Using Second Life in Foreign Language Instruction-practical advice

Using Virtual Spaces (such as Second Life) in Language Education: Why and How To Get Started
Introductory practical advice from Dr. Eileen O’Connor
Empire State College / State University of NY, USA
Eileen.oconnor@esc.edu
Presented at: 4th International Scientific and Methodological Conference on:
Information and Communication Technologies in Foreign Language Teaching
at Moscow State University

Agenda
Overview of key uses of virtual spaces
Images of Second Life (SL) usage by O’Connor
Ideas for bringing language education in virtual space
Practical /exploratory ways to get started – with minimal startup and support
See companion paper submitted to the conference for more details & for expanded bibliography

What is a virtual learning environment?
Three-dimensional visual backgrounds
Individuals work at their computers and operate an avatar (a human personification that the individual creates)
Depending on the design and purpose, any number of scenarios and interactions can be created—you develop your own world
Examples & illustrations will follow

Key applications & findings
Distance is not a problem; more realistic and immersive than online – students get to see their colleagues
YOU can have “authentic” settings – museum, cathedrals, famous locations; you can find islands that can help promote the language, locations, and cultures of different countries
Educators can meet and discuss teaching & learning
The use of avatars can make students more comfortable with communication, very important with language instruction

Create simple working spaces for students (such as this MAT Science Center)

Have class presentations – PowerPoint gone virtual

Meet across distance, such as this meeting with the Dean

Bring in guest lecturers – again, crossing the barriers of geography

Attend professional meetings– such as this NASA/NSF meeting for science education

Experience simulations, such as this virtual, but actual, weather

Or re-create a tsunami at this NOAA site

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

Considering applications of Second Life to language learning

Second Life (SL): virtual worlds for teaching language skills
International meeting area—enhances the cultural aspects of the target language
Communication with native speakers in SL – with text chatting and with voice
Networking locations for language educators
Opportunities for language role playing and practice
Students may be more comfortable practicing language through an avatar
http://www.slideshare.net/AvatarLanguages.com/language-learning-in-second-life - shows a current application
http://sites.wiki.ubc.ca/etec510/Language_Learning_in_Second_Life -- provides general application

Visit cultural
locations

And man-made wonders

How can you learn to use these Second Life features?

Getting started yourself
Get the free download (www.secondlife.com) then explore and test
Consider ways you might work; find existing organizations (use Search in SL)
Join an education listserv; find more information at http://wiki.secondlife.com
See more details in the paper associated with this presentation

Marshalling support & locations
Find where you have support –from administration and from technology staff
but you can work on a basic level without such support
Look for places where you might work
Purchase an island—but a BIG commitment
Rent a small starter space—with an advanced avatar
Share public meeting spaces—for visits and for meetings
Practice building in sandbox areas

Integrating into course
Consider all the course objectives; and write these into your syllabus or handouts
Task objectives
Communication and interaction objectives
Metacognitive
Affective
Don’t shortchange the new technology-enabled learning objectives

Preparing learners
Survey to find what prior experience students may have in virtual spaces (www.surveymonkey.com); observe students during the virtual icebreaker
Establish the communication process—text and/or voice communications
Make expectations clear—don’t have them simply wandering in virtual space
Develop peer tutors –some students will be more adept

Managing virtual spaces
Have multiple meeting times or poll for the best time using www.doodle.com
Create small group assignments – use Snapshot to document attendance ; Snapshots can be emailed to the instructor
Assign individual work and use Snapshots
If planning virtual events, give sufficient lead time
Record audio (www.audacity.com) and video (www.fraps.com) – free for limited usage

Assessing the learning in virtual spaces
Align the assessment with the objectives associated with SL use
Use your own observations and Snapshots & reports submitted by the students to document interactions and outcomes
Talk to the learners about how to enhance their experiences

JUST DO IT!The experience will be very worthwhile

http://www.slideshare.net	11
http://quartafeiravidavirtual.wordpress.com	1
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Using Second Life in Foreign Language Instruction-practical advice

by Eileen O'Connor on Jun 03, 2010

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Using Second Life in Foreign Language Instruction-practical advice — Presentation Transcript