Barnfield Goes Virtual

Barnfield College in Luton is building its own island in the sun to help transform teaching in the classroom.

The software programme, based on Second Life technology, centres around a virtual world, called Barnfield Island. It features a college, schools, theatre and sports facilities including a ski slope.

Students create their own avatar who can walk, fly, build objects and join in events. Avatars are customised to taste.

Peter Arnold, Barnfield College's Deputy Head of e-Learning who leads the project, said: "You are only limited by your imagination. There are so many applications - construction, engineering, multi-media, sport. A huge inventory of materials is available."

"We have created video walls where students can watch live and pre-recorded video streams. Students can communicate by text and voice with each other. We are presently improving functionality."

The £60,000 programme, which has taken a year to develop, is being trialled in Barnfield College's two academies while key college staff have already been trained on it. It is being used for e-citizenship courses and other lessons where an art gallery, charity event and multi-cultural wedding have been created.

Pete Birkett, Barnfield's Chief Executive, said: "We are constantly exploring new ways to accelerate and enhance learning, and this technology supports this thinking. In the longer-term, we hope to share our knowledge of this product with other organisations that may also benefit from the use of it."

Peter Arnold said: "A lot of work has gone into guaranteeing our programme's security. Only students and authorised staff can access it."

The programme was developed in partnership with Case West University in Ohio, the Serious Games Institute, Cisco and the Eden Project.