An Institutional Checklist for Second Life Course Offerings

http://mocozone.blogspot.com/2008/01/institutional-checklist-for-sl-course.html

110, 129, 24

Dr. Alice Bedard-Voorhees Dr. Alice Bedard-Voorhees Avatar: MustangQuimby MessmerAvatar: MustangQuimby Messmer

Virtual World ActivitiesVirtual World Activities

Second Life is a 3D virtual world, Second Life is a 3D virtual world, but there are many others.but there are many others.

The big questions: What is theThe big questions: What is the teaching and learning value of SL?teaching and learning value of SL? Do immersive environments Do immersive environments increase engagement and learning?increase engagement and learning?

Why SL?Why SL? Immersive Environment provides experience, Immersive Environment provides experience,

allows application and creation (create 3D objects allows application and creation (create 3D objects and events, interact with objects and others).and events, interact with objects and others).

Student participation through avatars Student participation through avatars (representative characters) allows students to (representative characters) allows students to participate in ways they might not in classroom participate in ways they might not in classroom due to shyness or self-consciousness.due to shyness or self-consciousness.

Extends the traditional classroom: Allows field Extends the traditional classroom: Allows field trips and guest visits that might not otherwise be trips and guest visits that might not otherwise be possible.possible.

What to Consider: Choosing Khan’s E-What to Consider: Choosing Khan’s E-Learning Model to Develop a SL ChecklistLearning Model to Develop a SL Checklist

(Khan, 2008. Used with permission)

Systems model for e-learning Systems model for e-learning that considers how a new that considers how a new offering integrates with various offering integrates with various campus organizational units and campus organizational units and services (Khan, 2005a; Khan, services (Khan, 2005a; Khan, 2005b)2005b)

SL Institutional ConsiderationsSL Institutional Considerations Advantages: Market, Particular disciplinary/learning Advantages: Market, Particular disciplinary/learning advantages?advantages?

Who will endorse, lead the adoption?Who will endorse, lead the adoption? Will SL be combined with face-to-face offerings or another online Will SL be combined with face-to-face offerings or another online

experience?experience?

Is e-learning already offered? Existing orientation? Is e-learning already offered? Existing orientation?

How will SL Orientation be provided?How will SL Orientation be provided?

http://virtualworlds.nmc.org/2007/10/10/nmc-rolls-out-orientation islhttp://virtualworlds.nmc.org/2007/10/10/nmc-rolls-out-orientation island/and/

Will your institution use, rent, or build learning space?Will your institution use, rent, or build learning space?

SL cost considerations: building or rentingSL cost considerations: building or renting

How will support be provided for course registration, library, other How will support be provided for course registration, library, other materials or services?materials or services?

(Used with Permission)

SL Technological ConsiderationsSL Technological Considerations

Hardware: Graphics card needs to be adequateHardware: Graphics card needs to be adequate

Support and Policy: Networks need to allow SL downloadSupport and Policy: Networks need to allow SL download

Digital Literacy: Instructor and Learner need orientationDigital Literacy: Instructor and Learner need orientation

Support: While Linden Labs support Second Life, who Support: While Linden Labs support Second Life, who supports internet connectivity?supports internet connectivity?

Sharable Objects: What inventory permissions can allow Sharable Objects: What inventory permissions can allow sharing SL objects?sharing SL objects?

Support: Is technology support provided for a course Support: Is technology support provided for a course management system if that is in use?management system if that is in use?

(Used with Permission)

Technological Checklist Example 1Technological Checklist Example 1

Download Second Lifehttp://www.secondlife.comSystem Requirements: http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.phpDownload: http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php

Get Your Avatarhttp://sl.nmc.org/join/ Pick your own first name, then pick a last name from list of choicesSelect features Attend and Education-Friendly Orientationhttp://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Orientation/69/107/32/Things to Learn at NMC’s Orientation IslandVocabularyHow To Change Your Avatar’s AppearanceAdvanced Communication in WorldPhotography in SLWhere to Learn More about SLAnd Much More!

Blackboard Needs provided by institution (Boise, 2004)SL Technological and pre-requisite skills appear in the syllabus; Linden Labs provides tech support.

System: http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php http://blog.secondlife.com Prerequisite skills:• Use of camera controls• Ability to fly, walk, and teleport• Knowledge of communication tools (IM and chat)• Basic building skills (create prims, add textures and content) • Basic inventory management (can find items, wear clothing, make a note card)• It is recommended that participants have at least 10-20 hours of prior participation in Second Life before the course begins (Dawley, Syllabus, 2007b. Used with permission).

