Modding the Matrix: Combining Virtual and Physical Worlds for Learning - NMC 2007

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/

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

Centre for Digital Media
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)

The Vision and the Reality
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

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

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

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

Modding Design Workshop

A Griefer Disrupts Session

Modding Design Workshop II

Modding Design Workshop

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!

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

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

Thank you! [email_address]

Modding the Matrix: Combining Virtual and Physical Worlds for Learning - NMC 2007

by Joanna Robinson on Oct 29, 2007

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Modding the Matrix: Combining Virtual and Physical Worlds for Learning - NMC 2007 — Presentation Transcript