There are many benefits to Second Life for delivering instruction for genetics in higher education. for how Second Life can be used for delivering instruction for genetics in higher education. There are many issues and obstacles that arise when trying to educate learners such as:
- Field Trip Attendance
- Mr. Hall has planned a field trip to a DNA exhibit for his 8th grade science class. In order to make accommodations for a few of his disabled students, he comes to find out that there is a limited access to the exhibit. Students can enter the museum exhibit, but there are areas that are overcrowded where someone in a wheelchair would be unable to effectively maneuver and get around, much less complete a turn. Even though they all get to attend he feels that some of those students missed out on some important details regarding DNA, to resolve the issue he comes across the Genome Island that will suit the key points that they missed and figures he can use it successfully to review and include those students who were unable to partake Applying the flipped learning initiative to apply what they have learned through review and including an exit ticket the learned concept.
- Visual Learners
- Hailey is in her 10th grade science class, she knows that sometimes her ADHD and dyslexia gives her problems trying to focus and grasp ideas that she reads about in her textbook. Recently, she finds herself even more perplexed with all the terminology and doubled helix and segmentation. She addresses her concerns to her teacher and explains her dilemma, her teacher has picked up on her visual learning style and suggest that she explore the Genome Island to help her put together concepts through the interactive models that it includes and help her connect visuals to descriptions as well. As Hailey interacts with the Genome Island, she can visit several sites that break down topics, gives her visuals, and included interactive activities that models process. Therefore, the content is a self-paced, scaffold to her skills, and offers support to elaborate on topics. Allowing for both asynchronous learning through self-guidance and synchronous learning of support from the instructor.
- Cost Effectiveness
- Mrs. Taylor has been told that there are limited resources to provide her class with a field trip to an DNA exhibit that is out of town 2 hours away. It is already towards the end of the year and there is no time to fund raise for such a trip, so she finds an alternative resource the Genome Island. This will save not only the expenditure; it is a lesson that can be broken down into segmented information of such an elaborate subject. It includes different areas to explore, interactive models, videos and media, and additional information/resources to obtain an in-depth understanding to each component. Making it a great choice for not only the school, but for student comprehension. Mrs. Taylor also creates extended activities to blend both the virtual and traditional experiences, allowing for some group activities as well.
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