Information literacy in virtual worlds: Pt 2

Sheila Webber, Department of Information

StudiesSheffield University, UK

July 2009

This is for presentation at Information Literacy with Web 2.0 and is part of a page at http://www.netvibes.com/sheilawebber#Using_virtual_worlds

Part 2: Second Life and Information Literacy

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Supporting “real life” IL in SL• Raising awareness of RL tools (catalogue, databases etc.) & library

service• Teaching people about IL, using SL objects, chat, PowerPoint etc• Answering IL-related questions (on the “reference desk”)• Using SL for quests and activities: learners solving information

problems using web resources and SL• Using SL to provoke discussion & reflection about what information

and IL mean• Working in partnership with librarians, academics, educational

developers & technologists

“The library has developed the island Solent Life 2. This is a library skills island …” Emery, in Kirriemuir (2009)

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Information tools inworld: 1 - Search in SL

Sheila Webber, July 2009

2 - Avatar info in

SL

Sheila Webber, July 2009

IL models & tools in SL

• Complete models – more holistic understanding & examples• Tools/quizzes/information related to specific aspects of IL• “Webquests” (using information just from SL or information from

outside SL)• Tools etc. related to specific library resources

• Learners can assemble and create 3D displays to show their understanding (e.g. an eco-friendly house with information embedded in the washing machine, the solar panels etc)

• The 3D aspect may help them to think about what information means in different formats

Sheila Webber, July 2009

The library garden at the University of Nottingham includes numerous embedded notecards which explains parts of the research process

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Knowhow island

Purple OR orangeExample of activities on Knowhow Island e.g. To help understand Boolean logic, to improve evaluation skills

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Model of the SCONUL 7 Pillars of Information Literacy, using the problem “Should we panic about bird flu?” for examples for each pillar – some of the content is student work. Model built by Sheila Webber/Yoshikawa

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Showing how information is embedded through notecards which pop out when you click , and through web links (click the object to be offered a web link)

Sheila Webber, July 2009

This is being adapted and developed into a build focusing on problems/questions about H1 N1 (Swine flu) see the section on the http://infolitischool.pbworks.com/ site if you are interested in this project

This will be used to discuss the whole process of solving an information problem, as a focus for an information quest related to H1N1, for activities focusing on one particular pillar etc.

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Now!

• I hope this has given a flavour of why it might be worth experimenting with virtual worlds

• There is lots of information out there – slideshows, videos, wikis, articles

• You can also contact me if you want to say to say hello to someone in Second Life!

Sheila Webber, July 2009