Ramapo Islands Show Me the Learning!

Show Me the Learning!

Essential Question #1 How can you get your school to “buy-in” to education in virtual worlds?

How can you get your school to “buy-in” to education in virtual worlds?

The Road-Map Why: A brief rationale… What: An overview of Second Life… How: How does standard based curriculum translate into the virtual; landscape?

Starting with the correct Lens... “ A MILLION COMPUTERS CANNOT REPLACE ONE GOOD TEACHER”

Something’s Happening…

SHIFTED LITERACY

As Technology Evolves Literacy Evolves

The “SHIFTED LEARNER” moves at “twitch speed” graphics before text learning is no longer “linear” parallel/random accessing active vs. passive (Just Do It!) “ Engage Me or Enrage Me” connectivity is their birthright (Prensky, 2005)

moves at “twitch speed”

graphics before text

learning is no longer “linear”

parallel/random accessing

active vs. passive (Just Do It!)

“ Engage Me or Enrage Me”

connectivity is their birthright

(Prensky, 2005)

Shifted Instruction Sensory-based Personality-based Aptitude-based Media-based Active learning based on immersive experiences In school “powered-down”

Sensory-based

Personality-based

Aptitude-based

Media-based

Active learning based on immersive experiences

In school “powered-down”

It’s Automatic...

SHIFTED INSTRUCTION balance of experiential learning guided mentoring collective reflection (Dede, 2007) decision making real life context fluency vs. literacy

balance of experiential learning

guided mentoring

collective reflection (Dede, 2007)

decision making

real life context

fluency vs. literacy

THE ARGUMENT IS SIMPLE... To prepare people for life in an information society, they need to be taught with the technology of an information society. -Tilfen, 1995 Engagement Edutainment 21st Century Literacy Traditional Literacy But... HOW?

To prepare people for life in an information society, they need to be taught with the technology of an information society.

-Tilfen, 1995

WHAT ?

RAMAPO ISLANDS... Suffern Middle School in Teen Second Life

M ulti… U ser… V irtual… E nvironment Supports constructivist learning networked (potentially globally) interpreting, analyzing, discovering evaluating, problem solving, flexible space for learning and exploration conveys a sense of presence lacking in other media. REFLECTION! Second Life...

M ulti… U ser… V irtual… E nvironment

Supports constructivist learning

networked (potentially globally)

interpreting, analyzing, discovering

evaluating, problem solving,

flexible space for learning and exploration

conveys a sense of presence lacking in other media.

REFLECTION!

A Look at Second Life Customization of avatars Thriving online economy conducting millions USD in transactions a month Simple building tools to create Scripting for complex simulations 100% user created content -

Purchasing an Island for Education for Education 16 acres of virtual space, 15,000 “prims” (basic building blocks) secure “intranet” space or open and public Private Island: $700 + $147.50 monthly maintenance 6 or 12 months prepayment http://secondlife.com/land/privatepricing.php

16 acres of virtual space, 15,000 “prims” (basic building blocks)

secure “intranet” space

or open and public

Private Island: $700 + $147.50 monthly maintenance

6 or 12 months prepayment

http://secondlife.com/land/privatepricing.php

a unique and flexible environment globally networked virtual classroom a supplement to traditional classroom environments private Islands create secure "intranet" spaces SL For Educators provides...

a unique and flexible environment

globally networked virtual classroom

a supplement to traditional classroom environments

private Islands create secure "intranet" spaces

SAFETY & SECURITY on Ramapo Islands private islands: no on or off adults have LL background clearance no access to TG residents or content constant adult supervision

private islands: no on or off

adults have LL background clearance

no access to TG residents or content

constant adult supervision

Teacher Intro teachers created Main Grid accounts orientation island edit appearance (shop) communication options (chat, IM, voice) tour educational locations join groups to develop network (ISTE, DEN, NMC, RezEd) a second Ramapo Island Teacher Avatar

teachers created Main Grid accounts

orientation island

edit appearance (shop)

communication options (chat, IM, voice)

tour educational locations

join groups to develop network (ISTE, DEN, NMC, RezEd)

a second Ramapo Island Teacher Avatar

Essential Question #2 What are the best practices that have emerged from the Ramapo Islands project?

