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Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation VITA - Virtual learning for the management of successful SMEs in Europe Ref. nr. 2008-1-PT1-LEO05-00411 Get the trainers ready - An introduction to Second Life - Some background - Training VITA trainers - Checklists An introduction to Second Life Second Life (www.secondlife.com ) is an online, 3-D Virtual World, sometimes referred to as a Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE), imagined and created entirely by its residents. In 2010 there are over 50 million user hours a month and over $500 million user transactions each year. It is a huge world!!filled with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunities. Users become virtual personalities, known as Avatars 1 , individually featured, that can move, communicate, shop, join in groups, learn and make business in a digital world. To participate in Second Life (SL) it is necessary to download the program to the computer and create an account for your avatar. Then, you are ready to discover another world. Once you enter SL world, you arrive to the Welcome Island, an area designed to introduce you to the basic virtual action, including: walking, zooming with your camera, chatting, standing/sitting, flying, and teleporting. Following this guide is a good way to get started on the simple competences you will need as trainer: single and group communication, manage resources (inventory), setting the learning environment and deliver/show materials… 1 ―In a virtual world, an avatar is a digital persona that you can create and customize. It's you — only in 3D. You can create an avatar that resembles your real life or create an alternate identity.‖ (http://secondlife.com/whatis/avatar/?lang=en-US ).

Getting the trainers ready

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A document that exemplifies the requirements to train in Second Life or how to prepare as a trainer to implement virtual learning, including a detailed competence module.

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Page 1: Getting the trainers ready

Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation VITA - Virtual learning for the management of successful SMEs in Europe

Ref. nr. 2008-1-PT1-LEO05-00411

Get the trainers ready

- An introduction to Second Life

- Some background

- Training VITA trainers

- Checklists

An introduction to Second Life

Second Life (www.secondlife.com) is an online, 3-D Virtual World, sometimes referred to

as a Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE), imagined and created entirely by its

residents. In 2010 there are over 50 million user hours a month and over $500 million user

transactions each year. It is a huge world!!… filled with people, entertainment,

experiences and opportunities. Users become virtual personalities, known as Avatars1,

individually featured, that can move, communicate, shop, join in groups, learn and

make business in a digital world.

To participate in Second Life (SL) it is necessary to download the program to the

computer and create an account for your avatar. Then, you are ready to discover

another world.

Once you enter SL world, you arrive to the Welcome Island, an area designed to

introduce you to the basic virtual action, including: walking, zooming with your camera,

chatting, standing/sitting, flying, and teleporting. Following this guide is a good way to

get started on the simple competences you will need as trainer: single and group

communication, manage resources (inventory), setting the learning environment and

deliver/show materials…

1 ―In a virtual world, an avatar is a digital persona that you can create and customize. It's you —

only in 3D. You can create an avatar that resembles your real life or create an alternate

identity.‖ (http://secondlife.com/whatis/avatar/?lang=en-US ).

Page 2: Getting the trainers ready

Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation VITA - Virtual learning for the management of successful SMEs in Europe

Ref. nr. 2008-1-PT1-LEO05-00411

Continuing your exploration, you will find that SL hosts educational activities. In fact,

some of the world's most prestigious universities and academic institutions have settled

virtual campus and classrooms there. Those allow for online collaboration, learning

simulations as a cost effective solution to distance learning. Following such experiences,

VITA project also developed a virtual campus, specially dedicated to the project aims:

to deliver specific training for the management of successful European SMEs. Take a

tour on that educational campus and read more at

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Second_Life_Education to get an overview about how

learning happens in SL. 2

Some background

In 2002, Gilly Salmon3 proposed a model for the design of Second Life educational

activities (SL-tivities). The five-stage model shows the progress of the participating group

in the learning activities:

↗ Stage 1 - Access and Motivation

The aim is to welcome and encourage the participants. This might be done by

sharing useful information/resources/ links about Second Life; proposing questions if

students have no experience of SL; motivating the participants to learn how to: log

in, choose an avatar name, create an avatar, teleport, move and communicate‖.

At the end of this stage students can decide whether they want to proceed or not.

↗ Stage 2 - Online Socialisation.

2 Second Life Education is the place to learn about what educational institutions are doing in Second Life. The education

directory provides a listing of educational organizations who are active within Second Life. 3 Salmon, G.(2002). E-tivities: The key to active online learning. London: Routledge Falmer.

Page 3: Getting the trainers ready

Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation VITA - Virtual learning for the management of successful SMEs in Europe

Ref. nr. 2008-1-PT1-LEO05-00411

The aims are: to familiarize and provide bridges between cultural, social and

learning environments, and to create a virtual micro-community though active and

interactive sl-tivities. Activities in this stage focus the acquisition of the specific

movements and gestures, navigation, camera control, communication in local

chating and by private message.

