Virtual Experience: Observations on Second Life Clare Atkins NMIT KORU

Opening remarks not the result of rigorous research private involvement in SL (Nov 2006) as interactive, face-to-face teacher reluctant user of LMS’s April 2007 – first classes in SL, July 2007 – NMIT bought Koru Semester 2 – First student project in SL March 2008 – $500,000 to explore SL for education This paper attempt to gather together thoughts, encourage discussion, and make connections!

Opening remarks

not the result of rigorous research

private involvement in SL (Nov 2006)

as interactive, face-to-face teacher

reluctant user of LMS’s

April 2007 – first classes in SL,

July 2007 – NMIT bought Koru

Semester 2 – First student project in SL

March 2008 – $500,000 to explore SL for education

This paper attempt to gather together thoughts, encourage discussion, and make connections!

Characteristics of Second Life Accessibility Game Engine Koru – The kauri grove

Accessibility Game Engine

Immersive Perceptually convincing

Perceptually convincing

Interactive in real time

User Generated

Observations Creating educational spaces

Observations Professional and social networking

Observations Enhancing Reality

Enhancing Reality

Observations Constructivism Dante’s Inferno

Constructivism

Observations Metaphoric Representation

Metaphoric Representation

Issues: Steep learning curve for staff and students SL Core Competencies Framework Kiwi Educators meeting June 2007

for staff and students

SL Core Competencies Framework

Issues: Technical requirements high spec graphics fast internet connection and good bandwidth

high spec graphics

fast internet connection and good bandwidth

Issues : Trust in each other in Linden Research Inc.

in each other

in Linden Research Inc.

Engaging with Second Life: real education in a virtual world. Encouraging and supporting innovation funding $500,000 for an 18 month project - SLENZ 7 parts a full literature review on the potential of MUVEs • identify suitable learning outcomes for SL • design learning experiences and develop resources • train staff from the ITP sector who teach them • pilot them with learners from across the ITP sector • evaluate the learning from the project • share the learning and resources online

Encouraging and supporting innovation funding

$500,000 for an 18 month project - SLENZ

7 parts

a full literature review on the potential of MUVEs

• identify suitable learning outcomes for SL

• design learning experiences and develop resources

• train staff from the ITP sector who teach them

• pilot them with learners from across the ITP sector • evaluate the learning from the project • share the learning and resources online

Please visit Arwenna’s Blog http://awennastardust.wordpress.com NZ Education in a Virtual World http://eduforge.org/projects/slcampusnz/ Grateful thanks to Aaron Griffiths for many of the photos.

Arwenna’s Blog

http://awennastardust.wordpress.com

NZ Education in a Virtual World

http://eduforge.org/projects/slcampusnz/

Grateful thanks to Aaron Griffiths

for many of the photos.