The SLMOOC Series: Anticipating the Needs of Learners in Virtual Worlds

THE SLMOOC SERIES: ANTICIPATING THE NEEDS OF

LEARNERS IN VIRTUAL WORLDSVirtual Worlds Education Roundtable, July 14 th, 2016

Nancy L. Zingrone, PhD, Northcentral University

The talk …• The SLMOOC Series, Some History• Preparing / Supporting SLMOOC

Learners• Identity and Skills• Communicating course details• Providing course materials

• Designing Course Elements• Active / Passive Learning

Experiences• Fruits of Success

• Recommendations and Links

SLMOOC SERIESSome History

The SLMOOC Series

First Meeting SLMOOC14

SLMOOC15 HQ

Hanging out before SLMOOC16

Organizers / Speakers

SLMOOC14 SLMOOC15 SLMOOC16

Multiple platforms

PREPARING / SUPPORTING

SLMOOC LEARNERS

Barriers for new students …• Technical Difficulties• Additional Time for the Learning Curve

• World Expectations• Interface Issues• Time frustration• Task frustration

Sanchez, J. (2009). Barriers to student learning in Second Life. In Library Technology Reports: Implementing Second Life: Ideas, Challenges, and Innovations (pp. 30-34). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Positives for new students …

• Avatars Customization

• Creativity• Feelings of Accomplishment

Sanchez, J. (2009). Barriers to student learning in Second Life. In Library Technology Reports: Implementing Second Life: Ideas, Challenges, and Innovations (pp. 30-34). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Identity

Course Skills

Building Skills

Communicating Course Details

Providing Course Details Inworld

Giving Info through the Wall Boards

Giving Info through the Wall Boards

Giving Info through the Wall Boards

DESIGNING COURSE

ELEMENTS

Passive and Active Learning in Moodle• Video Viewing• Discussion Forums• Reflections for the

Certificates

Passive and Active Learning On Facebook

• Picking up video links on Facebook

• Posting activities• Posting reflections• Keeping in touch

Passive and Active Learning On WizIQ

• Watching recordings of webinars

• Posting questions and comments to the course feed

• Posting reflections• Keeping in touch

Passive and Active Learning in SL

• Activities• Tours• Lectures• Weekly discussions• Exploring the grids together

Fruits of Success …

RECOMMENDATIONS AND LINKS

Recommendations …• Team organize• Define your goals• Divide the work• Involve speakers with varying expertise • Provide in-world help with identity and

basic skills• Spread consistent course detail across

platforms• Provide social challenges and opportunities• Be enthusiastic and grateful to everybody

who participates, however briefly

For more info …• Past, Present and Future: ISTE Virtual Environment Network, Scott Merrick & Andy Wheelock, Virtual Education

Journal, June 2016, pp. 14-27• Planning, Organizing, Managing and Loving Every Minute of the SLMOOC Series, Nan Zingrone, Nellie Deutsch

and Doris Moler, Virtual Education Journal, June 2016, pp. 78-85.• June 2016 issue of VEJ: https://issuu.com/edovation/docs/vej_summer_2016_denver • Follow #SLMOOC on Twitter• SLMOOC16 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8JUcjyABKxmmlov_CYLmSvX1XgpMsMAU• SLMLOOC15 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8JUcjyABKxnzGo1B7uQzP14qokUJq3h- • SLMOOC14 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8JUcjyABKxkyil1ZrPM4YYGpBCpaOquV • Moodle4Teachers.org: http://moodle4teachers.org • Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slmooc/• Contact me at: nancy@theazire.org or IM Maggie Larimore in SL• Contact Nellie at: nellie.muller.Deutsch@gmail.com or IM Nellie Homewood• Contact Doris at: doris3m@gmail.com or IM Pionia Destiny

nellie.muller.deutsch@gmail.com