Second Life Presentation Cfttc 09

By: Dr. Mary Nell McNeese Ms. Amy Thornton and Dr. Jalynn Roberts The University of Southern Mississippi

Second Life ( abbreviated as SL ) is a Virtual World developed by Linden Lab that launched on June 23, 2003 and is accessible via the Internet . A free client program called the Second Life Viewer enables its users, called Residents , to interact with each other through avatars . Residents can explore, meet other residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services with one another, or travel throughout the world, which residents refer to as the grid. Second Life caters for users aged over eighteen, while its sister site Teen Second Life is restricted to users aged between thirteen and eighteen.

Built into the software is a three dimensional modeling tool based around simple geometric shapes that allows a resident to build virtual objects. This can be used in combination with a scripting language called Linden Scripting Language which can be used to add functionality to objects. More complex three dimensional Sculpted prims (colloquially known as sculpties), textures for clothing or other objects, and animations and gestures can be created using external software. The Second Life Terms of Service ensure that users retain copyright for any content they create, and the server and client provide simple Digital rights management functions. There are also sexual activities that go on via 'pose balls'.

Terminology

Griefer

SLURL

Flaming

NPIRL

noob

1. Creating a Safe Lab-

*A balance between freedom and control

*Development of skills such as walking, sitting, accepting an object

2 . Unsafe, Mature, PG Areas- (SIMS)

*Unrestricted

*Can include nudity, crude language, violence

*Have password-protected class zone

3. Intellectual Property Issues-

*Who owns what you’re teaching?

*How much control do you maintain?

*Don’t release something you aren’t willing to share.

4. Maintenance downtime-

*You have no control.

*Inconvenient, frustrating to you and students

*Check SL to see scheduled downtime, otherwise just cope!

blog.secondlife.com

5. Flaming- Pick your battles with griefers

*Temporary damage to avatars and property

*When “health” is O%, you’ll be teleported to home base. Can return to area later

6. Means of Escape- make sure you have a home base that you know how to access. Good idea to experience SL for several months before attempting to teach in that environment

7. Racial/Gender Discrimination?

Appearance of avatars

Workaround:

Choosing gender-neutral, race neutral avatars

8. Crime and Punishment-

*How define crime?

*Do real world laws apply?

*Do Avatars have rights?

*Reflect and make class behavior clear

9. Currency-while some parts of SL are free; others are not.

Need to understand the currency (Linden dollars) and know how to buy something. Shop at free store or work with mentor.

10. Foreign Language Barriers- People world-wide use SL. Need a free translator and learn how to use it.

1. Cooperation Games- educators and students need the ability to connect and communicate across their world: collaborative projects

2. Simulations- in person not always possible, practical, or desirable such as

Chemical labs

Warfare

Flight

SWAT Teams

3. Best Practices-

*SL and many educational institutions provide best practices information

*Conferences conducted

4. Online Support- If online support is offered by your campus information technology team, they can help you structure your environment in such a way as to minimize challenges. If challenges still occur, they can help you handle them. If not on your campus, join user groups, blogs, wikis, etc. who can help.

5. Virtual Field Trips- Educators and students can visit all over the world and be actively involved in ways they could not even if they visited in person.

6. Teen Second Life- There is a softer, gentler, more protective version of SL developed specifically for teens.

Warning: access to adults because only self-disclose age. Easy to lie and criminals could pose risks .

7. Group Collaboration- Some groups exist to assist newcomers in their first SL project. Other educators can share lessons learned and suggest workarounds for problems encountered. You need a coach/mentor to get you started.

8. PowerPoint Tutorials-

*featuring in-world photos and travels as well as basic navigation features

*student and faculty developed

9. Classes-can enroll in-world

*Cuts down on travel costs

*Collaborate with others from around the world

*Learn subjects not offered on your campus

10. Creating buildings and avatars which closely resemble real life

*Help students become more familiar with buildings

*Ice Breakers

Ohio University

NMC-virtual campus

Moodle- http://demo.moodle.org

“ Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is a Free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites.”

“ Open Source project which integrates the multi-user virtual environment of Second Life ® with the Moodle ® learning-management system.

Sloodle provides a range of tools for supporting learning and teaching to the immersive virtual world; tools which are integrated with a tried and tested leading web-based learning management system”

Hybrid mashup of Moodle and SL (Sloodle)

Re-creations of RL campus

Recruiting

Fundraising

Teach classes

Experiential learning

Simulation

Role play

Collaboration

Co-creation

Experimentation with new ideas

Office Hours

Teaching astronomy using virtual planetariums with starts you can click on to learn their temperatures.

Teaching literature within buildings designed to replicate structures described in a novel, and in the era they existed.

Chemistry students walking inside a molecule.

Emergency responders using 3D simulations complete with timed events to which they must react.

http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses

http:// sleducation.wikispaces.com/ourresources

http://lcin.wordpress.com/

Campus : Second Life Pathfinder Linden’s hosted space for educators

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Campus/150/100

Svarga (Laukosargas Svarog’s virtual eco-system and educational amusement park)

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Svarga/128/128

Particle Lab exciting use of particles visit caves and light shows.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teal/200/60/21

Science Museum and Solar Eclipse Planetarium (Aimee Webber)

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Midnight%20City/94/76/27

Spaceport Alpha (spaceflight museum and planetarium

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Alpha/23/51/22

Terra Incognita Explore, plan, act and reflect philosophy of learning Reg Revans by Lindy McKeown or Decka Mah Rezzed (started mid Dec. 07 mostly done by volunteers in SL)

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Terra%20Incognita/155/100/33/

Democracy Island (NTLS)

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Democracy%20Island/116/220

Info Island (SL and ICT Libraries and an area for non-profit offices )

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/50/199/33/?title=Info%20Island

Places to Help with SL Skills

Orientation Island

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Orientation%20Island%20Public/97/155

New Citizens Plaza information, free items

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kuula/67/165/28

Interactive Building Tutorial an island for persons who have experienced strokes or their family members

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreams/107/143/46

Ivory Tower of Prims building notecards

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Natoma/204/70/25

Places to Shop

Gnubie Store lots of free items for newbies

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Indigo/214/56/38

Junkyard free items for newbies and oldtimers.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/

210/28/55

Shelter Newbie friendly spot with lots of free stuff

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teal/222/71/36

1. . Bugeja, M., (2008). Second Life, Revisited. The Education Digest. URL: www.eddigest.com

2. Conklin, M. S. (2007). 101 Uses for Second Life in the College Classroom.

3. Moodle (2009). URL: http://demo.moodle.org/course/view.php?id=5

4. Ohio University. URL: http://vital.cs.ohiou.edu/vitalwiki/index.php/Ohio_ University_Second_Life_Campus_History - http://vital.cs.ohiou.edu/vitalwiki/index.php/Ohio_ University_Second_Life_Campus_History