3D Virtual Worlds in Academic Education

Abstract

The article is a continuation of the discussion initiated in the first part, Educational aspects of virtual worlds. The application of Second Life. Here, different aspects of academic education and academic research are discussed – also on the example of SL – which has its 13th anniversary this year. The article consists of a few parts. Part One explains the essence of virtual worlds as platforms for communication, education and research. Part Two discusses innovations in education provided in virtual campuses. Part Three presents selected academic events organized in SL, e.g. discussion groups and regular meetings of researchers and educators, as well as scientific conferences – both hybrid ones and performed entirely in SL. Part Four focuses on the popularization of virtual education and virtual campuses in Poland. Part Five is devoted to certificates and diplomas from virtual schools, as well as academic defenses performed in SL. Polish Academia Electronica is described shortly here, too. The last part presents a critical analysis of the virtualization of education. Here, both affordances and limitations of 3D virtual environments in education are mentioned.