Secondlifegrid.net > Programs > Education

Education Programs

The Second Life Grid provides a powerful platform for interactive experiences that bring a new dimension to learning. A large, active education community is engaged in the Grid. Institutions such as Harvard University, Texas State University and Stanford University have all set up virtual campuses where students can meet, attend classes and create content together. Today, there are over 200 educators from nearly as many universities and colleges using the Second Life Grid for classes, research, learning and projects with their students.

Find out more about Second Life use in Education:

What can Second Life Grid do for my organization?

Educational institutions can use the Second Life Grid to create a safe environment to enhance experiential learning, allowing individuals to practice skills, try new ideas, and learn from their mistakes. Prepare your students or employees for real-world experiences by using Second Life as a simulation!

Students and educators can work together on the Second Life Grid from anywhere in the world as part of a globally networked virtual classroom environment. Using the Second Life Grid as a supplement to traditional classroom environments also provides new opportunities for enriching an existing curriculum.

Linden Lab's educator program allows organizations to further their inworld programs and development. This program provides discounted land rates and group mailing lists. There is a dedicated education area where several organizations have adjacent land; for more information on getting the educational discounted pricing, visit the Special Order Form.

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How Are Other Organizations Using Second Life Grid?

The Second Life Grid platform is already being used by hundreds of leading universities and school systems. Below are some examples of various organizations that have taken advantage of the Second Life Grid as part of their ongoing educational efforts. The links below take you to the in-world campuses of these universities. You'll need a Second Life account to visit.

For a more extensive, up-to-date list, visit simteach.

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What considerations do I need to have when working with minors in Second Life?

The Second Life Grid is for adults only (18+). We also have Teen Second Life which is strictly for teens (13-17). For more details, please see the Teen Second Life Terms of Service.

We don't allow anyone under 18 years old in the adult world of Second Life, and likewise we do not allow adult Residents (18+) on the mainland of Teen Second Life. Both of these worlds are separate from each other, and we do not allow in-world travel or communication between them.

Teen Second Life is a world for teens, created and shaped by teens. Please remember that falsely registering as a teen to gain access to Teen Second Life is a serious offense, and cause for permanent banishment from the Second Life Grid.

The only adults allowed on the mainland in Teen Second Life are Linden employees. If you are an educator and want to work with teens in Teen Second Life, there is the opportunity to buy a private region in Teen Second Life and participate, but you will not be able to leave that region and visit the Teen Second Life mainland. Teens from the mainland will be able to visit your private region if/when you choose, but they will be automatically informed that there are adults present. Also, if you are planning to use a private region in Teen Second Life, you will need to provide a background check for security and safety reasons. If you'd like more details about getting a private region for education and working in Teen Second Life, please see this wiki page for details.

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Educator Resources

Looking for more support? Connect with other educators or non-profits using Second Life Grid at the following links, which provide more activities, support, communities and information about Second Life Grid use:

Mailing Lists

You may also want to subscribe to some of the following mailing lists for educators in Second Life:

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Resources for International Government Agencies

  • Second Life Wiki: Government Resources: A comprehensive wiki page where international government agencies can learn more about the Second Life Grid and how to best leverage it as a platform.

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How do I get started?

Ready to get started? Linden Lab has a special offer for educators interested in trying out the Second Life Grid for the first time. It's a temporary land grant for the duration of a semester, and is called Campus: Second Life.

If you would like a place of permanence on the Second Life Grid, Private Region ownership lets you create a secure "intranet" space with restricted membership for your students and faculty, or you can open it up to be accessible to everyone on the Second Life Grid. We offer a discount for Private Regions to educational institutions and non-profit organizations. You can find details on the Private Region order page. You can also optionally buy a plot of land on the mainland of the Second Life Grid if you want something smaller and permanent (we don't offer any educational/nonprofit discount for such plots).

For more information on getting started, click here.

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