Two recent papers in Science and Nature review the use of virtual worlds, such as Second Life and World of Warcraft, to carry out experiments; researchers are beginning to use virtual worlds to examine human behavior and test artificial intelligence since there is a large population of possible subjects and ways to create almost identical situations for experiments.

The New Scientist Techology blog gives a good summary of the papers.

In teaching, virtual worlds might be a compelling way to bring students into the research process in some subject areas.

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Robert J. Beichner, a professor of physics and director of the STEM Education Initiative at North Carolina State University, discusses ways to improve the teaching of science and engineering to undergraduates in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s online Colloquy on August 1, 2007 at 1 p.m., U.S. Eastern time. [The session is archived if you miss the live version.] Introductory science courses have long relied largely on lectures and tests that reward memorization. But studies have shown that students learn more, and are more excited by, new methods that emphasize continual interaction with professors and teamwork to solve problems. Even so, not all instructors embrace those new strategies. How can professors be encouraged to try new methods? What are the drawbacks of or limitations to those methods? Hear what Beichner has to say and view the comments from others participating in the Beyond Facts and Formula session. See also the Chronicle’s related article The Tough Road to Better Science Teaching.

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