Learning Global Science Using Second Life Working with Global Kids at the High School for Global Citizenship, New York

High School for Global Citizenship Brooklyn, New York Four schools in same building About 300 pupils Low levels of literacy Similar to CCHS – area, behaviour, literacy levels, academic achievement, home access to ICT etc

Brooklyn, New York

Four schools in same building

About 300 pupils

Low levels of literacy

Similar to CCHS – area, behaviour, literacy levels, academic achievement, home access to ICT etc

Access to ICT Poor ICT skills Not great ICT access at home Handful of computers in school (mainly for teachers use) More spent on security scanners than ICT??

Poor ICT skills

Not great ICT access at home

Handful of computers in school (mainly for teachers use)

More spent on security scanners than ICT??

SL Curriculum Texturing 3D modelling environment – look around Prim twisting Too much content Too much reading Being taught as course being developed 160 lesson plans available from GK

Texturing

3D modelling environment – look around

Prim twisting

Too much content

Too much reading

Being taught as course being developed

160 lesson plans available from GK

Learning Global Science Variety of uses for SL Recreation of scenes Giant globe arrows Post-it Notes board Agree / Disagree / Not sure debates

Variety of uses for SL

Recreation of scenes

Giant globe arrows

Post-it Notes board

Agree / Disagree / Not sure debates

Science at home Groups ‘decorated’ their own SL house like their RL home. Energy use Building materials Recycling Use of resources (Energy, water and food) Intention to use as base, and to look at improving SL homes as we learned.

Groups ‘decorated’ their own SL house like their RL home.

Energy use

Building materials

Recycling

Use of resources (Energy, water and food)

Intention to use as base, and to look at improving SL homes as we learned.

Waste management Highly successful Chat bots to interrogate Environment to observe Landfill survey (clothing, goggles, tools)

Highly successful

Chat bots to interrogate

Environment to observe

Landfill survey (clothing, goggles, tools)

Non-renewable resources Coal Claustrophobic coalmine, dead budgies, stream, hardhats and lag Oil Chatbot problems and not enough content Ozone layer changes

Coal

Claustrophobic coalmine, dead budgies, stream, hardhats and lag

Oil

Chatbot problems and not enough content

Ozone layer changes

Renewable resources Exploratory learning – not too successful Wind, water, wave, eco-home Objects to explore, web links to research More guidance needed More appropriate websites needed

Exploratory learning – not too successful

Wind, water, wave, eco-home

Objects to explore, web links to research

More guidance needed

More appropriate websites needed

Virtual Fieldtrip First SL fieldtrip? Green water treatment plant Brought across from main grid – problems Audio issues, transcription needed Hugely successful Pupils attentive, interested, asked intelligent questions

First SL fieldtrip?

Green water treatment plant

Brought across from main grid – problems

Audio issues, transcription needed

Hugely successful

Pupils attentive, interested, asked intelligent questions

Final Project Research questions Create poster presentation in ComicLife Import into SL as billboard Notecard with answers to research questions Presentation in class Emphasis on assessing science learning not SL learning.

Research questions

Create poster presentation in ComicLife

Import into SL as billboard

Notecard with answers to research questions

Presentation in class

Emphasis on assessing science learning not SL learning.

Other skills Learning research skills on the web Using Google Earth and Flickr Communicating ideas through blogging Presenting work through Comic Life and SL Reporting findings through email and blogging Presenting final project to class Understanding of different cultures

Learning research skills on the web

Using Google Earth and Flickr

Communicating ideas through blogging

Presenting work through Comic Life and SL

Reporting findings through email and blogging

Presenting final project to class

Understanding of different cultures