Peer Coaches peer mentors trained in world edited appearance joined group explored built

peer mentors

trained in world

edited appearance

joined group

explored

built

Self-Directed Learning

Science

MATH

SOCIAL STUDIES

Of Mice and Men read novel assign roles & responsibilities research conduct trial reflect

read novel

assign roles & responsibilities

research

conduct trial

reflect

Share the Good News!

Body Image Health and Wellness 8th-grade students inclusion class four 55 minute classes

Health and Wellness

8th-grade students

inclusion class

four 55 minute classes

www.campaignforrealbeauty.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U&feature=related

Assignment Create self-portrait Create Media Beauty Create media beauty: (TWIST) Select final version Discussion/reflection

Create self-portrait

Create Media Beauty

Create media beauty: (TWIST)

Select final version

Discussion/reflection

The Discussion Pods... Designed by Decka Mah Use the right tools!

Poinkey’s Pods DECKA DID IT AGAIN !

Self Portrait Media Beauty” Comparison

Self Portrait Media “Beauty” Comparison

Multimedia Island Music Studio Soundstage Machinima Music Store Storyworlds (digital storytelling)

Music Studio

Soundstage

Machinima

Music Store

Storyworlds (digital storytelling)

Foreign Language Cultural Investigations Voice Immersion Authentic Artifacts Shared Experience

Cultural Investigations

Voice Immersion

Authentic Artifacts

Shared Experience

SCIENCE Weather Center Catastrophic Events Ecology debates NASA Rockets

Weather Center

Catastrophic Events

Ecology debates

NASA Rockets

Other Projects

A Sense of Presence Deriving educational value from putting kids in real-world environments is called “situated learning”. Change the pedagogy to meet the skills of the student ; “ Start with the learner” … Dede, 2005

Deriving educational value from putting kids in real-world environments is called “situated learning”.

Change the pedagogy to meet the skills of the student ;

“ Start with the learner”

… Dede, 2005

“ Psychosocial Moratorium” “ the suspension of accountability that allows internet users to explore alternate identities without the repercussions and dangers one might face in real life” Supports Erickson’s theory that teens need the opportunity to try on different roles while the consequences are minimal. more info--Eric Erikson, James Paul Gee, Sarah Robins (Intellagirl Tully in SL)

“ the suspension of accountability that allows internet users to explore alternate identities without the repercussions and dangers one might face in real life”

Supports Erickson’s theory that teens need the opportunity to try on different roles while the consequences are minimal.

more info--Eric Erikson, James Paul Gee, Sarah Robins (Intellagirl Tully in SL)

Exploring Identity Real: The identity of the user behind the character Virtual : One’s identity as a virtual character Projective: The real as the virtual. The “self” we bring to our avatar

Real: The identity of the user behind the character

Virtual : One’s identity as a virtual character

Projective: The real as the virtual. The “self” we bring to our avatar

The Avatar Identity a semblance of anonymity trying on new identities level playing field new basis for evaluation self esteem

a semblance of anonymity

trying on new identities

level playing field

new basis for evaluation

self esteem

What Students Say.. “ In Second Life, no one knows who has the Hollister clothing, or who the “popular” kids are! “ I can talk without being embarrassed or afraid of sounding stupid.” “ I like it because I’m just as smart as everyone else and now they know it. ” “ In Second Life people think I’m an expert cause I act like one.”

“ In Second Life, no one knows who has the Hollister clothing, or who the “popular” kids are!

“ I can talk without being embarrassed or afraid of sounding stupid.”

“ I like it because I’m just as smart as everyone else and now they know it. ”

“ In Second Life people think I’m an expert cause I act like one.”

Get informed Read Second Life Press and Forums Read SL Education Wiki SLED - educator’s email listserve Experience Create a free account Tour popular places (ISTE ISLANDS!) Join Educator’s groups (ISTE!) Build simple objects Develop Identify a learning objective Build curriculum with appropriate pace Teacher Preparation

Get informed

Read Second Life Press and Forums

Read SL Education Wiki

SLED - educator’s email listserve

Experience

Create a free account

Tour popular places

(ISTE ISLANDS!)

