Some thoughts on the advantages of 3D environments (virtual worlds) for learning, take a look at this list if someone (your boss, client) asks you why they should allow you to set up the next employee-training in a 3D world
Great stepby-step introduction to Sun's Project Wonderland, the Java based shared 3D virtual environment for collaboration and education. Start right off.
Golems is a 3D Physics and Artificial Intelligence simulator. Golems lets you construct a machine - any type of machine - and then bring that machine to life.
Alice is an innovative 3D programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web.
NoviCraft has been developed through academic research on leadership, social interaction, collaborative learning, and management. Based on the Unreal engine.
NoviCraft is a teambuilding and leadership solution, which guarantees immersive and emotional attachment for the learning event. NoviCraft is based on off-the-shelf multiplayer 3D game technology. It is an excellent awareness application for trainers, HRD specialists and consultants for assessing, building, and developing leaders, teams and team work in modern organisations.
A 3D multi-user environment that immerses children in real-world, socially and academically meaningful activities. This shows a video of a US TV program about Quest Atlantis.
SL is only used to create a scenario: "Our emergency management course utilizes virtual reality scenarios that immerse professionals into real-life experiences, thus enhancing their learning experience," said Dave Livingston, chief technology officer of Brainband Technology Services. "Second Life offers a cost-effective way to present instructional scenarios rather than trying to create them through traditional movie making, custom animation or 3-D gaming."