Second thoughts

Leicester University has launched a research project to identify the educational benefits of virtual worlds - in the web-based virtual world Second Life. This week it established an "experimental research island" in Second Life to provide a place to examine how learning and teaching in 3D worlds can best be achieved. It aims to address questions such as what can universities achieve to enhance learning in Second Life that they cannot do on real-life campuses; which disciplines and topics benefit most; whether it is divisive to have virtual worlds for educational purposes; and whether virtual worlds are merely fads or gimmicks.