CNDG Campus

In the spring of 2009, CNDG partnered with Pearson Learning Solutions to develop a virtual college campus in Second Life. A showcase for education in Sustainable Business and Green Science, the campus was developed to demonstrate LEEDS compliant building and environmental education.

Together with subject matter experts and instructional designers from Pearson Learning Solutions, CNDG designers and developers crafted a campus that spanned one full SIM (simulator) in Second Life, which represents 65,000 square meters (approximately 16 virtual acres of land). This campus consists of 4 virtual buildings, each representing a different aspect of LEED compliancy. An old general administration and multipurpose building representing construction pre-LEEDS guidelines is compared to an older, 1950's styled general classroom building also not complying with the target LEEDS guidelines, both are under retrofit for future compliance. The remaining 2 LEEDS Platinum buildings were design-built to demonstrate Green Architecture. The first is an interactive library with green roofs, motion sensor lighting, and passive solar technology. The second is a student center with similar LEEDS compliant architecture and extensive used of recycled materials, which houses a cafe, lounge area, and gym.

The campus also contains a "student built wind farm project" that can be dismantled and rebuilt with each new term of students. The 16 virtual acres are extensively landscaped, and include a natural, water-plant driven water-purification pond.

This campus now forms the centerpiece of the CNDG Education Complex in Second Life. It is an example of a design-built educational setting and system. With the help of Pearson Learning Solutions, CNDG is able to create custom architecture for the Second Life platform campuses to meet any educational objective including interactive tools, multi-media content and interactive collaboration. Using "CNDG Live" tools such as interactive notepads; scripted, interactive media-sharing objects; proprietary robot avatars; and group collaboration tools, CNDG is able to meet virtually any course objective. By providing all or part of the instruction in Second Life, educators and learning specialists are able to offer students and faculty 24/7 access to highly interactive and compelling educational media from anywhere they can access the internet. By utilizing a combination of facilitated and self-directed study in Second Life, campuses (such as the CNDG Education Campus) are a complete, wraparound solution for almost any educational need.

-> Visit this location in SecondLife!

-> Visit our Education portal for information and resources about education in the metaverse