Second Life for Engagement, Outreach, and Building Interdisciplinary Communities of Learning Patricia F. Anderson 1 , Emerging Technologies Librarian, <pfa@umich.edu>; Sharon Grayden , Instructional Learning Senior, Dental Informatics; Marc R. Stephens , Multimedia Services, Medical School Administration; Gillian Mayman 1 , Informatics Librarian; Anne Perorazio 1 , Infopoint; Mark P. MacEachern 1 , Liaison Librarian; Jane Blumenthal 1 , Director 1 Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Background: What is Second Life? Buzzwords Virtual World MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environment) NOTE: Not a game, although may include game activities Major relevant activities Education (“killer app”) Social networks --> support groups Professional meetings, presentations, seminar series, discussion groups, etcetera

Buzzwords

Virtual World

MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environment)

NOTE: Not a game, although may include game activities

Major relevant activities

Education (“killer app”)

Social networks --> support groups

Professional meetings, presentations, seminar series, discussion groups, etcetera

Background: Why librarians in Second Life? Jason Griffey (via Twitter): “It’s not the tool, it’s the training. Re. SL. We need to get used to that sort of interaction, because it’s coming.”

Jason Griffey (via Twitter): “It’s not the tool, it’s the training. Re. SL. We need to get used to that sort of interaction, because it’s coming.”

Background: Why are we in Second Life? Vision Ted Hanss, UM Medical School Jane Blumenthal, UM Health Sciences Libraries Timeline March 2007 - purchase Spring & Summer - planning August 2007 - building September 2007 - Wolverine Island opens to select group of faculty and students

Vision

Ted Hanss, UM Medical School

Jane Blumenthal, UM Health Sciences Libraries

Timeline

March 2007 - purchase

Spring & Summer - planning

August 2007 - building

September 2007 - Wolverine Island opens to select group of faculty and students

Phase One: Engagement Context : Wolverine Island “a gleam in the eye” Library develops team with Second Life (SL) responsibilities 1. Build SL skills 2. Discover relevant SL locations & resources Libraries Health & healthcare Science Education 3. Make connections in SL with possible mentors/partners 4. Facilitate discovery and connection for our faculty and University community.

Context : Wolverine Island “a gleam in the eye”

Library develops team with Second Life (SL) responsibilities

1. Build SL skills

2. Discover relevant SL locations & resources

Libraries

Health & healthcare

Science

Education

3. Make connections in SL with possible mentors/partners

4. Facilitate discovery and connection for our faculty and University community.

SL: Libraries

SL: Health & healthcare

SL: Science

Phase Two: Outreach Context: Wolverine Island in active development, portions open to restricted group, not open to campus community Library team members collaborate with health science schools To promote Second Life opportunities To inform interested faculty about SL To disseminate Second Life skill base To develop a campus cohort with skills & interest Initial outreach and collaboration focused on Medical School and School of Dentistry

Context: Wolverine Island in active development, portions open to restricted group, not open to campus community

Library team members collaborate with health science schools

To promote Second Life opportunities

To inform interested faculty about SL

To disseminate Second Life skill base

To develop a campus cohort with skills & interest

Initial outreach and collaboration focused on Medical School and School of Dentistry

Phase Two: Presentations What’s a Nice Library Like Yours Doing in a Place like This?: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whats-a-nice-library-20070731

What’s a Nice Library Like Yours Doing in a Place like This?: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whats-a-nice-library-20070731

Phase Two: Podcasts Why Work & Teach With Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/why-work-teach-with-second-life

Why Work & Teach With Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/why-work-teach-with-second-life

Phase Two: Orientations Getting Started in Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/getting-started-in-second-life

Getting Started in Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/getting-started-in-second-life

Phase Two: Really the Real World Face-to-face Consultations Private On-demand In offices In Second Life Classes Single sessions for faculty & staff Student cohort class taught as four session elective in Medical School

Face-to-face

Consultations

Private

On-demand

In offices

In Second Life

Classes

Single sessions for faculty & staff

Student cohort class taught as four session elective in Medical School

Phase Two: Video / Machinima Science Learning Opportunities in Second Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsSGBraUhc

Science Learning Opportunities in Second Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsSGBraUhc

Phase Three: Interdisciplinary Learning Communities Context: Wolverine Island open to campus community, alumni, and invited guests Wolverine Island highly secured, so access must be requested even for authorized visitors Focus on community building & engagement Phase Two activities continue Phase Three activities add to activity mix.

Context: Wolverine Island open to campus community, alumni, and invited guests

Wolverine Island highly secured, so access must be requested even for authorized visitors

Focus on community building & engagement

Phase Two activities continue

Phase Three activities add to activity mix.

Phase 3: Dec 07 - Open Wolverine Island open for community events

Wolverine Island open for community events

Phase Three: Dec 07 - Brownbags Begin Every Friday at noon local time, 9am SLT

Every Friday at noon local time, 9am SLT

Phase Three: Events - Speakers JJ Drinkwater - SL Community Building Joop Zuhal - SL Teaching, Pros & Cons Jenny Levine @ ALA Caia Alter - Pharmacy Research Labs

JJ Drinkwater - SL Community Building

Joop Zuhal - SL Teaching, Pros & Cons

Jenny Levine @ ALA

Caia Alter - Pharmacy Research Labs

Phase Three: Events - Tours Dante Project InfoIsland International Nursing Education Simulator (NESIM) Play2Train

Dante Project

InfoIsland International

Nursing Education Simulator (NESIM)

Play2Train

Phase Three: Classes & Professional Presentations Basic Clothing Design Class: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/basic-clothing-design-in-second-life Enriching Scholarship 2008 S’Lang Health event: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/sl-healthy-slang Virtual Worlds, Libraries, Education, Museums: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whatcha-gonna-do-an-academic-health-sciences-library-in-second-life-embraces-new-roles-298438/

