Virtual Worlds - Real Experiences<http://blog.museotech.net/2008/04/virtual-worlds-real-experiences.html> There's a lot of hype about virtual worlds. Everyone is excited about SecondLife, Whyville and other virtual environments. Many organizations are rushing in to mount a virtual exhibit in one of these simulated environments. What why are we doing it? How can virtual environments provide real learning experiences?
This blog posting is intended to get you thinking about the vast potential of virtual environments. So let's look at an example. Art Conservation Training As most of you know, hands-on training is the best way to learn. There is nothing like direct observation and interaction with objects. Virtual environments provide some of these same advantages. Let's discuss a scenario where a museum might want to teach museum visitors about conservation and restoration. The museum might set up a gallery in a virtual environments. The gallery might be stunning in design. Vaulted ceilings. Windows that provide natural lighting. Perhaps even a small fountain above a koi pond. But a closer look can show problems that threaten the irreplaceable objects in the collection... Read more...<http://blog.museotech.net/2008/04/virtual-worlds-real-experiences.html> Posted by Jim Angus at 1:37 PM <http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8723645941749371243&postID=8353220205988542728> Labels: virtual environments education teaching museums learning Blog.MuseoTech.Net <http://blog.museotech.net/> is a new blog with an emphasis on museum technology and social media. Because I'm also a museum educator, there will often be a focus on education. If you are a museum technologist and would like to join the MuseoTech network<http://www.museotech.net/museotechnetwork-linkedingroup>(a LinkedIn group) or are interested in becoming an author on the MuseoTech blog, please contact me. If you're a museum educator and would like to be linked to other museum educators, please join the Museum Education Roundtable<http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/35702/3FD464276887>on LinkedIn.
