Why Second Life?
Students and educators can work together in Second Life from anywhere in the world as part of a globally networked virtual classroom environment. Using Second Life as a supplement to traditional classroom environments also provides new opportunities for enriching existing curricula.
For a fantastic summary of Second Life focusing on educational and serious applications, please check out Real Virtuality in your Second Life and beyond. If you'd like to learn more about the history of Second Life, take a look at the SL History Wiki. For a comparison of Second Life and other virtual world platforms, check out Oz Spade's Virtual World Comparison Page.