↗ Stage 3 - Information Exchange

The aim is to facilitate tasks and support the use of learning materials. Here happens

―interaction with the course content and interaction with people, namely the e-

moderator(s) and other people.‖4 SL- tivities will imply participants to work together

to solve problems by sharing information and discuss documents.

↗ Stage 4 - Knowledge Construction

The aim is to engage the participants to take control of their own knowledge

construction in new ways. The role of the trainer or e-moderator is to facilitate this

process by build and sustain the working groups, what includes managing the

interaction and controlling the dynamics of the group.

↗ Stage 5 - Development

The aim is that participants get responsible for ―their own learning, and that of their

group. They build on the ideas acquired through the e-tivities and apply them to

their individual contexts. By now, both participants and e-moderators will stop

wondering how they can use online participation and instead become committed

and creative. They also become critical and self-reflective.‖5

Training VITA trainers

If trainers are newbies in the educational use of Second Life, it is very important to turn

them confident enough to use SL educational potential in the best way, before they

start the sessions with the participants. Therefore they might use some training sessions

on their own, not only focusing SL features but also the transformation of the learning

content (whatever it might be: either mathematics or gardening) to the virtual

environments.

Therefore, VITA trainers started to start by being learners. They were introduced to SL

educational environment with the same curricula their participants would go before

starting the specific learning curricula – we called it Module 0.

4 Salmon, G. All Things in Moderation, http://www.atimod.com/e-tivities/5stage.shtml. 5 Salmon, G., All Things in Moderation, http://www.atimod.com/e-tivities/5stage.shtml.

Page 4: Getting the trainers ready

Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation VITA - Virtual learning for the management of successful SMEs in Europe

Ref. nr. 2008-1-PT1-LEO05-00411

If you explore the Module 0, you will find that it shows the training session as a protocol.

In fact, to be a trainer in Second Life requires the preparation the protocols and actions

(gestures, movement of objects, use of resources, …) in a time plan.

In VITA project, the Curriculum was supported by a set of technological SL tools, which

enabled the pedagogical dynamics of each module and allowed the trainers to make

full use of the virtual learning environment by interacting with the groups in games,

demonstrations and simulations of management situations.

Trainers benefit from learning how to use those tools with the developers. VITA trainers

were supported with Tools and individual assistance of the technical team during the

preparation of their sessions.

You can find more about the experiences and practices of VITA trainers in the leaflet

―Training in Virtual Environments – Guide of Good Practices‖, available at

http://vita.bitmedia.cc.

- Checklists

For the preparation of each session, it was useful to verify if all the conditions were set

and everyone was ready. Therefore, in the scope of the project, it was developed a set

of checklists to support the trainers:

Page 5: Getting the trainers ready

MODULE 0 - SL FOR TRAINERSby Leonel Morgado, UTAD, 2010

Sequence

TEXT Comment|Action

Welcome!

We are waiting until everyone is here. Wait until more people arrive. Invite avatars the group.

I believe we may start.

Please let me know you are noticing this "chat", by saying "Hello". Wait for "hellos."

I would also like to test you availability to hear my voice.

Please type - in your own language - the word I'm about to say by voice.

For instance, if you hear "dog", type "cão", "koira", "Hund", "câine", "cane" or

"σκύλος".Say "table."

Thank you. If someone doesn't answer, address him/her.

It's good to know that you can hear voice.

But to avoid problems with feedbacks and the like, we'll start the training in text chat.

OK?Wait for answers.

Great.

If something interrupts you during this training session

since it's text chat you can read the chat history to understand what's going on.

Try it now: click on "Local Chat", a button on the bottom left of your screen. Pause.

You may click again on "Local Chat" to close the history window. Pause.

OK, let's proceed.

First let's move to an open space. Wear "Follow me" sign

Please follow me. Move west. Stop before the descent.

Page 6: Getting the trainers ready

Don't be afraid. Just one step ahead...then anooooooooother.Go downhill. Zoom out, wait for trainees to gather, then move

on.

Ah, this is a better location... sand and grass.

Let me get rid of this "follow me" sign. Detach sign.

Actually the sign was an example.

A group may get lost travelling. The sign helps them track you as an instructor.

It's just as if it was piece of clothing... You "wear" it... Wear the sign.

...and unwear it. In Second Life terms... You "detach" it. Detach the sign.

You'll use it for your first assignment.

For that, I need 4 or 5 volunteers. Wait for volunteers. If too many, choose the first 5.

Great. Would you like to know how to volunteer more lively? Wait for answers.

Volunteers only: please type / followed by "hey" (no spaces) and press Enter: /hey Wait for /hey and help if needed

Thank you. /bow

(These were "gestures".)

(You can find more at the right side of the blank text entry line, in the "Gestures"

dropdown listbox.)

(But you can try them later.)

Volunteers only: please walk and place yourselves behind me.

All others: please sit down (right-click on the floor and choose "Sit"). Wait until moves are completed.

