Second Life Virtual World

By Karen Vanegas

McKinley Tech is creating its own virtual world with partnership of the Holocaust Museum. Second Life is an Internet community that lets people meet and interact inside a three-dimensional virtual world. McKinley is the first high school in the world to be part of the program.

Student creating Second Life character.

McKinley students are also going to be part of the Walk for the American Cancer Society. The students will walk online in the Second Life virtual world. They are working on designing the virtual relay for the walkers.

The three-dimensional world has the look and feel of a video game. Students can create and design characters. It was created by Waltham Company founded in 2003 by five Harvard University students.

"Designing the characters is my favorite part, because I choose physical features to go with the different outfits my character wears," said Melanie Kates, 10th grader.

Second Life is used by 30,000 to 40,000 people at any given time. Over 6 million people worldwide have signed up for Second Life.

"With Second Life, students can create a world to teach history rather than imagining how events occurred. You can bring it to life," said Mr. Kelsey, head of the Second Life program.

Second Life members of the Holocaust Museum's Internship program can meet online as their virtual character. Students can also meet other students from all over the world. Anyone can sign up for Second Life online and design their character and world.

"It's amazing to see how much technology has advanced," said Christian Green 11th grader.

By Anna Kinsman |  May 29, 2007; 11:50 AM ET News
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