Innova Junior College's General Paper educator, Ms Serene Tan and Ms Lee Rui Jun presented at the 2012 Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference on Second Life on the topic 'Teaching Prejudice and Discrimination Using Second Life'. Conference Abstract: Welcome to Maletopia, a Second Life build that seeks to facilitate students’ exploration of ideas in prejudice and discrimination, one of the topics in the General Paper (GP) curriculum. The presentation will cover the rationale, objectives and design of the lessons revolving around Maletopia, which will be implemented in April 2012, by the GP Unit from Innova Junior College (Singapore, Grades 11-12). Through adopting the identities of their avatars, it is envisaged that Maletopia provides a stimulating environment for students to ‘leave behind’ their actual identities and engage in fruitful dialogues for enhanced understanding of prejudice and discrimination issues.

1. Teaching
Prejudice and
Discrimination
using Second L ife
By msserene and missrj
From Innova Junior College, Singapore

2. Setting the Context
• Our profiles:
– General Paper lecturers cum tutors
at Innova Junior College, Singapore
D • Our students:
– Grades 11-12, preparing for GCE ‘A’
Level Examinations

3. Setting the Context
• The subject: General Paper
– Aims to enable students to better
understand the world by fostering a
critical awareness of various political,
economic and social issues.
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– To be aware of shared historical and
social experiences both within
Singapore and the region.
– To develop maturity of thought, critical
thinking skills, evaluation of arguments
and opinions and the proficient use of
language.

4. Setting the Context
• The topic: Prejudice and
Discrimination
– Prejudice and Discrimination is one
of the main topics of discussion under
the General Paper syllabus.
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– Compared with other topics such as
Education, Crime and Punishment
and the Media etc., the concepts,
arguments and examples are more
abstract and encompass multifarious
perspectives that might be beyond the
experiences of a Grade 11 student.

5. Rationale for using SL
• Second Life provides a stimulating environment
for students to ‘leave behind’ their actual
identities to be immersed in the roles of their
assigned avatars that they could not experience
in reality.
• Simulates a fantastical environment in a vivid
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design set that cannot be achieved in a
classroom setting.
• It is a platform for students to engage in fruitful
dialogues, that can be captured as text via chat-
logs, for enhanced understanding of prejudice
and discrimination issues and for recording
purposes.
• Encourages self-directed learning outside the
classroom, in the comfort of their homes.

6. Maletopia

7. Overview
• City concept
• City landscape
• Avatars
• Town Hall and Forum
Spaces
• Lesson Design

8. Design
• City concept
– AD 2050
– 29 million light years
away from Earth
– Commercial hub of the
Sombrero Galaxy
– Outgrowth of Earth, but
is genetically-warped
– Ideology of male
superiority

9. Design
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10. Design
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11. Design
• City landscape
– Statue of The Male
Figure
– Businesses
– Billboards

12. Design
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13. Design
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14. Design
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15. Design
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16. Design
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17. Design
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18. Design
• Avatars
– Kwong Jo Kin
– Dania Sykostky
– Reena Deion
– Shah Daniyal Jehan
• Role-cards
– More information about
the avatars’ profiles

19. Kwong Jo Kin
• Chairperson
of the
Economy
Revitalising
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Committee
• Creator of
the MCP
Policy

20. Shah Daniyal Jehan
• High school
student
• 2nd
generation
D Maletopian
• Entitlement
mentality

21. Reena Deion
• University
graduate,
Dean’s List
• Voted
D Graduate
Most Likely
to Succeed in
Life

22. Dania Sykostky
• President of
Women
Unite
• New citizen
D of Maletopia
• Proponent of
utilitarianis
m

23. Design
• Town Hall
– Information on
Maletopia
– Information on Male
Choice Priority (MCP)
– News articles on the
events leading to MCP,
and the responses to
MCP
• Forum spaces
– Debating the validity and
necessity of MCP

24. Design
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25. Design
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26. Design
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27. Lessons
• Two lessons
– Familiarisation and
Immersion
– Discussion and
Generation

28. Familiarisation and
Immersion
• To acquaint students
with Second Life
platform
• To immerse students in
Maletopia and in their
assigned avatars
• To relate to Maletopia in
their assigned avatars
– What do you think of your
city of residence?
– Do you like the new policy
(MCP)? Why or why not?

29. Discussion and
Generation
• To analyse the premise
of Male Choice Priority
(MCP)
– Does MCP infringe on
the rights of female
Maletopians?
• To develop the different
perspectives of the
avatars, in relation to
MCP

30. Post-lesson Review
• Students to respond to the
following:
– Women will never have the same
rights as men. Do you agree?
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• Perception questionnaire
– To identify engagement level
during lessons
– To measure interest generated in
the topic

31. In the works …
• To be implemented in April
2012, by the GP Unit from
Innova Junior College for
students of Grades 11-12
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32. Thank you!
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Questions?