1. Dr. Mary Balkun led a project using the virtual world Second Life to enhance student learning and engagement with Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The House of Seven Gables". 2. Students worked in groups to research characters and spaces from the novel and design interactive projects in Second Life representing their analyses. 3. While the technology presented challenges, students reported enjoying the hands-on experience and found it helped demonstrate their understanding of the text and cultural context in a more immersive way than traditional methods.

1. Exploring Literary Texts Through Virtual Worlds Dr. Mary Balkun, English Department Chair Mary Zedeck & Heidi Trotta , Instructional Designers

2. A Short Introduction to Second Life….

4. Unique Characteristics of Second Life 100% User Generated Content Built in modeling tools - users can create almost anything they can imagine Built in scripting tools - users can create interactivity and immersive environments In World Economy Supports an in-world currency (Linden Dollars) Enables users to buy and sell goods and services Linden Dollars can be exchanged for real US Dollars Customization of Avatars Users can create highly customized digital versions of themselves Sharing of Media Audio and video can be streamed in-world

6. Second Life Statistics As of August 2007: Total Residents – 9 million Approx. Regular Users – 1 million regular users Approx. Business Owners in-world- 45 thousand Approx $6.5 million US $ exchanged between users per month More than 170 educational institutions in Second Life…

8. The New Media Consortium International, not-for-profit consortium 225 colleges, universities, and research centers, largest educational presence in SL NMC Virtual Worlds – Land lease and development services to members

9. SHU’s Second Life 2006 - Pilot Industrial/Organizational Psychology 2006 - SHU Science Faculty identified biosphere environments 2007 - Two Faculty Innovation Grands Awarded 2007 - Lease of Full Island – various price structures and arrangements

10. “ House of Seven” Project

17. The SL House of the Seven Gables Let’s take a look…

21. Dr. Balkun and Her Students Final Presentations – 12/17/07