Modding the Matrix : Combining Virtual and Physical Worlds for Learning Dr. Gerri Sinclair and Joanna Robinson Masters of Digital Media Program Great Northern Way Campus Vancouver, B.C. http://www.gnwc.ca/mdm/

Dr. Gerri Sinclair and Joanna Robinson

Masters of Digital Media Program

Great Northern Way Campus Vancouver, B.C.

http://www.gnwc.ca/mdm/

Welcome to the MDM@GNWC

Centre for Digital Media Vancouver, B.C. Canada (Latitude: 49:16:0.383N, Longitude: 123:5:26.329W)

Virtual Centre for Digital Media University Project (150, 84, 23)

History of MDM@GNWC 1. Industry donated Land (20 acres) 2. Collaborative Academic Partnership 3. Powerful Industry Lobby 4. BC Government Invests $40M 5. World-leading graduate program 6. Vision: MDM:Vancouver like Stanford:Silicon Valley and USC:Hollywood

1. Industry donated Land (20 acres)

2. Collaborative Academic Partnership

3. Powerful Industry Lobby

4. BC Government Invests $40M

5. World-leading graduate program

6. Vision: MDM:Vancouver like Stanford:Silicon Valley and USC:Hollywood

Centre for Digital Media Competitive Advantages Powerful Academic Partnership Geographical Location Unique Model of Collaboration Deep Ties With Industry

Competitive Advantages

Powerful Academic Partnership

Geographical Location

Unique Model of Collaboration

Deep Ties With Industry

September 2007 – First Cohort 4 Senate approvals of curriculum Faculty & Staffing Program Implementation Building Renovations Industry/Community Relations (paid internships & projects)

4 Senate approvals of curriculum

Faculty & Staffing

Program Implementation

Building Renovations

Industry/Community Relations (paid internships & projects)

The Vision and the Reality Problem: Fall 2006 – Spring 2007 Unknown Brand- GNW? CDM? MDM Curriculum approval No Students No Faculty No Building

Problem: Fall 2006 – Spring 2007

Unknown Brand- GNW? CDM?

MDM Curriculum approval

No Students

No Faculty

No Building

Industry Affiliate Program

Academic Partners

Challenge: Put Vancouver on the Map as the Digital Media World Leader

MDM Advisory Board William Gibson – sci-fi giant & visionary Don Mattrick – EA Founder & President Scott Fisher – VR NASA, Telepresence,USC Glenn Entis – PDI, Dreamworks, CVO@EA Joi Ito – CyberVirtuoso, Guildmaster Linda Stone – Digerati, Microsoft EVP

William Gibson – sci-fi giant & visionary

Don Mattrick – EA Founder & President

Scott Fisher – VR NASA, Telepresence,USC

Glenn Entis – PDI, Dreamworks, CVO@EA

Joi Ito – CyberVirtuoso, Guildmaster

Linda Stone – Digerati, Microsoft EVP

virtual Centre for Digital Media Market research – best students YouTube, Flickr, Blogging Second Life as a Recruitment Tool BVW and Visual Story Courses Pedagogy of Participation Co-Creation - Physical Building and Virtual Building Student-Centered Design(2.0~3.0) Reconfigure, Modd, Transform

Market research – best students

YouTube, Flickr, Blogging

Second Life as a Recruitment Tool

BVW and Visual Story Courses

Pedagogy of Participation

Co-Creation - Physical Building and Virtual Building

Student-Centered Design(2.0~3.0)

Reconfigure, Modd, Transform

Thank You! FL Architectural Concept Drawings

Thank You! FL Architectural Concept Drawings

Thank You! FL Architectural Concept Drawings

Thank You! Nov 2006 Second Life 3D vCDM

Replicating the ‘Real’ in the Virtual? Trends in virtual learning environments so far: Replicating the real Creating based around objectives (reality need not apply) The decision was made to start with a traditional style lecture hall and a seminar style room in our space All parts are set to group and modifiable so that this building is a starting point, but not an end

Trends in virtual learning environments so far:

Replicating the real

Creating based around objectives (reality need not apply)

The decision was made to start with a traditional style lecture hall and a seminar style room in our space

All parts are set to group and modifiable so that this building is a starting point, but not an end

The sl space, like its first life counterpart (and to a greater extent!) will be constantly modifiable and reconfigurable to suit students needs Student volunteers are planning the initial design, some of this influence has come from the SL build

The sl space, like its first life counterpart (and to a greater extent!) will be constantly modifiable and reconfigurable to suit students needs

Student volunteers are planning the initial design, some of this influence has come from the SL build

Jan 2007 Modding Workshop I

Lecture Hall

Seminar Room

Virtual Research Assistants Working Out…

Brainstorming Design Session

Brainstorming Design Session

Brainstorming Design Session

Brainstorming Design Session

Brainstorming Design Session

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

A Griefer Disrupts Session

Modding Design Workshop II

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Modding Design Workshop

Vancouver Police Event

Vancouver Police Event

Vancouver Police Event

Vancouver Police Event

Griefing & disruptions

Some of the things we learned: Our goals of collaborative student design, modding and creation is possible in the Second Life environment Limitations: The skills of participants can present obstacles as well as general team organization. Also issues such as prim count & lag! Perceptions of “real” versus “just a game” present an issue on many levels Representing or replication of “the real” is not necessarily the best way to fulfill objectives in a place that has different constraints and possibilities!

Our goals of collaborative student design, modding and creation is possible in the Second Life environment

Limitations: The skills of participants can present obstacles as well as general team organization. Also issues such as prim count & lag!

Perceptions of “real” versus “just a game” present an issue on many levels

Representing or replication of “the real” is not necessarily the best way to fulfill objectives in a place that has different constraints and possibilities!

FL/SL Co-Creation - Next Steps FL Renovations of the GRID underway High-octane Learning Tech Leadership Team Reconfigurability, MM Jack-In Capability Students as Architects and Designers SL – University Project (173, 83, 25) vCDM phase 2 – collaborative design

FL Renovations of the GRID underway

High-octane Learning Tech Leadership Team

Reconfigurability, MM Jack-In Capability

Students as Architects and Designers

SL – University Project (173, 83, 25)

vCDM phase 2 – collaborative design

Upcoming Courses September 2007 Building Virtual Worlds (several metaverses, hybrid) Visual Story/Narrative (hybrid) 2008 Interdisciplinary Improv (entirely SL)

September 2007

Building Virtual Worlds (several metaverses, hybrid)

Visual Story/Narrative (hybrid)

2008

Interdisciplinary Improv (entirely SL)

Thank you! [email_address]