12.30 Tuesday 12 July in the multi media room

 

Digital Selves: Lessons from Second Life.

This is being given by Debbie McCormick is Lecturer from Monash University in Australia. Debbie’s major research focus is an exploration of the concept of emotional connection to avatars (visual representations of the ‘self’) in virtual environments. Her other research interests include technology and education, distance education, technology and religion, and comparative religion.

In this seminar, Debbie will discuss her experiences of teaching a final year undergraduate subject, Digital Selves, in the public virtual world, Second Life. The goal of Digital Selves is to prepare graduates of a large Australian research-intensive university with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to become professional, ethical and insightful members of the virtual workplace. Insights into the day-to-day running of an inworld subject are provided and some unexpected benefits of virtual worlds teaching, especially in relation to inclusiveness and student engagement, are discussed.

There will be an opportunity to talk to Debbie afterwards about her work but also more generally about work going on at Monash which is a ‘strategic’ partner of Warwick.