ISTE in Second Life 10 Lessons Learned in Using a Virtual World to Build a Professional Community of Practice Jennifer Ragan-Fore Director of General Membership International Society for Technology in Education

10 Lessons Learned in Using a Virtual

World to Build a Professional

Community of Practice

Jennifer Ragan-Fore

Director of General Membership

International Society for Technology in Education

What I’ll cover Brief overview of ISTE, our SL project history, and project goals 10 Lessons Learned The opportunities/challenges of establishing and managing a community in SL

Brief overview of ISTE, our SL project history, and project goals

10 Lessons Learned

The opportunities/challenges of establishing and managing a community in SL

17,000 individual members 85,000 affiliated members Annual Conference Technology Standards Virtual Communities Books Education Advocacy Periodicals

17,000 individual members

85,000 affiliated members

ISTE SL Project Timeline Nov. 2006 Jan. 2007 Mar. 2007 Jun. 2007 Sep. 2007 Dec. 2007 Jan. 2008 Mar. 2008 ISTE Group Started ISTE rents land on Eduisland, officially launches project Orders private island, launches ISTE “Docent” Program ISTE Island opens, first mixed reality event at NECC 2007 Introduces new roles: Social co-chairs, island managers Orders partner islands for ISTE Affiliates and other edu orgs Partners “move in, ; new role of speaker series chair Orders last sim needed for 4-sim auditorium 2 17 750 1400 1700 2000 2200 2500 Feb. 2007 375 Speaker Series launches

ISTE Stats 2500 Members 45 “ISTE Docents” 1 Lead Docent 1 Speaker Series Chair 1 Social Chair 2 Island Managers 2 Tour Leaders 2 Resource Managers 15-member Social Committee

2500 Members

45 “ISTE Docents”

1 Lead Docent

1 Speaker Series Chair

1 Social Chair

2 Island Managers

2 Tour Leaders

2 Resource Managers

15-member Social Committee

Primary Goals Build community New audiences Younger demographic

Build community

New audiences

Younger demographic

Secondary Goals Professional development Showcase ISTE Support existing group

Professional development

Showcase ISTE

Support existing group

1. Plan for Success

2. Location, location, location

3. Be clear in your goals

4. Be open to “happy accidents.”

5. Create Opportunities.

6. Take advantage of the tool.

7. Live by the code

8. Nurture your “Connectors”

9. Communicate well/often Calling all educators!

10. Be redundant