Second Life - Tour of Eagle Island

Watching a slideshow

Eagle Island is a location in Second Life that is filled with presentations, videos, and even tours, that are centered around food safety.  The island's main purpose is to educate people on how food is delivered from the farm to the dinner table in a safe manner with high-quality products.  On my tour, I was able to walk around the island and watch slideshows about the poultry industry, as well as tour the Egg Processing Facility.  This tour really opened my mind as to how Second Life could be used in the classroom.  My initial impressions of Second Life for educational purposes was skeptical due to what felt like a free-for-all feel to the virtual world.  However, Eagle Island proved to me that there are places in Second Life devoted to strictly educational purposes, and it seems to be an effective way to allow students to explore and learn new concepts.

Touring the Egg Processing Facility on Eagle Island

My favorite part of Eagle Island was the tour of the of Egg Processing Facility.  This tour took me from room to room showing the different steps involved in bringing eggs to the dinner table.  The tour allowed me to explore at my own pace, but provided enough guidance with signs to keep me on track and focused.  Students may be more receptive to this style of learning, because it allows them to be in control and feel like they are actually in the room.  I'm excited to find more educational opportunities in Second Life to bring to my classroom.