Dear e-mentor Readers,

Virtual worlds, particularly Second Life (SL), have recently occupied a significant position in discussions about the development of forms and methods of teaching. However, great popularity of SL as a social platform and numerous examples of virtual counterparts of traditional educational establishments do not translate to spectacular innovations in didactics. The opinion that can be encountered more often assumes that it is an environment appropriate for simulations and their presentation, yet less suitable for conveying the very lecture content. On the other hand, different educational centers begin to gather valuable experiences, which can alter this state. Good practices in education with the application of Second Life are the topics of focus of two articles in the present issue of e-mentor. Although it is not the first time SL appears in the magazine, I particularly encourage you to read those articles. The examples presented there as well as the solutions offered for consideration may pose valuable reading not only for SL users.
Exceeding the content of the articles mentioned before, it is worth to recommend to the Readers who are interested in application of virtual words the OpenSimulator platform. Its construction is comparable with Second Life, though the commencing and leading educational activity with the application of it is possible with significantly smaller financial expenditure.
Remaining in the area of trends in the range of technology and modern education, I encourage you also to read the case studies concerning social conditionings of marketing on the Internet, analyses of application of social networks to the building of organization, projects of common e-learning in school teaching as well as the environment of personalized online courses.
In the conclusion I would like, just as in the previous issue of e-mentor, to interest Readers in E-learning Course Assessment Criteria prepared by Association of Academic E-learning (SEA). It is a complex set of criteria thanks to which anyone interested can assess online courses they are familiar with. The criteria are presented in four key areas - Course organization, Course creation, Conducting the course, Course evaluation. The free questionnaire is accessible at: www.sea.edu.pl/kryteria.

Chief editor
Marcin Dąbrowski