Really Engaging Accounting: Second Life™ as a Learning Platform
Steven Hornik, Steven W. Thornburg · Issues in Accounting Education · 2010
ABSTRACT: Immersive virtual worlds such as Second Life™ promise the possibility of an engaging platform for learning. This paper examines the success of Second Life™ in enabling an engaging learning environment within a first-year financial accounting course, specifically the relationship between student engagement and performance. The paper details the use of two 3-D objects built to support the course, an interactive accounting equation, and t-account model. Results indicate that student engagement, as enabled via Second Life™ may lead to greater student performance. However, results also indicate a reduction in performance if students have adverse (dizziness, nausea) reactions to the environment.