title: Teachers' perceptions of virtual worlds as a medium for social inclusion for adults with intellectual disability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to explore educators' perceptions of a virtual world Second Life TM as an environment for social interaction and social inclusion for the Norwegian adult students with intellectual disability that they supported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five educators who supported a total of 10 adult students with intellectual disability in computer classes in community Adult Education Centres participated in individual in-depth interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were positive about Second Life although they did not perceive that it offered a successful context for social interaction or inclusion. They identified a number of benefits to using a virtual world and for students participating in virtual world research. Barriers identified included language, literacy, and technology issues along with the complexity of participating independently in a virtual world.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some people with intellectual disability can use virtual worlds but the skills required need additional research. Virtual worlds may provide a stimulating, safe, and exciting context for a range of activities but the level of support required by many people is high and consequently expensive.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University , Burwood , Australia and.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balandin
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molka-Danielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D040441:Health Educators; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D058992:Social Participation; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Educators; intellectual disability; second life; social inclusion; virtual world