in Education Implications for Teachers, Students and Administrators Kevin Jarrett (KJ Hax) Part-Time Faculty Walden University October 9, 2007

Get a First Life x x

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 Source: http://tinyurl.com/nkfl In Other Words…

Agenda What Second Life is (and why it matters) My grant-funded research project: results so far Implications for educators Wrap-Up / Q&A

What Second Life is (and why it matters)

My grant-funded research project: results so far

Implications for educators

Wrap-Up / Q&A

1) Second Life: in words “… an Internet-based virtual world … developed by Linden Lab … users, called "Residents", interact with each other through … avatars … a social network … Residents can explore, meet other Residents, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items and services ...” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life

“… an Internet-based virtual world … developed by Linden Lab … users, called "Residents", interact with each other through … avatars … a social network … Residents can explore, meet other Residents, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items and services ...” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life

1) Second Life: in words “… an Internet-based virtual world … developed by Linden Lab … users, called "Residents", interact with each other through … avatars … a social network … Residents can explore, meet other Residents, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items and services ...” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life

“… an Internet-based virtual world … developed by Linden Lab … users, called "Residents", interact with each other through … avatars … a social network … Residents can explore, meet other Residents, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items and services ...” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life

1) Second Life: in words Kalning, Kristin (2007-Mar-12). If Second Life isn't a game, what is it? Retrieved May 8, 2007, from MSNBC.com Web site: http://tinyurl.com/yq26z7

Kalning, Kristin (2007-Mar-12). If Second Life isn't a game, what is it? Retrieved May 8, 2007, from MSNBC.com Web site: http://tinyurl.com/yq26z7

1) Second Life: in video NMC Campus: Seriously Engaging http://tinyurl.com/2kfmxy Introduction to Second Life http://tinyurl.com/2bdckz Ants in Second Life: a Simulation http://tinyurl.com/2oope3 Global Kids Islands (Teen SL) http://tinyurl.com/38kec3 Global Kids Social Issue Machinima (Teen SL) http://tinyurl.com/2jbgxc

1) Second Life: in words Second Life is: An environment, a platform, a blank slate Two ‘grids’: Teens and Adults Completely user directed and controlled Best viewed with a modern, powerful PC Economically linked to the real world (Linden $) Highly social International Free

Second Life is:

An environment, a platform, a blank slate

Two ‘grids’: Teens and Adults

Completely user directed and controlled

Best viewed with a modern, powerful PC

Economically linked to the real world (Linden $)

Highly social

International

Free

1) Second Life: in words Second Life is NOT: A game Finished, complete, ready-to-use Crowded 100% ‘safe’ (like the web, there are ‘bad places’) [Teen Grid projects ARE 100% safe!] Passive Easy to use for people with poor keyboarding skills!

Second Life is NOT:

A game

Finished, complete, ready-to-use

Crowded

100% ‘safe’ (like the web, there are ‘bad places’) [Teen Grid projects ARE 100% safe!]

Passive

Easy to use for people with poor keyboarding skills!

1) Second Life: in words Two “Grids” Main (Adult) 18+ Corporations, Non-Profits, Institutions of Higher Ed Entertainment Industry Politicians Regular people, too Teen (<18) Teen-only Area Educator & Teen Private Islands Background check ($50) required prior to entry Clearance procedure: http://tslclear.blogspot.com/

Two “Grids”

Main (Adult) 18+

Corporations, Non-Profits, Institutions of Higher Ed

Entertainment Industry

Politicians

Regular people, too

Teen (<18)

Teen-only Area

Educator & Teen Private Islands

Background check ($50) required prior to entry

Clearance procedure: http://tslclear.blogspot.com/

2) My research: results so far Walden University Faculty Excellence Grant ($10,000) awarded February 2007 Project Start: March 1 st Phase one: Immersion & Networking (March-April) Phase two: Focused Exploration (May-June) Phase three: Synthesize & Report (July-August) Blog: http://www.storyofmysecondlife.com/ “ HESS”: Holidays, Evenings, Saturdays & Sundays (~20 hours/week) Exit Strategy?

Walden University Faculty Excellence Grant ($10,000) awarded February 2007

Project Start: March 1 st

Phase one: Immersion & Networking (March-April)

Phase two: Focused Exploration (May-June)

Phase three: Synthesize & Report (July-August)

Blog: http://www.storyofmysecondlife.com/

“ HESS”: Holidays, Evenings, Saturdays & Sundays (~20 hours/week)

Exit Strategy?

