“Place” and Its Pedagogical Expression in Social Virtual Worlds

“Place” and Its Pedagogical Expression in Social Virtual Worlds

By Meryl McBride (aka Merrill Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of Geography, Colorado State University)

            Every avatar in SL functions in space and each occupies places in that space.  The purpose of this presentation is to examine the meaning of “place” in social virtual worlds from a geographer’s perspective.  We will apply common definitions of place to the virtual-world context, asking the fundamental question:  Is place still a place in social virtual worlds?  Finally, we will look at the promise of social virtual worlds for building “pedagogical places” that offer new and different approaches to teaching.  Find that favorite “place” by the fire and join us!