowing us to become connected in ways we've never been able to imagine before. I agree, too, that what may have appeared at first to be a "trend" is rapidly becoming a lifestyle for many of us. I don't think anyone can deny the fact that the latest social media tools are working to significantly transform us -- cognitively, emotionally, and culturally.
Luis
ReplyDeleteNice post. As we have learned social networking and collaboration is an essential part of online education. We learn from our contacts and associations. It is evident that man has been able to collaborate on many topics and any types of software or hardware that enhances collaboration will also enhance learning.