A K-20 Educator's Journey Through Second Life

in Education: A K-20 Educator's Journey Through Second Life KJ Hax (Kevin Jarrett) Part-Time Faculty Walden University May 25, 2007

Get a First Life x x http://www.getafirstlife.com

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteres are at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe. Source: http://tinyurl.com/nkfl In Other Words…

Agenda
My grant-funded research project: results so far
ISTE’s Role
The Center for Advanced Virtual Education (C.A.V.E.)
SLolar Central
Wrap-up / Q&A

1) My Project
Walden University Faculty Excellence Grant ($10,000) awarded February 2007
Project Start: March 1 st
Phase I: Immersion & Networking (March-April)
Phase II: Focused Exploration (May-June)
Phase III: Synthesize & Report (July-August)
Blog: http://www.storyofmysecondlife.com/
~ 20 hours/week instead of teaching online
Research Associate: Clare Lane
Exit Strategy?

1) My Project
Primary Activities
Reading a LOT ( http:// tinyurl.com/yoazev )
Social networking
Clare Lane, Kittygloom Cassady, Jeremy Braver (GaLiSL), Decka Mah, Victoria Gloucester, Maggie Marat, Anya Ixchel, so many others
Blogging, blogging, blogging & more blogging
Exploring
Shopping (avatar items, helpful gadgets)
Finding a home of my own

1) My Project
Essential Questions 1
How can SL enrich, facilitate online learning (adults and teens)?
How can SL augment F2F learning (adults and teens)?
What are key advantages, disadvantages vs. 2D?
How does social networking drive SL?
Will teaching in SL yield verifiable gains in RL knowledge and changes in RL behaviors?
1 Mackenzie, J. (1996). Framing Essential Questions. FNO.org. Retrieved May 12, 2007.

1) Results so far…
Main Grid Findings
Incredible professional networking
EdTech leaders among earliest adopters
Meaningful, real world relationships
Educators, adult students exploring (and inventing) new uses and applications every day

Main Grid Findings
Institutions exploring (and inventing) new uses and applications every day
Replicate “real world?”
Community of learners
Griefing not a major issue
Lag, inefficient searching, clumsiness of UI, Mac issues are issues

PD happening NOW in SL is not that different from/superior to current 2D web
Hardware and bandwidth requirements create a ‘digital divide’ (likely to exist for some time)
Power of relationships forged in SL cannot be overstated
SL (M.U.V.E.s in general) = future of the web? 2
Implications for Professional Development 2 Pettey, C. (2007). Gartner Says 80 Percent of Active Internet Users Will Have A “Second Life”' in the Virtual World by the End of 2011. Businesswire.com. Retrieved May 22, 2007.

Teen Grid Findings
Only ONE experience so far, but WHAT an experience!
Suffern Middle School: http://rampoislands.blogspot.com
Multiple projects in math, social studies, language arts, health
Engaging students like no technology I’ve ever seen before – on their terms
Suffern kids’ own words: http://tinyurl.com/2kgppa

Effective use of SL requires substantial technology infrastructure and planning
SL is not expensive but costs extend beyond hard $ outlays (staff development time)
With support , the SL learning curve is gentle
Self-directed learning – are your lessons ready?
For Teen Instruction

Why should we care?
Margolis, Dawn (2007, March). Puffle Kerfluffle. Retrieved May 8, 2007, from WIRED.com Web site: http://tinyurl.com/ywj9de
Slatalla, Michelle (2007-May-03). My Daughter, the Burger-Flipping Penguin. Retrieved May 8, 2007, from New York Times Online Web site: http://tinyurl.com/237wrl

Global Kids Island
Kids Connect
Eye4You Alliance
Ramapo Islands
The PacRimX Islands
The Ohio STEAM island
MATRIX Learning
Youtopia Island
LearnWay Island
Oz Island
Schome Park
BritishCouncil Isle
Accelerate Nation
YOUR SCHOOL HERE?
Teen Grid Projects as of May, 2007 (Source: Claudia Linden) More information - http://tinyurl.com/2yav97

2) ISTE’s Role
ISTE in SL
A “must-see” resource (and a new island is on the way!)
Docents (volunteer guides)
Educator “Show & Tells”
Thursday Night “Socials”
Free facilities (meeting spaces, etc.) for use
A SAFE PLACE FOR EDUCATORS TO CALL HOME!
The single greatest influence on my SL experience to date

3) The C.A.V.E.
The Center for Advanced Virtual Education (C.A.V.E.)
Four buildings on EduIsland II:
Existential Paine’s C.A.T.E.R.
Hodjazz Edman’s Place
Kathy Dryburgh’s Place
Carl F. Spackler Hall (my place)
Goal: provide resources, community to elevate discussion of SL (pro and con) to highest levels of edtech

3) The C.A.V.E.
Carl F. Spackler Hall (my place!)
Residents: Andy Carvin, Hall Davidson, Doug Johnson, Ian Jukes, Annette Lamb, Sylvia Martinez, Brian Mull, Chris Turek, Alan November, Will Richardson, David Warlick, Jeff Utecht
What they’re up to: exploring, learning, blogging
Coming soon: C.A.V.E. events, open to the public

4) SLolar Central
A facility for S econd L ife Sch olar s
Run by Laelia Laval & KJ Hax
Free temporary “homes” (one month) for K-20 educators, administrators
Small office space, ability to ‘Set Home to Here’ – no cost
Support, encouragement, networking, free stuff
Main requirement: You must share about the experience !
Info: http://tinyurl.com/2b3ldg

In Closing … "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." - Alvin Toffler

5) Wrap-up / Q&A
Thank You!
Kevin Jarrett
[email_address]
storyofmysecondlife.com

A K-20 Educator's Journey Through Second Life

by Kevin Jarrett

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