The Art Institute Online, a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, sent over a press release announcing they have opened a student campus in Second Life, a virtual online community, which will be the forum for a new Business Communications course. The faculty, realizing the potential for a rewarding learning experience, credits student interest in Second Life as the source for the course’s development. Second Life allows The Art Institute Online students and faculty to create avatars – or cartoon-like characters – that interact with one another and are controlled via keyboard and mouse. The course will be primarily asynchronous and students will have the opportunity to communicate in an environment that lends itself to socialization. Press 'read more' for details.