JET_V8_N2_RP1 Scott Bledsoe Dave Harmeyer Journal of Educational Technology 2230 - 7125 8 2 34 41 Virtual Environments, Online Learning Environments, Constructivist, 3-D Software, Second Life, Higher Education, Graduate Psychology This paper provides qualitative student-centered research from an online Research Methodology course taught partly within the immersive, 3-D environment of Second Life with fifty-eight graduate psychology students for the purpose of suggesting a constructivist-based instruction model for immersive environments. A qualitative method approach was applied through open ended questions, a satisfaction survey, the capturing of graphical images, student recorded perceptions and authors observations. Although the data was mixed on students' perception of Second Life as an effective medium for learning, the study showed that slightly more than half of participants (53%) found the experience positive and a large number (81%) felt that being part of a constructivist group in-world aided in the individual learning of research method concepts. With this in mind, a new teaching model for immersive environments is proposed. July - September 2011 Copyright & copy; 2011 i-manager publications. All rights reserved. i-manager Publications http://www.imanagerpublications.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=1631