Join Educator’s groups (ISTE!)

Build simple objects

Develop

Identify a learning objective

Build curriculum with appropriate pace

Structure is good! Encourage feedback! Setting boundaries! Clear expectations! Teacher Training! What works...

Structure is good!

Encourage feedback!

Setting boundaries!

Clear expectations!

Teacher Training!

Success with... student investment seriously engaged collaboration level playing field deeper level of discourse social skills carry over to real world

student investment

seriously engaged

collaboration

level playing field

deeper level of discourse

social skills carry over to real world

A Mom Writes... “ What a change has occurred in Peter this year! Everyone remarks about how much his social skills have developed ! Second Life has allowed Peter to practice much needed social skills in a non threatening environment. He has also found other students with similar interests and a whole new world has opened up for him. This has grown into friendships that carry on even outside the computer lab. Peter has also developed incredible technical skills on the computer. He uses terms like "scripting" and has even instructed some of the other Middle School students in this. Peter has developed his own websites and even has students asking him to set up websites for them. During Second Life, Peter also worked with a group of boys on a particular project. It required many skills including team work, organizational skills, social interactions, and decision making, just to name a few.

“ What a change has occurred in Peter this year! Everyone remarks about how much his social skills have developed ! Second Life has allowed Peter to practice much needed social skills in a non threatening environment. He has also found other students with similar interests and a whole new world has opened up for him. This has grown into friendships that carry on even outside the computer lab.

Peter has also developed incredible technical skills on the computer. He uses terms like "scripting" and has even instructed some of the other Middle School students in this. Peter has developed his own websites and even has students asking him to set up websites for them. During Second Life, Peter also worked with a group of boys on a particular project. It required many skills including team work, organizational skills, social interactions, and decision making, just to name a few.

What Students Say.. “ In Second Life, no one knows who has the Hollister clothing, or who the “cool kids” are !” “ I can talk without being embarrassed or afraid of sounding stupid.” “ I like it because I’m just as smart as everyone else and now they know it.” “ In Second Life people think I’m an expert cause I act like one.” “ People ask me for help all the time in Second Life--not in real life!”

“ In Second Life, no one knows who has the Hollister clothing, or who the “cool kids” are !”

“ I can talk without being embarrassed or afraid of sounding stupid.”

“ I like it because I’m just as smart as everyone else and now they know it.”

“ In Second Life people think I’m an expert cause I act like one.”

“ People ask me for help all the time in Second Life--not in real life!”

Essential Question #3 How do we assess the learning that takes place in virtual worlds?

How do we assess the learning that takes place in virtual worlds?

21st Century Assessment “ A well-structured project includes a syllabus that defines the course objectives, learning objectives, goals, measurements, a schedule of activities and assignments, and rubrics for assessment.” (2008 Cynthia M. Calongne) Emphasizes useful feedback on student performance that is embedded into everyday learning - © 2004 PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS Requires a balance of technology-enhanced, formative and summative assessments that measure student mastery of 21st century skills - © 2004 PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS Enables development of portfolios of student work that demonstrate mastery of 21st century skills to educators and prospective employers - © 2004 PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

“ A well-structured project includes a syllabus that defines the course objectives, learning objectives, goals, measurements, a schedule of activities and assignments, and rubrics for assessment.” (2008 Cynthia M. Calongne)

Emphasizes useful feedback on student performance that is embedded into everyday learning - © 2004 PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

Requires a balance of technology-enhanced, formative and summative assessments that measure student mastery of 21st century skills - © 2004 PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

Enables development of portfolios of student work that demonstrate mastery of 21st century skills to educators and prospective employers - © 2004 PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

Future Vision extend our boundaries global consortium F2F exchange universal curriculum immersive language acquisition sloodle (mash-up of course learning system Moodle and Second Life) Universal Translator

extend our boundaries

global consortium

F2F exchange

universal curriculum

immersive language acquisition

sloodle (mash-up of course learning system Moodle and Second Life)

Universal Translator

Thank you! [email_address] http://www.ramapoislands.edublogs.org See you in your Second Life…

[email_address]

http://www.ramapoislands.edublogs.org

Maggie Marat In Second Life