Second Life virtual universities: A visual analysis

General academic objectives include producing an educational experience that is engaging, interactive, collaborative, experiential and productive. The goal is to promote learner engagement through the visual power of a newly adopted medium in education – universities in the multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) of Second Life. Attributes of the virtual reality aid visual learning in the online environment: (1) computer-generated content, (2) three-dimensional graphics, and (3) interactivity. Visual renditions of campus buildings and fellow students as avatars emotionally connect students to feel a sense of presence and community within the virtual learning platform. Additionally, the ability to see and hear their classmates’ avatars, despite geographical distances, further encourages collaborative efforts of innovative experiments with others. Second Life’s non-linear media model presents a mediated environment where 3D animations replicate natural movements and scenery to visually render the abstract, creating a sense of realistic connection, ultimately fostering learner engagement and interactio