ERIC Number: EJ965894
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-4820
EISSN: N/A
"This above All: To Thine Own Self Be True"--Ethical Considerations and Risks in Conducting Higher Education Learning Activities in the Virtual World "Second Life" [TM]
Childs, Mark; Schnieders, H. Lori; Williams, Gweno
Interactive Learning Environments, v20 n3 p253-269 2012
Using virtual worlds as media for learning and teaching gives rise to the potential for many unique ethical problems. Some of these arise due to the nature of the engagement with these virtual worlds, in which the students create a virtual representation, called an avatar, which may enable a sense of embodiment, and hence exposure, within the world. Many of these environments are also not dedicated to learning and teaching but are social worlds inhabited by communities of users; learning and teaching activities may therefore more resemble those of a field trip than a classroom experience and consequently the potential for conflict and anxiety between students and this wider community. This article explores the various ethical issues of learning and teaching in virtual worlds, and draws on the examples of two case studies to illustrate these issues with students' comments. The authors then offer their own personal responses to the ethical issues raised; rather than offering solutions the paper acknowledges that these issues are ones that need further reflection and consensus-building for the educational community. (Contains 5 notes.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Opportunities, Simulated Environment, Self Concept, Computer Simulation, Social Systems, Ethics, Deception, Social Networks, Student Attitudes, Resistance (Psychology), Culture Conflict, Internet, Differences, Physical Environment, Behavior Standards, Social Behavior, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Privacy, Field Trips, Barriers, Technology Uses in Education, Teacher Responsibility, Counselor Training, English Literature
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A