"Sustaining learning for LIS through use of a virtual world" (Sheila Webber and Diane Nahl) will be given at the World Library and Information Conference (IFLA conference) held in Gothenbur, Sweden, on 14th August 2010. The full paper corresponding to this powerpoint is at http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/123-webber-en.pdf "The virtual world (VW) online education movement is well underway, and librarians have become major participants by developing services and resources for this novel information ground. In this paper we identify ways in which the VW Second Life (SL) is being used by librarians, and describe our teaching of LIS students in SL, and the value of SL for sustainable Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The VW has become the new LIS laboratory for innovation, outreach, career development, research and curriculum development, offering sustainable learning opportunities by saving space, time, funds, and resource consumption, ad by increasing international and interdisciplinary interaction among programs, educators, librarians and students. LIS education can develop sustainable education practices by optimizing interaction with the VW library and educator and discipline-based communities active in SL, thereby providing a vibrant VW educationalenvironment for students, educators and researchers. The benefits to students include, unprecedented access to geo-distant tutors, professionals and experts in every field; flexible meeting times; experiencing content in unique forms; and acquiring VW informationliteracy."

1. Sheila Webber / Sheila
Yoshikawa
Information School
University of Sheffield, UK
Diane Nahl / Adra Letov
Department of Information and
Computer Sciences,
University of Hawaii, USA
Sustaining
learning for LIS through use
of a virtual world WLIC, July 2010

2. Diane Nahl and her avatar
Adra Letov
Webber & Nahl, 2010

3. Contribution to sustainability
• Environment for
– distance learning
– networking and Continuing Professional Development
– developing research links
– meeting international colleagues and developing cultural
awareness
• “Social presence” of SL helps build
sense of community and friendship
Pictures by Sheila Webber, unless otherwise stated

4. Second Life, a Virtual World (VW)
• VW = persistent, multiuser, avatars, networked
• 3-D VW world, owned by (& trademark of) Linden Lab
• Most things created by SL residents: SL fashion
designers, architects, bakers, animal makers ….
• Avatars- 3D representation of yourself – free to signup
and can live on freebies, but need Linden dollars if want
to own land, buy clothes etc.
• Need to download SL browser & have good connection &
graphics card
• Communication through text chat, Voice and Instant
Messaging
• 40-80,000 people online simultaneously
Webber & Nahl, 2010

5. Education
Virtual Hajj UEL virtual patient
Biology
Uncle D story
learning
quest on
FSU Holocaust
HIV/AIDS
Muinjij native American island
Teesside
Virtual
factory

6. What do librarians do?
• Support staff, students & the public through virtual
information and library services
• Reader development activities and book groups
• Recreate historical or fictional environments
• Teach or co-teach virtual classes
• Create interactive learning objects
• Use SL to plan and “mock up” new services
• Organise, and participate in CPD activities
• Engage in charitable work …. and have fun!
Webber & Nahl, 2010

7. Community Virtual Library
Reference Desk – Reader development – Installations - Events
http://infoisland.org/about/
Webber & Nahl, 2010

8. Teaching in SL: Webber’s examples
• First year undergraduate core class (BSc Information
Management)
– Exhibiting on “7 Pillars of Information Literacy”
– Research interviews about information behaviour
• Masters-level option “Educational Informatics”
– Visits, including attending & reporting on major SL
education conference
– Reflecting on how could be used for learning & teaching
• Benefits
– Interacting with concepts in 3D
– Engaging with people internationally
– Developing further communication & technology skills & Nahl, 2010
Webber

9. Webber & Nahl, 2010

10. Teaching in SL: Nahl’s examples
• Teaches four Masters classes which use SL
– Human Dimension in Information Systems
– Virtual World Librarianship
– Introduction to Reference and Information Services
– Teaching Information Technology Literacy
• Activities include
– Producing professional events, subject guides, exhibits
– Shadowing and observing SL reference desk librarians
– Integrating and managing Web 2.0 cloud computing for planning,
collaboration, and archiving
Webber & Nahl, 2010

11. Webber & Nahl, 2010

12. LIS Student Union (LISSU)
Home base, building sandbox, resource center, meeting space
and presentation area for all LIS students in SL
Front entrance near Reference Desk
Photos Diane Nahl
Picture(s) here
Backyard display area
for presentations and
student research posters

13. Further benefits
• Involvement of outside tutors,
• Showcasing students' work in exhibitions
• Enabling people to meet up with tutors and peers
outside scheduled times safely & from remote
locations.
• Encouraging discussion on issues such as identity,
ethnicity and communication
Webber & Nahl, 2010

14. Continuing professional
development
• Expertise from around world: speakers & audience;
• No travel cost or travel time
• People can chat and get to know each other
• Variety of formats e.g.
– Conferences
– Tours
– Themed / Commemorative Events
– Training courses
– Interactive exhibits

15. "I'm consistently amazed by the
quality of professional development
opportunities afforded me by
participating in virtual worlds. ... I
really love what I learn from such
diverse groups of librarians in this
way. I still can't believe I attend these
discussions/presentations and some
very large events all for no cost other
than the time it takes me to login on
my laptop. Truly an amazing time for
educators to be able to connect like
never before.” Ashford (2010) Picture by Robin Ashford
Webber & Nahl, 2010

16. “The remarkably rich CPD
Nahl’s experience in SL has allowed
me to meet new research
perspective collaborators willing to work at a
distance across time zones on
projects of mutual interest.
Through SL I have been able to
expand the exposure of
graduate LIS students to views,
knowledge, and practices of
librarians across the world; to
find librarian mentors for
Photo Diane Nahl
students; and introduce
students to a work environment
that sparks creativity."
Webber & Nahl, 2010

17. Conclusions: key reasons for using
VWs for sustainable LIS learning
• Prepare for the next generation of virtual learners
• Educate librarians to create sustainable services &
libraries, including virtual ones
• Opportunities for worldwide collaboration
• Create interactive and innovative tools, learning
objects and learning environments, and share them
internationally
Webber & Nahl, 2010

18. Sheila Yoshikawa
Sheila Webber http://adventuresofyoshikawa.blogspot.com/
s.webber@shef.ac.uk
http://information-literacy.blogspot.com/
Twitter: SheilaYoshikawa
http://www.slideshare.net/sheilawebber
Professor Diane Nahl
nahl@hawaii.edu
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~nahl/courses
Twitter: DianeNahl
http://www.slideshare.net/DNahl
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
lis-students-sl/sets/
Webber & Nahl, 2010

19. • This paper is online in full text at
http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/123-webber-en.pdf
• This presentation is on slideshare at
http://www.slideshare.net/sheilawebber/sustaining-learning-
for-lis-through-use-of-a-virtual-world
• Delicious links: http://delicious.com/lilacsl/ (compiled by
Webber, Vicki Cormie, Denny Colledge, Marshall Dozier, Lyn
Parker)
• Virtual World Watch http://virtualworldwatch.net/ (reports on
use of virtual worlds in UK HE & FE, podcasts etc.)
Webber & Nahl, 2010

20. • Infolit iSchool
– wiki: http://infolitischool.pbworks.com/
– SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infolit+iSchool/132/194/22/
– Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
23396182@N00/collections/72157604063164433/17
• Information Literacy in Second Life Wiki (also the focus for Information
Literacy Week in Second Life): http://infolit-week-in-sl.ning.com/
• LIS Student Union in SL,
– Sloog site: http://www.sloog.org/avatars/id/Adra-Letov/places
– Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lis-students-sl/sets/
– Website: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~nahl/studentunion/lis-su.html
– YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/LISstudentunionSL
– SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/74/233/32
Webber & Nahl, 2010