Basic Clothing Design Class: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/basic-clothing-design-in-second-life

Enriching Scholarship 2008

S’Lang Health event: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/sl-healthy-slang

Virtual Worlds, Libraries, Education, Museums: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whatcha-gonna-do-an-academic-health-sciences-library-in-second-life-embraces-new-roles-298438/

Phase Three: Opening the Library Ground Level: Freebies, Food Court Main Level: Service Desk, Guides, Casual Seating, Fireplace, Games Mezzanine: Exhibits Top Level:Small Group Study Space with Public Slide Viewers / Social Space, Dance Floor

Ground Level: Freebies, Food Court

Main Level: Service Desk, Guides, Casual Seating, Fireplace, Games

Mezzanine: Exhibits

Top Level:Small Group Study Space with Public Slide Viewers / Social Space, Dance Floor

Phase Three: Outworld Community building with other social technology & media tools Flickr Blogs Wiki Google Calendar

Community building with other social technology & media tools

Flickr

Blogs

Wiki

Google Calendar

Assessment: Metrics Dec 07 - Apr 08 18 events >190 participants Largest group = ~20 Smallest group = 7 Usual group = ~11 Usual group is mostly regulars - repeat visits

Dec 07 - Apr 08

18 events

>190 participants

Largest group = ~20

Smallest group = 7

Usual group = ~11

Usual group is mostly regulars - repeat visits

Campus Communities in Collaboration Health programs Medical School (SL/RL) School of Dentistry (SL/RL) Kinesiology (SL/RL) Public Health (SL/RL) Pharmacy School (SL/RL) School of Nursing (RL) Non-health programs Computer Sciences Dearborn Campus Distance Learning Literature, Sciences & Arts (Foreign Languages, Writing) Libraries School of Information Unspecified

Health programs

Medical School (SL/RL)

School of Dentistry (SL/RL)

Kinesiology (SL/RL)

Public Health (SL/RL)

Pharmacy School (SL/RL)

School of Nursing (RL)

Non-health programs

Computer Sciences

Dearborn Campus

Distance Learning

Literature, Sciences & Arts (Foreign Languages, Writing)

Libraries

School of Information

Unspecified

Real Life Patrons (est.)

Second Life Patrons (est.)

Assessment: Survey Sent through all channels for event announcements Email group Second Life groups Blog & wiki Reminders 27 responses Survey composition: 48% faculty / librarian; 41% staff; 11% alumni 78% attended SL events; 22% had not Results interesting, but not reliable

Sent through all channels for event announcements

Email group

Second Life groups

Blog & wiki

Reminders

27 responses

Survey composition: 48% faculty / librarian; 41% staff; 11% alumni

78% attended SL events; 22% had not

Results interesting, but not reliable

Survey - Communication Best communication methods #1 - Email group (does not include alumni) #2 - Word of mouth #3-4 - Second Life groups #5 - Blog

Best communication methods

#1 - Email group (does not include alumni)

#2 - Word of mouth

#3-4 - Second Life groups

#5 - Blog

Survey - Popular Events #1 - Discussion (Second Life research methods & issues) #1 - ALA’s Jenny Levine on Gaming in Libraries #2 - Tour (Genome) #2 - Tour (JS Vavoom, Nursing ACLS) #3 - Joop Zuhal (Pros/Cons SL Teaching) #3 - Tour (InfoIsland) #3 - Tour (Play2Train) Note: All events were listed as favorites by some; average score was 6, with range from 3 to 10

#1 - Discussion (Second Life research methods & issues)

#1 - ALA’s Jenny Levine on Gaming in Libraries

#2 - Tour (Genome)

#2 - Tour (JS Vavoom, Nursing ACLS)

#3 - Joop Zuhal (Pros/Cons SL Teaching)

#3 - Tour (InfoIsland)

#3 - Tour (Play2Train)

Note: All events were listed as favorites by some; average score was 6, with range from 3 to 10

Survey - Suggestions Orientation / rank beginner classes Schedule more help for newbies in real world venues Use SL to deliver more RL content Resource sharing - what have you learned, how did you learn it More focus on research & funding options More focus on health care consumer communities More hands-on activities (scripting / building) Collaborate with Alumni Association Organize a campus wide day-long conference about SL Use SL to build more patient communities in support of clinical care

Orientation / rank beginner classes

Schedule more help for newbies in real world venues

Use SL to deliver more RL content

Resource sharing - what have you learned, how did you learn it

More focus on research & funding options

More focus on health care consumer communities

More hands-on activities (scripting / building)

Collaborate with Alumni Association

Organize a campus wide day-long conference about SL

Use SL to build more patient communities in support of clinical care

Concerns “ Presentations are good, just don’t often hit the sweet spot of my particular interests” “ I usually miss these. How are they announced?” “ This forum is not of interest to me or my primary clientele” “ I wish I could participate, but I just do not like Second Life at all” “ I’d love to participate, but can’t at the current time”

“ Presentations are good, just don’t often hit the sweet spot of my particular interests”

“ I usually miss these. How are they announced?”

“ This forum is not of interest to me or my primary clientele”

“ I wish I could participate, but I just do not like Second Life at all”

“ I’d love to participate, but can’t at the current time”

Kudos “ I look forward to attending every week.” “ This is an amazing group and effort!” “ Many thanks for organizing the SLUM events. I find all the topics quite interesting” “ An incredible job” “ A big THANK YOU for … time and effort”

“ I look forward to attending every week.”

“ This is an amazing group and effort!”

“ Many thanks for organizing the SLUM events. I find all the topics quite interesting”

“ An incredible job”

“ A big THANK YOU for … time and effort”