2) My research: results so far Teen Grid Findings Engaging students like no technology I’ve ever seen before Suffern Middle School: http://rampoislands.blogspot.com Eight different projects to date in math, social studies, language arts, health Suffern kids … in their own words … [video]

Teen Grid Findings

Engaging students like no technology I’ve ever seen before

Suffern Middle School: http://rampoislands.blogspot.com

Eight different projects to date in math, social studies, language arts, health

Suffern kids … in their own words … [video]

2) My research: results so far Main Grid Findings Incredible professional networking EdTech leaders among early adopters/first movers Meaningful, real world relationships Educators still exploring (and inventing) uses and applications Replicate “real world?”

Main Grid Findings

Incredible professional networking

EdTech leaders among early adopters/first movers

Meaningful, real world relationships

Educators still exploring (and inventing) uses and applications

Replicate “real world?”

2) My research: results so far ISTE in SL A “must-see” resource 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 largest influence on my SL experience to date

ISTE in SL

A “must-see” resource

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 largest influence on my SL experience to date

2) My research: results so far The C.A.V.E. (my place!) The Center for Advanced Virtual Education Four buildings on EduIsland II Carl F. Spackler Hall (dorm) residents: Andy Carvin, Hall Davidson, Doug Johnson, Ian Jukes, Annette Lamb, Alan November, Will Richardson, David Warlick Goal: elevate discussion of SL (pro and con) to highest levels of the blogosphere

The C.A.V.E. (my place!)

The Center for Advanced Virtual Education

Four buildings on EduIsland II

Carl F. Spackler Hall (dorm) residents: Andy Carvin, Hall Davidson, Doug Johnson, Ian Jukes, Annette Lamb, Alan November, Will Richardson, David Warlick

Goal: elevate discussion of SL (pro and con) to highest levels of the blogosphere

3) Implications for K-12 educators SL is a rich, engaging, powerful learning environment that requires modern technology infrastructure and planning to use effectively. SL is not expensive (educators receive discounts) but a presence (island) is not free With support, the SL learning curve is gentle Students are self-directed – are you ready? For Teen Instruction

SL is a rich, engaging, powerful learning environment that requires modern technology infrastructure and planning to use effectively.

SL is not expensive (educators receive discounts) but a presence (island) is not free

With support, the SL learning curve is gentle

Students are self-directed – are you ready?

3) Implications for K-12 educators SL early adopters include some of the world’s most innovative educators SL (M.U.V.E.s in general) = future of the web? Little “real” PD happening there NOW that is different from/superior to current 2D web Exception: Kathy Schrock’s Lighthouse Learning Island Power of relationships formed in SL cannot be overstated For Professional Development

SL early adopters include some of the world’s most innovative educators

SL (M.U.V.E.s in general) = future of the web?

Little “real” PD happening there NOW that is different from/superior to current 2D web

Exception: Kathy Schrock’s Lighthouse Learning Island

Power of relationships formed in SL cannot be overstated

Why should you 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 Athavaley, A. (2007, June 20) . Retrieved October 8, 2007, from the Wall Street Journal Online Web site: http://tinyurl.com/2z93rb Dessault Systems Commercial 3) Implications for K-12 educators

Why should you 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

Athavaley, A. (2007, June 20) . Retrieved October 8, 2007, from the Wall Street Journal Online Web site: http://tinyurl.com/2z93rb

Dessault Systems Commercial

3) Implications for K-12 educators 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

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?

3) Implications for adult ed SL’s environment has a few advantages to traditional asynchronous distance learning Hardware and bandwidth requirements create a ‘digital divide’ (likely to exist for some time) Tools merging SL/2D web, including SLoodle: http://www.sloodle.com/ Universities rapidly moving into SL: http://tinyurl.com/2z9u7q Can your institution afford NOT to be in SL?

SL’s environment has a few advantages to traditional asynchronous distance learning

Hardware and bandwidth requirements create a ‘digital divide’ (likely to exist for some time)

Tools merging SL/2D web, including SLoodle: http://www.sloodle.com/

Universities rapidly moving into SL: http://tinyurl.com/2z9u7q

Can your institution afford NOT to be in SL?

SL is just one of many cutting-edge edtech topics, but: It’s FREE to explore It’s EARLY in the adoption curve It’s ADDICTIVE (but in a good way) It’s WORTH knowing more about It’s NOT GOING AWAY! Not ready to take the leap? YouTube it: 3) Implications for everyone http://youtube.com/results?search_query=second+life&search=Search

SL is just one of many cutting-edge edtech topics, but:

It’s FREE to explore

It’s EARLY in the adoption curve

It’s ADDICTIVE (but in a good way)

It’s WORTH knowing more about

It’s NOT GOING AWAY!

Not ready to take the leap? YouTube it:

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

Thank You!

Kevin Jarrett

[email_address]

storyofmysecondlife.com