Online Learning in Virtual Environments using Sloodle Daniel Livingstone University of Paisley Jeremy Kemp San Jose State University Funded and Supported by Eduserv

Learning Support in VLEs Different learning environments provide very different support Web-based VLEs include: Asynchronous & synchronous discussion Document sharing Coursework submissions Assessments Learning object integration Management tools/tracking Gradebooks

Different learning environments provide very different support

Web-based VLEs include:

Asynchronous & synchronous discussion

Document sharing

Coursework submissions

Assessments

Learning object integration

Management tools/tracking

Gradebooks

Learning in 3D MUVEs Various MUVEs Shared ‘Presence’ Exploration, discovery Synchronous work Shared experiences, discussion Second Life Imagining, developing & sharing own creations Potentially: Distracting, Confusing, Hard to Navigate

Various MUVEs

Shared ‘Presence’

Exploration, discovery

Synchronous work

Shared experiences, discussion

Second Life

Imagining, developing & sharing own creations

Potentially: Distracting, Confusing, Hard to Navigate

Teaching in SL: My Experience Assumed technically proficient students would be adept self-starters in MUVE Virtual world too open-ended, lacks obvious goals, rich social & technical environment Students needed support for working towards goals and reflecting on experiences Assumed students would develop own ideas for projects A lot to take in; Students floundered until more specific project ideas were suggested Technical issues E.g. permissions on objects, group work Students often needed to work together but failed to set object permissions correctly Discovered a need for greater learning support in MUVE

Assumed technically proficient students would be adept self-starters in MUVE

Virtual world too open-ended, lacks obvious goals, rich social & technical environment

Students needed support for working towards goals and reflecting on experiences

Assumed students would develop own ideas for projects

A lot to take in; Students floundered until more specific project ideas were suggested

Technical issues

E.g. permissions on objects, group work

Students often needed to work together but failed to set object permissions correctly

Discovered a need for greater learning support in MUVE

Sloodle Architecture Moodle DB Moodle Php Sloodle Php HTTP Web Browser Second Life LSL Object Moodle/Sloodle Web-server

Approaches to integration The 3D classroom Original conception UI integration The Sloodle toolbar The Rich 3D Learning Environment Learning & assessment built into a rich 3D interactive virtual landscape

The 3D classroom

Original conception

UI integration

The Sloodle toolbar

The Rich 3D Learning Environment

Learning & assessment built into a rich 3D interactive virtual landscape

The 3D Classroom

PrimDrop - Digital Dropbox Gathering assignments Version control Feedback Permissions Returning submissions Supporting reflection http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VUUnnLm-AG4

Gathering assignments

Version control

Feedback

Permissions

Returning submissions

Supporting reflection

http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VUUnnLm-AG4

UI Integration

Chat: Web-Intercom

Summary Second Life can work well in a blended learning environment Technical issues; User Acceptance Need for external applications to support learning experience Currently a mix and match collection of web-technologies Sloodle aims to provide integrated support and management features to educators and learners

Second Life can work well in a blended learning environment

Technical issues; User Acceptance

Need for external applications to support learning experience

Currently a mix and match collection of web-technologies

Sloodle aims to provide integrated support and management features to educators and learners

Progress… User authentication User toolbar Classroom tools Chat support/logging/messaging Glossary Drop box Check permissions log SL submissions on Moodle 3D Classroom Quiz tool

User authentication

User toolbar

Classroom tools

Chat support/logging/messaging

Glossary

Drop box

Check permissions

log SL submissions on Moodle

3D Classroom

Quiz tool

Any questions? http://www.sloodle.org [email_address]

Any questions?

http://www.sloodle.org

[email_address]