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Alumna Pioneers Online Counseling Learning in Second Life
By Sarah H. Dolan
June 9, 2009
Dr. Victoria Walker
Media entertainment today has entered an entirely new digital landscape through the development of online virtual environments. The application Second Life is a frontrunner of that technology, where users are "residents" who socialize through computer-generated alter egos called avatars.
For Regent University alumna Dr. Victoria Walker '09 (Education), these worlds also offer virtually untapped educational opportunities, specifically in the area of counseling.
Walker is a pioneer through her extensive research into Second Life and how it can be used to supplement online learning and counseling studies. Her dissertation, which explores using Second Life for student training in interviewing mental health clients, is the first study ever on counseling skill development in a 3D virtual environment.
"Counseling students typically cannot have experience with mental health patients until their practicum or internship, which can be scary," Walker said. "My work in Second Life is to help the students develop the interviewing and diagnosis skills earlier on...I built customized avatars who emulate patient mental disorders—such as self-injury or anorexia—for my case studies."
Walker conducted two major case studies in 2007-08 to test the learning benefits of students who conducted simulated interviews in Second Life with customized clients. The 2007 study took place at Regent and included 16 students. The 2008 study included 24 students and was completed with Northern Illinois University.
"The students felt that the virtual environment was realistic, interactive, fun and engaging," said Walker. "In addition, they felt the environment improved their collaboration and communication with each other."
Several scholars, nationally and internationally, have contacted Walker regarding the research and expressed interest in adopting some of her ideas into their curricula. Walker has also been asked to present her work at various conferences, such as the Sloan-C International Conference in November 2007, the UNC Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in March 2008 and the ACCESS/Next Step Networked Christian Learning Conference in March 2009.
"I am very interested in continuing to use and research the use of virtual environments and other cutting edge technologies to improve education and assist students in preparation for their careers after graduation," Walker said. She hopes to expand her research on Second Life as learning environments for other subjects and activities, and plans to evaluate their value for higher education student services.
PR/NEWS CONTACT: Judy Baker
Public Relations
Phone: 757.352.4307 Fax: 757.352.4888
E-mail: judibak@regent.edu
