I am currently taking a class with Dr. Raley called Sociology of Sexuality. Without even considering the concept of this class in the digital world, it is already quite different from most classes offered at McDaniel. Therefore, I felt that it would be even more interesting to consider this class in the virtual world.

Because this class frequently raises subjects that could be somewhat uncomfortable to discuss in the classroom, especially with a professor present, I felt that students would be more open and honest about some of these topics in the virtual world. While students would still be able to interact with one another as well as with the professor, it would not be “face to face” like the classroom and may seem less threatening to many students. Thus, I think the virtual world would create an environment for students that may get more honest answers to touchy subjects and may allow for more learning on the subject.

It was the concept of the avatar, and the fact that the avatar can easily be altered, that I felt would be most interesting for this particular course. Being able to change the sex of the avatar could play an interesting role if the sex of the individual behind the avatar remains anonymous. Using this feature, the ways in which an individual’s sex influences the way they are viewed for certain comments could be explored. Does a female get judged differently for the same acts as a male would? This particular feature is clearly not at all an option in the classroom and would be an interesting phenomenon to explore in the class.

This class would certainly be different and raise some interesting issues presented in a virtual world opposed to the brick-and-mortar classroom.