“ Participatory Pedagogy: Challenging ‘Real Life’ Practices of Educational Institutions in Virtual Worlds” Joanna Robinson Great Northern Way Campus – Vancouver, BC Co-Author: Tracy Kennedy Communities & Technologies Research Group, Microsoft – Redmond, Washington

“ Participatory Pedagogy: Challenging ‘Real Life’ Practices of Educational Institutions in Virtual Worlds” GNWC Masters of Digital Media Program’s explorations in Second Life Overview of pedagogical approaches to virtual worlds The ‘Modding the metaverse’ workshops and what we learned Blended reality learning? Some useful strategies for educators in virtual worlds

GNWC Masters of Digital Media Program’s explorations in Second Life

Overview of pedagogical approaches to virtual worlds

The ‘Modding the metaverse’ workshops and what we learned

Blended reality learning?

Some useful strategies for educators in virtual worlds

GNWC Masters of Digital Media Program’s explorations in Second Life The Masters of Digital Media (MDM) team came to SL in 2006 Originally we had recruitment and promotion in mind It wasn’t long before we noticed there were many more possibilities for augmenting our program We began researching what others had learned and explored and began developing our virtual space

The Masters of Digital Media (MDM) team came to SL in 2006

Originally we had recruitment and promotion in mind

It wasn’t long before we noticed there were many more possibilities for augmenting our program

We began researching what others had learned and explored and began developing our virtual space

We held a number of events & workshops to explore how we could utilize the space Blended reality open house Collaborative Modding workshops And hosted some events: Vancouver Police Department Info Session William Gibson’s Second Life book launch CITASA MC 3.0!

Blended reality open house

Collaborative Modding workshops

And hosted some events:

Vancouver Police Department Info Session

William Gibson’s Second Life book launch

CITASA MC 3.0!

Our SL island will be a resource for modeling project concepts and student social space as well as hosting events such as these. Moreover, we plan to explore participatory activities in SL (among other tools) in Fall for these blended reality/hybrid courses: Building Virtual Worlds The Visual Story/Narrative Interdisciplinary Improv

Our SL island will be a resource for modeling project concepts and student social space as well as hosting events such as these.

Moreover, we plan to explore participatory activities in SL (among other tools) in Fall for these blended reality/hybrid courses:

Building Virtual Worlds

The Visual Story/Narrative

Interdisciplinary Improv

Approaches to pedagogy we observed in Second Life Replicating the first life classroom Building environments and activities around learning objectives Exploring both of these styles Virtual environments such as Second Life provide different opportunities and constraints to the first life (or rl) classroom.

Replicating the first life classroom

Building environments and activities around learning objectives

Exploring both of these styles

Virtual environments such as Second Life provide different opportunities and constraints to the first life (or rl) classroom.

‘ Modding the Metaverse’ workshop A series of workshops held at the Virtual Centre for Digital Media in SL, exploring how a group of student and educator participants could collaborate to modify a traditional style seminar room Aimed at developing the best spaces and methods for our students (some of the non-traditional classroom ideas generated we are building now) Stage one – Discussing building around a pedagogy of participation, why different styles of building may be better than others Stage two – Working together to modify the space and build new configurations

A series of workshops held at the Virtual Centre for Digital Media in SL, exploring how a group of student and educator participants could collaborate to modify a traditional style seminar room

Aimed at developing the best spaces and methods for our students (some of the non-traditional classroom ideas generated we are building now)

Stage one – Discussing building around a pedagogy of participation, why different styles of building may be better than others

Stage two – Working together to modify the space and build new configurations

‘ Modding the Metaverse’ workshop What we learned: It is possible for a large group to collaborate in SL modifying a space BUT, it is not easy – there is a skills barrier, and clear design brief is needed As others have noted, many enjoy some familiarity, linking them to the first life classroom – such as chairs, or a school tshirt Maintaining order in the group is more difficult than first life! Modding took place but mostly rebuilding, predominantly in circular designs – none of these had a roof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLY6Ig9SR8Y/

What we learned:

It is possible for a large group to collaborate in SL modifying a space

BUT, it is not easy – there is a skills barrier, and clear design brief is needed

As others have noted, many enjoy some familiarity, linking them to the first life classroom – such as chairs, or a school tshirt

Maintaining order in the group is more difficult than first life!

Modding took place but mostly rebuilding, predominantly in circular designs – none of these had a roof

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLY6Ig9SR8Y/

Blended reality learning? Since virtual environments are inherently different than first life classrooms we suggest that: Space design and activities are best build around learning outcomes, in order to augment rather than attempt to replicate Replication of the first life classroom and modes of teaching serves no purpose (other than basic distance learning and collaboration opportunities)

Since virtual environments are inherently different than first life classrooms we suggest that:

Space design and activities are best build around learning outcomes, in order to augment rather than attempt to replicate

Replication of the first life classroom and modes of teaching serves no purpose (other than basic distance learning and collaboration opportunities)

What are some useful strategies for educators in virtual worlds? Educators need to understand that virtual worlds bring out certain responses in participants Perhaps in part because of the cultural framing of the space and associated expectations of participation and play The first things students often do: Edit their appearance Dance and try out gestures/animations Run and jump around, push into each other Start talking and not listening to the instructor

Educators need to understand that virtual worlds bring out certain responses in participants

Perhaps in part because of the cultural framing of the space and associated expectations of participation and play

The first things students often do:

Edit their appearance

Dance and try out gestures/animations

Run and jump around, push into each other

Start talking and not listening to the instructor

What are some useful strategies for educators in virtual worlds? Build (or visit) a variety of spaces, do not expect students to sit still in a virtual classroom build and be engaged Harness the power of their drive to play and explore Find activities that are participatory, related to learning objectives If you can, start with what students generally want to do first anyway, participate in the activity with them and then discuss relevance

Build (or visit) a variety of spaces, do not expect students to sit still in a virtual classroom build and be engaged

Harness the power of their drive to play and explore

Find activities that are participatory, related to learning objectives

If you can, start with what students generally want to do first anyway, participate in the activity with them and then discuss relevance

Get to know other educators using virtual worlds – share ideas and lessons learned! There is a large community of educators using SL – a good place to start is the SL and education and SL Researchers mailing lists A good reference for developing engaging course work is “101 Uses for Second Life in the College Classroom” (Conklin, 2007)

Get to know other educators using virtual worlds – share ideas and lessons learned!

There is a large community of educators using SL – a good place to start is the SL and education and SL Researchers mailing lists

A good reference for developing engaging course work is “101 Uses for Second Life in the College Classroom” (Conklin, 2007)

Joanna Robinson / JoannaTrail Blazer Research Associate GNWC – Masters of Digital Media Program [email_address] Co-Author: Tracy Kennedy Communities & Technologies Research Group, Microsoft

Joanna Robinson / JoannaTrail Blazer

Research Associate

GNWC – Masters of Digital Media Program

[email_address]

Co-Author: Tracy Kennedy

Communities & Technologies Research Group, Microsoft