Presentation at AAOS – fall ‘2009 by Eileen O’Connor Brief pictorial overview of some actual uses Some general suggestions Discussion ?

Brief pictorial overview of some actual uses

Some general suggestions

Discussion ?

Courses: time frames, focus, and student experience Brought in a summer course too & will be bringing into a course this fall – used as part of the “discussion” areas; these are mostly 100% online courses

Small meetings with students: office hours

Class meeting at another island (ISTE) – students lead

Class meeting in MAT Science Center: student presentations on uses of SL

Class meeting in MAT Science Center: student presentations – the presenter is standing

Field trip to ISTE: small groups

Non-science class: speaker & questions / an MAT 1 st year teacher / speech & text questions

Virtual and interactive experiences are possible: NOAA – real-time weather map (Northeast)

Non-science class: class members presenting / notice the interactive/supportive companion text chat

Guest speaker from Indiana: assistive technologies / not feasible otherwise – I meet Dan in SL

Field trip to Genome Island: small group of bio teachers / meeting Quebec teachers

Professional meeting that students and I “crashed”

Meet deans and other unsavory characters in SL

Best expressed through an instructional metaphor : like designing an intelligent experience (field trip / discussions / role playing / construction) . . . with an assessment More advanced uses

Pros / cons Advantages: Closeness, empathy, fun with students – you will be a learner too; they may be better (Great) Makes online personal & connected (Jack’s quote) You control scheduling / students can meet alone Many applications: discussions / speakers / field trips / building Disadvantages: Learning curve / tech support / security

Advantages:

Closeness, empathy, fun with students – you will be a learner too; they may be better (Great)

Makes online personal & connected (Jack’s quote)

You control scheduling / students can meet alone

Many applications: discussions / speakers / field trips / building

Disadvantages:

Learning curve / tech support / security

Basic / not-too-difficult

Designing an SL portion to a course Course objectives Is there a requirement for collaboration, sharing, discussion? Meeting arrangements Some required time, at least initially Give multiple times for participation if online course Tasks & conversations Discussions / role playing / guest speakers Overheard – real discussions Collaboration spaces You don’t have to be there all the time Require documenting & reporting; snapshots in Shared experiences Field trips / presentations / scavenger hunts Put PowerPoint into SL for presentations (it’s easy) Methods of gaining SL expertise Tutorial / handouts / peer tutoring / tech support Posit, expect and support awkwardness & learning curve Ways of communicating Voice chatting (w/ headsets) is useful with smaller group In larger groups, determine who speaks and have others use text

Considering students & their learning curve Issue Ways instructor can help - Technology requirements - In the school lab if possible; alternatives if necessary - Finding time to learn SL - Embed learning SL as an early assignment - Time to overcome awkwardness - Instructor can model learning and awkwardness (generally easy to do); have a field trip - Problems with scheduling - Have multiple sessions and/or times & ways to participate - Problems with voice chatting - Work with them on their audio / headset settings; get tech help if possible; use text chatting as a backup - Problems with collaborating - Provide structured / required interactions until groups can work on their own - Problems with valuing SL - Don’t expect all will “like” SL at the start; over time more come to value the experience

Overall recommendations Stage SL introduction / test along the way Attend to scheduling Integrate into course objectives / require reflection & application / assess Value and require collaboration / facilitate Gather suggestions from students for future Find ways to work across courses & program

Stage SL introduction / test along the way

Attend to scheduling

Integrate into course objectives / require reflection & application / assess

Value and require collaboration / facilitate

Gather suggestions from students for future

Find ways to work across courses & program