A presentation by Mark Childs at the Where next for Virtual Worlds in UK higher and further education event held in London in January 2010.

1. Where next for virtual worlds? The Theatron 3 project Mark Childs London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

2. The THEATRON 3 project Theatron 3 website and final report at http://cms.cch.kcl.ac.uk/theatron/ Overview of project in Prezi at http://prezi.com/n2zckq0rwv3v/ More info at http://theatron.wikispaces.com/ Anyone can book a theatre at http://theatron.betatechnologies.info Look at some of these experiences and consider how these inform the debate on the future development of virtual worlds London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

3. The THEATRON 3 project Theatron 3 website and final report at http://cms.cch.kcl.ac.uk/theatron/ Overview of project in Prezi at http://prezi.com/n2zckq0rwv3v/ More info at http://theatron.wikispaces.com/ Anyone can book a theatre at http://theatron.betatechnologies.info Look at some of these experiences and hope that these inform the debate on the future development of virtual worlds London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

4. Teaching and learning Has it now been demonstrated that virtual worlds have a value in learning and teaching? If not, what is there still left to do? If yes, will a particular role be more likely to be adopted? As a platform for remote delivery, simulating the real, experimenting with the virtual? London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

5. Technical barriers at SL Is improving, but still causes issues. What changes still need to be made? If we were to provide a wishlist to LL what would be on it? London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

6. Technical barriers at institutions http://theatron.wikispaces.com/ITS+health+check If some can pass this test, why not all? “Good” IT depts lead, follow or get out of the way, these seem to be in the minority Can this change? What needs to happen to make this change? Can IVWs survive if it doesn’t change? London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

7. Cultural barriers Is the “student as consumer” idea going to kill educational research? Will the cultural oppositions change? Or will IVWs (or the way we interact with them) change to accommodate these oppositions? Will these cultural issues force IVWs to always remain on the peripheries or can they become mainstream? London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

8. Usability of Second Life Is it really that bad? Will we stick with SL? What alternatives will there be? What would an IVW for learning, teaching and research (and performance) look like? What will we lose in moving to it? London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

9. Students’ responses to SL To what extent do we respond to, facilitate the inclusion of, overrule the opinions of, accommodate the feelings of, safeguard: Those who do not experience embodiment Those who dismiss the virtual Those who see play as trivialising education Those who are offended by the behaviour of others inworld (or aren’t aware of rules) London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010

10. Is it worth it? Employing IVWs in education will continue to be an area of disruption Challenging IT departments and institutions Challenging students with abnormal environments and transgressive behaviour Challenging roles and professional identities Those are good things Bring it on London Knowledge Lab 25th January 2010