Are Professors Liable For Second Life Students?

"When it comes to Second Life, wrote not only talking about money," writes Michael Bugeja, director of the school of journalism and communication at Iowa State University, in the Chronicle of Higher Education last Friday. "We're talking about whether you as a professor or administrator will be held accountable for introducing your students and/or employees to a virtual world that accepts little responsibility for anything that happens among avatars, including online harassment and assault." The Chronicle has usually been very bullish on Second Life, excitedly covering new academic projects, so this strikes an interesting balance. Bugeja passes along the advice to include a release clause in the syllabus for any class venturing into Second Life, but adds that "few campus lawyers were willing to go on the record with other suggestions or warnings because legal standards in this area have not yet been fully determined." It's worth noting that that likely applies to any unregulated virtual world, not just Second Life. Read the full article.

Comments

[Lindy]

So why is this question only asked about Virtual Worlds, surely the question would have to extend to the WWW and email since harassment can take place there too? As for assault, you're kidding, right? It is an AVATAR!!!! The responsibilities are to teach participants where the quit button is. These are ADULT students, not 5 year olds. If we keep treating university students like small children, they might just keep acting like them. Then there is the difference between in-class activity and out-of-class activity. If we teach students to read, are we responsible for what they read 24/7? This is just silly but then I recall there were similar fears when lots of new technologies came out...like TV and even writing. Let's try and develop some skilled, thoughtful, resilient adults in our institutions!!!