Exploring Perceptions Toward Education in 3-D Virtual Environments: An Introduction to “Second Life”

ABSTRACT

If educational institutions want to effectively prepare the 21st century community that works with colleagues globally and across time zones, they need to start teaching the students using the next-generation technology tools. One of the tools available today is “Second Life.” It is a computer-based simulated virtual environment that allows users to interact in real time. The tool has also gained attention from educators worldwide as a medium to offer all or some of their course activities to students in Second Life. This study explores students' perceptions of using Second Life as an instructional tool in teaching online or blended tourism and hospitality courses in the future. Multiple regressions are used to test the technology acceptance model (TAM) for measuring the research objective. Findings suggest that the students have high and positive perceptions of using virtual environments such as second life as teaching tools for future tourism and hospitality courses.

KEYWORDS:

• Virtual environment
• Second Life
• usefulness
• playfulness
• ease of use
• student learning