How to be an Avatar: Reflections on the Affordances of Virtual Flesh

Avatars are problematic in higher education in that they are a new and unknown medium. What is the role of avatars in higher education? What might an avatar student be able to do that a “real” flesh and blood student could not? Why use avatars? Why shy away from their unreal meanderings? In this 5-minute pitch I examine how the avatar space of Second Life has been used to encouraged students and teachers to communicate in new ways. I explore the different uses of avatars in virtual educational settings and highlight a number of common issues and problems that teachers and students have faced in cyberspace. Ultimately I present for analysis some food for thought about the joys and perils of jumping down the edu-cyber-wormhole.

Keywords

Second Life, Avatar, Virtual Classrooms