Faculty Publications and Presentations

Publication Date

Summer 7-2009

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Education

Comments

This article was originally published in Innovate (http://www.innovateonline.info/) as: Walker, V., and A. Rockinson-Szapkiw. 2009. Educational opportunities for clinical counseling simulations in Second Life. Innovate 5 (5). http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=711 (accessed May 31, 2009). The article is reprinted here with permission of the publisher, The Fischler School of Education and Human Services at Nova Southeastern University.

Abstract

This article will present the pedagogical opportunities of using a 3D virtual learning environment in counselor skills development. A critical competency of counseling students is their ability to demonstrate basic counseling skills including attending, listening, empathy, warmth, and respect. For online educators, assisting their students in developing these skills in realistic counseling situations can be difficult. With the development of new 3D virtual learning environments such as Second Life, educators may be able to assist students with an environment more conducive to developing effective counseling skills. The authors will discuss the possible uses of Second Life in role-playing simulations and offer practical recommendations on the use of a virtual world learning environment in student skill development. This article should provide useful information for instructors and administrators considering virtual environments for role-playing simulations.

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