Creating a community of practice and searchable database of learning objects in Second Life The S a L amander Project Jonathon Richter, Ed.D. Center for Advanced Technology in Education University of Oregon

There are many educationally sound objects, builds, activities, and events in SL but where are they?

but where are they?

Faculty, students, and educational researchers have been using Second Life in greater numbers to create immersive environments and experiences for such wide ranging content areas as psychology, history, cultural studies, literature, the sciences, and teacher education.

Faculty, students, and educational researchers have been using Second Life in greater numbers to create immersive environments and experiences for such wide ranging content areas as psychology, history, cultural studies, literature, the sciences, and teacher education.

Other disciplines have also discovered Second Life: Business management marketing economics Social Ventures Architecture Journalism Visual Arts Music Performance Arts

Business

management

marketing

economics

Social Ventures

Architecture

Journalism

Visual Arts

Music

Performance Arts

There is not yet, however, a resource enabling its many users to locate, share, or compare the relative quality of valuable builds within the 3D learning environment. “...what is THAT place all about?...”

There is not yet, however, a resource enabling its many users to locate, share, or compare the relative quality of valuable builds within the 3D learning environment.

Growing number of things to experience Continuous reusing and repurposing of places, objects, and tools. Physical evolution of the environment New cultural patterns emerging and changing complexity

Growing number of things to experience

Continuous reusing and repurposing of places, objects, and tools.

Physical evolution of the environment

New cultural patterns emerging and changing

The SaLamander Project will provide the educational community with a much-needed resource to index, describe, and rate the growing number of useful educational builds within Second Life.   Grade level   Content area Specific General

The SaLamander Project will provide the educational community with a much-needed resource to index, describe, and rate the growing number of useful educational builds within Second Life.

To allow people to make better sense of all that SL has to offer: What is out there for “x” purposes? Is it appropriate for my students? Where are other builds in SL that I should consider? What do other educators recommend?

What is out there for “x” purposes?

Is it appropriate for my students?

Where are other builds in SL that I should consider?

What do other educators recommend?

S a L amander has three components: MERLOT Salamander Wiki SL Landmark/Descriptor Tools

1 ~ Second Life tools for people to identify, describe, submit nominations for, and vote on landmarks denoting a Learning Object of value. .... Others?

Sloodle tools BlogHUD Chat logs Landmark and note deposit box Multiple ways to nominate Learning Objects in Second Life Different people will likely want to use different tools to accomplish the same goal.

Sloodle tools

BlogHUD

Chat logs

Landmark and note deposit box

Motivations to scout SL for Learning Objects to describe: Help to create a more connected teaching and learning community in SL. Get your own builds, tools, and places logged in the SaLamander Wiki. See Second Life gain more credence and exposure in the teaching and learning world through MERLOT.

Help to create a more connected teaching and learning community in SL.

Get your own builds, tools, and places logged in the SaLamander Wiki.

See Second Life gain more credence and exposure in the teaching and learning world through MERLOT.

2 ~ A Slurl-enhanced Wiki Media Community of Practice to critically assess and synthesize characteristics of submitted Learning Objects to develop a practical, yet encompassing typology of relevant dimensions of teaching and learning in Second Life. SaLamander Wiki Community http://www.eduisland.net/salamanderwiki/

2 ~ A Slurl-enhanced Wiki Media Community of Practice to critically assess and synthesize characteristics of submitted Learning Objects to develop a practical, yet encompassing typology of relevant dimensions of teaching and learning in Second Life.

Motivations to join the Salamander Wiki community: Gain a rich understanding of the Learning Objects submitted by the Salamander Scouts. Help develop the typology of dimensions relevant to teaching and learning in SL. Be part of a Community of Practice comprising professional educators in SL.

Gain a rich understanding of the Learning Objects submitted by the Salamander Scouts.

Help develop the typology of dimensions relevant to teaching and learning in SL.

Be part of a Community of Practice comprising professional educators in SL.

3 ~ ... and a small, dedicated group of professionals and content experts who, through dialog with the Salamander Wiki community, place the best educational builds, objects, and tools into the searchable database in MERLOT at http://merlot.org .

3 ~ ... and a small, dedicated group of professionals and content experts who, through dialog with the Salamander Wiki community, place the best educational builds, objects, and tools into the searchable database in MERLOT at http://merlot.org .

Watch The Center for Advanced Technology in Education’s plot on EduIsland: Eduisland/158/60/22 for further developments OR Send email inquiries to [email_address] Or IM: Wainbrave Bernal Get Involved!