Research issues | Methodology | Rationale | Outcomes and Deliverables | Dissemination

Research Methodology

We will establish a 'Future Learning Academy' in the campus area of Second Life and provide a private island for events. We will approach educators and librarians already working in Second Life to build on their insights (e.g. InfoIsland). SEAL will create regular events in the Second Life virtual environment bringing together learners, teachers, technologists and creative practitioners. The event will promote visions of the learning futures and distinguish possible, probable and preferred (normative) models. Exploring ideas in, through and around the Second Life environment itself will open up space for alternative views, discourses and challenges to the status quo.

The events will draw on a wide variety of disciplines, including technology, pedagogy, future gazing, change management, and successful approaches in the face to face environment (see for example Creative Partnerships). Using Second Life, with its known freeing-up influence, is likely to look beyond the usual empiricist and data-driven view of the future and enable exploration of meaning and constructed reality (Slaughter, 1997)

Research methodology will be based on cognitive mapping to create unique 'maps' of individuals and groups and their change in views, feelings and experiences over time. The resulting 'maps' have a normative element, thus capturing views of the future. We will use 'Decision -Explorer' (http://www.banxia.com/demain.html). The methodology is in use at the University of Leicester for studying change over time in teaching approaches and Prof Salmon has some 15 years experience in its use. It is richer and more accessible and useful for online environments, change research than conventional questionnaires or interviews.