Teaching in 3D Right from the beginning we focused on teaching with 3-dimensional objects. That means that we don't normally use videos, picture shows and so on. That belongs to a two dimensional Internet but Second Life is a 3D-world. Our teachers are all teachers in real Life too. So they know how to teach. We train them only in the methods of virtual-world-teaching. We have developed completely new methods of teaching. No two dimensional Powerpoint presentations anymore. We try to use the 3D-surrounding, we create objects that can clarify theories. You can touch these objects, move them around, view them from all sides and dismantle them. Our students can participate actively in classes - combine demo objects or create new ones. Some of our tools that we invented, we present in our 'Lernturm' that is located in the Southwest of our vhs Sim in Second Life. A good example for 3D-teaching is our maritime navigation class. Here we can offer simulations that cannot be done in real life classes. Of course all classes are taught in voice by using a headset, but all teachers also put the most important facts into the chat so that students have two ways of getting to know the information. We try not to link to external webpages because we found out that the residents like to do everything inworld. In most cases we can provide all materials inworld. All our teachers work without receiving money for their teaching. Everything they do, they do it in their free time. Everything we develop is Open Source. Usually all content in classes is presented online AND inworld. To link to external websites or PDF-files is not desirable, but could be given to students as a way to reread the content. Two-dimensional Powerpoint-presentations are not accepted by the students. The same goes for "normal" teaching in virtual lecture halls. The surrounding of a virtual classroom should be refurnished according to the class topic and the content of the class should be presented in three-dimensional models and simulations. By the way: that works for EVERY topic. :-) To have fun, to gain new experiences, to pass through an exciting time and to learn to know new people is worth all the time you invest.   How can you participate? Create an avatar, go online and contact Lexa Merlin inworld. Or you can fill in a form that you find inworld inside the main building (Infotreff). Contact in Germany: Christine Fischer Berliner Str. 8 38678 Claushal-Zellerfeld Phone. 05323/78611 E-Mail: info@vhs-sl.de Internet: www.vhs-sl.de Gain fascinating new experiences Discover your creativity in creating new learning environments Get to know interesting colleagues and participants from all over the world, from all professions and social backgrounds We love to walk along new paths and invent us anew each time. This is the reason that we can always offer new and exciting events and classes for our regular students but also for other interested people. Do you want to accompany us on this thrilling trip in unknown territories? Then contact us. We are always looking for passionate teachers for all learning topics. If you like to teach, speak German or are able to teach German students and are prepared to try new things, then contact us. Become a pioneer and be there when a new e-learningplatform is developed. Write part of the e-learning-history with your ideas!