Very well.

I will now give each volunteer a "follow me sign". Please accept it. Give them "Follow me" signs.

Here's your task, voluteers:

Your job is to lead a team.

I want you to persuade your colleagues to join your team.

To do that, you must make a sales pitch for your team.

But be respectful! Try not to talk too much! Let other people speak.

Go ahead, try it! Wait for pitches. While they pitch, place markers.

OK, that's enough. /clap

Those seating can get up, now (click on the "Stand up" button). Wait for people to stand up.

There are 5 poles around us.

I want each volunteer to wear the "follow me" sign I gave you, now. Wait for them to wear - teach how, if necessary.

Page 7: Getting the trainers ready

OK, now echo a rallying call, like "Members of the ACME team, follow me", and take

your team to one of the poles.Wait and help, if necessary.

Very well.

Can you see the other groups?

You can zoom out, for a better perspective.

To do that, rotate your mouse wheel, until you see all groups. (You can press Esc to

return to normal zoom.)

Let me just take a picture of you. Take picture.

Take a picture, too. Go to the "File" menu and select "Snapshot to Disk". Wait for pictures.

Volunteers, you may detach your "Follow me" signs, now. :-)

I have a better symbol for your post as leaders. Please accept it and wear it. Give Dr. Susse Hat to each leader.

And I have some hats for team members, too. Give Cowboy hats to all other trainees.

OK. Now please change the color of your hats. I want each team to have a different

color.

To do that, right-click on your hats and choose "Edit".

Then, select the "Texture" tab, and you'll see a "Color" area. Click it to change. Wait for colors to change.

You may zoom out to check the color your team leader is choosing.

When you are ready, simply press "Esc" to end editing. Wait for teams to be ready.

OK, back to chat: noticed how you all "hear" one another?

How text chat from a group mixes with text chat from another?

Text chat reaches 20 meters from your position.

OK!

...until you no longer "hear" me. Then stop.Start saying: "testing...1,2,3..." Until all are away. Then shout

"OK! Come back!"

Moving teams away allows them to chat and discuss without bothering each other.

But team can communicate up to 100 m away by shouting.

To shout, simply press Ctrl+Enter after typing, instead of just Enter.

All give a huge shout now! Shout: "Shout!"

Very well. Clap.

This is the power of team communication. /muscle

Page 8: Getting the trainers ready

Now you're going to make a team list by your poles, using boxes with pictures.

For instance, here's a box. Create a cube.

I'll put my picture on it.

I can do it has you did for changing the color... Apply texture "Leonel, 12 de Marco de 2008".

...or I can simply drag a picture ("Texture") to the desired face of the box. Drag texture "Leonel with headpiece"

I just placed a different picture on the side that is facing me.

This is your next task:

you need to see the picture on the side facing me - WITHOUT WALKING OR FLYING. Pause for a moment.

It was one of the skills I asked you to practice beforehand.

Keep the "Alt" key pressed. Click and drag the mouse on the box. You will move your

camera.

You can press "Esc" at any time to go back to your normal camera position.

Try it. Find the hidden picture. Wait.

Did everyone find it?

To prove it, I want you to take a snapshot of that hidden picture ("File" - "Snapshot to

Disk").

And send me that snapshot by e-mail after the class.

In that snapshot, I want to see 1) the hidden picture and 2) your avatar, standing

right where you are now.

Any questions?

OK, back to the creation of a team list by your poles.

You need to pile up boxes with your faces alongside your poles.

For that, you need to upload a photograph of yourself.

And that costs L$10 (about 0,025 euros: 2,5 cents).

So I'm offering you L$20 each. Give L$20 to each avatar

You can use it to upload 2 pictures.

For that, use "File - Upload - Image".

Do it now with any picture, and you can come back after this session to upload your

real photograph.Wait.

Done? Wait for acknowledgement.

To create a cube, simply click on "Build" and then on the ground.

Page 9: Getting the trainers ready

Try it. Create a cube. Wait for cubes.

And now apply the photograph you uploaded, just like you changed colors on your

hat.Wait.

Very well.

This is your homework:

a) put the cubes of your team on a pile, near your team pole.

The end result should be like this. Create a pile of cubes.

Each cube with a different photograph - of a team member. Apply textures to cubes.

OK? Wait for acknowledgment.

b) Decide on a "Flag" or banner for your team, by e-mail. Create it an put it up on

your team pole.

OK?

In this session, you have experienced group activities with chat and building.

And learned about communication and navigational techniques.

In the next session, you will learn about using educational tools

(More useful than the "Follow me" sign, I promise.)

Are there any questions or requests before we finish? Wait for questions and answer them.

Thank you for your time. See you tomorrow

at 9:00 GMT, 10:00 CET, 11:00 EET.

For those unavailable, I suggest we schedule an alternative time today by e-mail.

Goodbye!