66 · Survey Results: Survey Questions and Responses
Course Support
“Several courses on campus are using Second Life. We are developing a presence on the Second Life campus
to connect users with our collections and services. Development involves partnerships with others in learning
technologies on campus.”
“We have purchased an island in Second Life which we named Anteater Island. The goals of this investment
are to foster and support creative design through course-related instruction and faculty research. In previous
quarters courses such as Computer Games as Art, Culture and Technology and Reasoning and Modeling with
Graphical Models made using Anteater Island an integral part of the syllabus. Student teams in these classes
not only used Second Life as a platform to build computer games, they also used it as a collaborative work
environment. UCI Libraries wants to partner with creative faculty who are interested in this new technology.”
In Development
“We’re testing, but mainly for training and connecting to researchers.”
“The Libraries are beginning to experiment with creating an island in Second Life where staff can interact and
also learn to use the tool. The participation is in a very early stage, and we do not yet have a specific URL
available. As this exploration continues, we expect that applications for users will be developed.”
“Our institution doesn’t have any programs yet we don’t have a library building just one of our librarians is
currently experimenting in Second Life so we’ll be ready to participate when our institution starts programs
there.”
“Not using at this time but to intend to explore, at least initially, with providing instruction.”
“We are only experimenting with this at the present time.”
“The Health Sciences Center Library is currently experimenting together with the University’s New Media
group on learning and library functions on the Second Life island purchased by the University.”
Other
“The Libraries are collaborating with the Office of Instructional and Research Technology, a department
within the Office of Information Technology, to develop and implement Rutgers Island. RI is currently in
development. The Libraries are paying half the year one costs for the Island and developing one module for
RI.”
“The National Library of Medicine (NLM) chose to re-create their online Web resource Tox Town in a virtual
world to experiment with expanding the concept of Tox Town from a 2-D environment to a 3-D experience.
The Web-based version of Tox Town allows for limited interactivity with chemicals and locations. By using
a virtual world such as Second Life, the NLM is able to give a 3-D interaction that could be similar to a real
life experience. Virtual worlds also offer the opportunity for several avatars to interact with each other and
the environment to create shared learning experiences. The NLM plans to offer trainings, meeting areas,
education displays for Tox Town and other NLM resources.”
“We have been a little dubious about the positive effect of creating a virtual presence in sites like Second Life.
What is the ROI? My impression so far is that it is very low. Do our students, faculty, and staff really expect to
do library research or get library assistance within Second Life? Even if we promoted it heavily my impression
is that it would not get utilized enough to justify the work put into it. In this age of decreasing library staff
and library staff time, we have to be more circumspect regarding the tools we choose to invest in.”
Course Support
“Several courses on campus are using Second Life. We are developing a presence on the Second Life campus
to connect users with our collections and services. Development involves partnerships with others in learning
technologies on campus.”
“We have purchased an island in Second Life which we named Anteater Island. The goals of this investment
are to foster and support creative design through course-related instruction and faculty research. In previous
quarters courses such as Computer Games as Art, Culture and Technology and Reasoning and Modeling with
Graphical Models made using Anteater Island an integral part of the syllabus. Student teams in these classes
not only used Second Life as a platform to build computer games, they also used it as a collaborative work
environment. UCI Libraries wants to partner with creative faculty who are interested in this new technology.”
In Development
“We’re testing, but mainly for training and connecting to researchers.”
“The Libraries are beginning to experiment with creating an island in Second Life where staff can interact and
also learn to use the tool. The participation is in a very early stage, and we do not yet have a specific URL
available. As this exploration continues, we expect that applications for users will be developed.”
“Our institution doesn’t have any programs yet we don’t have a library building just one of our librarians is
currently experimenting in Second Life so we’ll be ready to participate when our institution starts programs
there.”
“Not using at this time but to intend to explore, at least initially, with providing instruction.”
“We are only experimenting with this at the present time.”
“The Health Sciences Center Library is currently experimenting together with the University’s New Media
group on learning and library functions on the Second Life island purchased by the University.”
Other
“The Libraries are collaborating with the Office of Instructional and Research Technology, a department
within the Office of Information Technology, to develop and implement Rutgers Island. RI is currently in
development. The Libraries are paying half the year one costs for the Island and developing one module for
RI.”
“The National Library of Medicine (NLM) chose to re-create their online Web resource Tox Town in a virtual
world to experiment with expanding the concept of Tox Town from a 2-D environment to a 3-D experience.
The Web-based version of Tox Town allows for limited interactivity with chemicals and locations. By using
a virtual world such as Second Life, the NLM is able to give a 3-D interaction that could be similar to a real
life experience. Virtual worlds also offer the opportunity for several avatars to interact with each other and
the environment to create shared learning experiences. The NLM plans to offer trainings, meeting areas,
education displays for Tox Town and other NLM resources.”
“We have been a little dubious about the positive effect of creating a virtual presence in sites like Second Life.
What is the ROI? My impression so far is that it is very low. Do our students, faculty, and staff really expect to
do library research or get library assistance within Second Life? Even if we promoted it heavily my impression
is that it would not get utilized enough to justify the work put into it. In this age of decreasing library staff
and library staff time, we have to be more circumspect regarding the tools we choose to invest in.”
