The Educators Coop: A virtual world model for real world collaboration

✍ Scribed by Leslie Jarmon; Joe Sanchez

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 47 KB
• Volume: 45
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0044-7870
• DOI: 10.1002/meet.2008.1450450382

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Research is presented examining the effectiveness of Second Life (SL), a 3‐D virtual world, as a collaborative work tool for a virtual group of 42 real educators and researchers from diverse disciplines and geographical regions. The study focuses on phase one of research being conducted in the Educators Coop, the first long term virtual residential community established in SL specifically for educators and researchers. Six primary themes emerged from the content analysis of the members' responses to the open‐ended interview question “How have you used the Educators Coop?” Primarily, the 3‐D virtual space is being used to collaborate, to learn, to do real work, to work alone, to network with neighbors, and to build. Some challenges include overloaded work schedules, time zones differences, and computer technology requirements and glitches.