Tonight I had the opportunity to “attend” the presentation in Second Life on Social Studies and virtual environments.  The presentation was hosted by ISTE and presented by Spiff Whitfield who leads the Second Life group, Virtual Pioneers.  They meet every two weeks and tour together.  It began as a small group of teachers in New England and has expanded to include teachers in other countries.  They can be found over at the Lighthouse Learning Island (Kathy Shrock).

“Spiff” highlighted several places they have visited:

1. Chateau de Versailles:  Tour guides available.
2. The Alamo at ISTE Island.
3. Antiquity, TX – a real town, includes role play simulations
4. Olana History Museum:  a replica of Frederick Church’s home.
5. Alhambra, Spain – The site is a crossroads between Muslim and Spainish cultures.
6. Virtual Babylon (somewhat locked down) – actual pictures of artifacts.
7. Holocaust Museum – delivers the same effect as the Washington D.C. Holocaust Museum and includes some of the elements of the D.C. exhibits.
8. Land of Lincoln – replicas of Lincoln’s Whitehouse, a typical town of that era, Civil War encampment, a library, and numerous resources on all things Lincoln.  (Thanks Daisyblue Hefferman for the info!)
9. Virtual Harlem – a virtual tour of Harlem in the 1920’s including the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater.
10. Caribbean House Oronoque Brownstone – architecture from 1920’s Harlem.
11. Plymouth Replica, Plymouth 1620 – There are native islands around as well as this one that pertains to Pilgrims and Puritans.  There is a tour of the Mayflower in the harbor as well.
12. Capitol Hill North – Tour government buildings.
13. Norma Underwood’s Island (EduIsland) – resources for teachers.

Check out the Virtual Pioneers video describing their tours and association.  They also have a Ning site where you can connect with them.