This document discusses various innovations and virtual tools used to enrich classroom communities. It describes: 1. Using a virtual environment platform for asynchronous student collaboration, noting pros like flexibility but cons like lack of preparation and device compatibility issues. 2. Organizing students into virtual groups, assigning roles, and requiring interaction with other groups' postings to encourage accountability and engagement. 3. The ongoing use of virtual environments since 2007 for meetings, presentations, and project collaboration, with selected publications on effective virtual learning environment design cited. 4. Various virtual space customizations shown, from informational areas and buildings for subjects to informal seating for discussions, showcasing flexibility despite some aesthetic limitations.

1. A Potpourri of Tested “Innovations” —
Enriching Classroom Communities
• Drs. Jelia Domingo & Eileen O’Connor

2. Virtual Environment Implementation
• Pros
• Once in place, students can go
on at will according to their own
schedule.
• All desk top computers have
sufficient memory to support the
platform.
• Cons
• It requires students to prepare in
advance and many do not.
• Platform will not work on
iPhones, iPads, or tablets
• This technology is unsupported
by the college.

3. New: Virtual Collaboration
• Organized students into groups
• Gave them latitude to meet at their own convenience
• Required them to assign roles – documentation of ideas, recording
attendance via screen shots
• Those without roles for sessions were to respond to other groups’
postings.

9. Benefits of Virtual Collaboration
• Students process information
more differently than in the
exclusive asynchronous
environment. (Social learning
theory in action.)
• Encourages accountability
between students instead of just
to instructor
• Higher level of engagement
• Development of stronger
interpersonal relationships.

10. Ongoing virtual work
• Since 2007, Eileen has been
bringing students into
virtual environments for:
• Meetings and discussions
• Presentations for speakers
(dean; teachers-in-
classrooms; special speakers
– assistive technologies)
• Joint collaboration and
project development
Since 2013, she has taught
courses on virtual
development
• The follow slides simply
illustrate ways that virtual
environments can be
customized to create
instructor level expressions
of the environment they
want to create

11. Selected publications on virtual environments
• O’Connor, E. A. & Domingo, J. A Practical Guide, with Theoretical Underpinnings, for Creating Effective Virtual Reality Learning
Environments. in print by the Journal of Educational Technology Systems.
• O’Connor, E.A. (2015-2016). Open Source Meets Virtual Reality – An Instructor’s Journey Unearths New Opportunities for Learning,
Community and Academia. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 44(2), 153-170. (link thru ESC library databases)
• O’Connor, E. A. (2012). Developing effective online collaborative science projects by using course scaffolding, a virtual world, and web
2.0 technologies. In Proceeding of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2012 (pp. 728-735).
Chesapeake, VA: AACE. (link thru ESC library databases)
• O’Connor, E. (2011). Practical considerations when using virtual spaces for learning and collaboration, with minimal setup and support. In
H. H. Yang, & S. C. Yuen (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Practices and Outcomes in Virtual Worlds and Environment. Hershey PA: IGI
Global.
• O'Connor, E. (2011). Migrating Towards K12 in Virtual Spaces: Second Life Lessons Learned as Higher Education Meets Middle School
Students. In Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (pp. 2192-2198).
Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
• O’Connor, E.A. (June 2010) Using Second Life (a virtual reality) in Language Instruction: Practical Advice on Getting Started; published
with the proceedings of the 4th International Scientific and Methodological Conference on "Information and Communication
Technologies in Foreign Language Teaching”
• O'Connor, E. A. (2009). Instructional and Design Elements that Support Effective Use of Virtual Worlds: What Graduate Student Work
Reveals about Second Life. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 38(2), 213-234.
• O’Connor, E. A. and Sakshaug, L. (2009) Preparing for Second Life: Two Teacher Educators Reflect on Their Initial Foray into Virtual
Teaching and Learning, Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 37(3), pp. 259-272.
• O'Connor, E. (2008). Becoming a Virtual Instructor: How Can Higher Education Faculty Prepare for Second Life?. In G. Richards (Ed.),
Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2008 (pp. 1144-1149).
Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

12. Informative &
comfortable
startup areas –
easy to navigate
Developed by a
“science
person” so
aesthetics
sometimes
suffers

13. Posters of student work abound

14. A building
dedicated to
science
teaching
- w/ informal
side area (for
those less adept
at navigating

15. Inside –
web
resources &
e-portfolio
info

16. Other
informal
seating
areas
-- and
materials
for the
developer
courses

17. Students do
like to meet
here too
(photo
submitted by
student)

18. More
interactive
areas – with
room for
meetings too

19. Even seat for
informal
meetings and
discussions in
there areas –
again, created
by a science
person

20. But some
buildings are
elegant –
created by a 13
year old nephew

21. But most were
available for
free and simply
put in service
for student use
and meetings

24. But students do
often like to go
on their own
adventures

25. Teleconferencing – the Tanberg
Has been used for
- statewide residencies
- orientations
- a course meeting
Pros
Everyone can see each other to a degree
Information does not meet to be repeated
Con
Still very impersonal
Tech issues
Space issues

26. Integrate peer reviews – have students issue
badges
• Peer Reviews — postings for
the entire class (private
review)
• Students vote for informal
badges
• Results (published) found the
effectiveness of the
interaction and the “caring”
the came out of it
• O’Connor, E.A. & McQuigge, A. (2013-2014). Exploring badging for
peer review, extended learning and evaluation, and reflective/critical
feedback within an online graduate course. Journal of Educational
Technology Systems, 42(2), 87-105. (link thru ESC library databases)

27. Some badges
– credly.com

28. Sharing lessons and discussion perspectives
via video
• Video Challenges — student sharing YouTube’s
• Increases familiarity and knowledge of others;
• Demonstration of lesson done by students
• Useful in almost any type of interaction or discussion
• Easily done – and for free – with Screencast-o-matic

29. But, the best reason to use virtual???