Teaching in virtual worlds can be a balancing act. We are here because we want to find an effective and inclusive way to teach our subject, but we also have to spend time teaching the technology itself so that students can participate easily. This dual effort can sometimes be discouraging, but we must remind ourselves that virtual worlds are part of a new literacy that can provide access to a wider community; we owe it to our students to be sure they are comfortable with it.
Not everyone understands what we’re doing. We need to explain to our colleagues that we are not just teaching in a “game;” we are allowing our students, particularly distance students, the benefit of meeting and working collaboratively in creative and immersive virtual spaces.
This site is intended as a repository for information on teaching women’s and gender studies in Second Life, OpenSim, and other virtual worlds. If you have information that you would like to contribute, please contact elliebrewster at gmail.com. If you would like to join a discussion on women’s and gender studies in virtual worlds, please use the link below.