Technological Checklist Example 2Technological Checklist Example 2

Pedagogical Considerations Pedagogical Considerations

(Used with Permission)

Needs AnalysisNeeds Analysis

MediaMedia

Instructional TechniquesInstructional Techniques

Provisions for blended deliveriesProvisions for blended deliveries

MotivationMotivation

(Khan, 2005b)(Khan, 2005b)

Field Trips to Landmarks, Civilizations, and EcosystemsSource: http://metaverse.acidzen.org/2007/dubai-tower-in-second-life 54, 126, 28

Guest Presenter

Live Simulcast from Japan into Second Life

Presentation Prior to Teleporting to Simulations & Debrief

Team Presentation

Constructivist Exploration at Literature Alive Literature Alive 176, 189, 21

Constructivist Exploration In Literature Alive 141, 88, 51

Accounting: Interactive T-AccountAccounting: Interactive T-Account

Students become game piecesStudents become game pieces Enables students to practice their Enables students to practice their

understanding of the concept of understanding of the concept of normal account balancesnormal account balances

Feedback is providedFeedback is provided– Correct responsesCorrect responses– Incorrect responsesIncorrect responses

Wrong side Correct typeWrong side Correct type Wrong type, Correct sideWrong type, Correct side Wrong side, Wrong typeWrong side, Wrong type

Source: http://www.slideshare.net/shornik/second-life-a-learning-platformSource: http://www.slideshare.net/shornik/second-life-a-learning-platform//

Source: http://www.slideshare.net/shornik/second-life-a-learning-platformSource: http://www.slideshare.net/shornik/second-life-a-learning-platform 444, 176, 22

Sloodle: Course Management and SL Converge 240, 160, 33

Immersed in Cellular Structure

148, 149, 34

SL Ethical ConsiderationsSL Ethical Considerations

Social and Political: Is SL allowed? (Ex. China’s Social and Political: Is SL allowed? (Ex. China’s www.hipihi.comwww.hipihi.com) Are there other choices?) Are there other choices?

Open or Closed Campus? Open or Closed Campus? Geographic diversity (time zones)Geographic diversity (time zones) Digital Access: Not all can access voice gridDigital Access: Not all can access voice grid Digital Access: Blocked Downloads of SLDigital Access: Blocked Downloads of SL Etiquette: Turning off the mic when not Etiquette: Turning off the mic when not

speakingspeaking Etiquette: Ex. Campus Codes for SLEtiquette: Ex. Campus Codes for SL Legal Issue: Ex. Disclaimer about exposure to Legal Issue: Ex. Disclaimer about exposure to

mature content mature content

Dubai Women’s College Open Area—Engaged in a Map Game208, 42, 29

Interface DesignInterface Design

Content DesignContent Design

NavigationNavigation

User FriendlinessUser Friendliness

Universal AccessUniversal Access(Khan, 2005b)(Khan, 2005b)

(Used with Permission)

SL Interface Design SL Interface Design

It is challenging to offer an entire course It is challenging to offer an entire course experience in SL.experience in SL.

While chat can serve a hearing-impaired While chat can serve a hearing-impaired guest, screen readers don’t work in chat.guest, screen readers don’t work in chat.

R and D groups are working on access for R and D groups are working on access for visually and kinesthetically restricted visually and kinesthetically restricted users. (Sierra, 2007; Foster, 2007)users. (Sierra, 2007; Foster, 2007)

SL Resource Support SL Resource Support

Materials and Services outside of the immediate class experience:Materials and Services outside of the immediate class experience:

technical supporttechnical support

advisingadvising

librarylibrary

object repositoriesobject repositories

tutorialstutorials

(Khan 2005a; Khan 2005b)(Khan 2005a; Khan 2005b)

(Used with Permission)

Overall Evaluation: Overall Overall Evaluation: Overall operations—How smoothly do the operations—How smoothly do the experiences proceed?experiences proceed?

Learning Assessment: How do we Learning Assessment: How do we know what they know? How do we know what they know? How do we measure it?measure it?

Course Evaluation: Course Evaluation: Learner Satisfaction with the Learner Satisfaction with the experience experience Evaluation of faculty performanceEvaluation of faculty performance(Khan, 2005a; Khan, 2005b)(Khan, 2005a; Khan, 2005b)

Evaluation Considerations

(Used with Permission)

Formative Learning Assessment: Cellular Structure Quiz in Second Life

Project Based-Learning Assessment Products:Slideshow Project + Additional Project Container to Share with Class

Course Evaluation (Bedard-Course Evaluation (Bedard-Voorhees, 2007)Voorhees, 2007)

Grid could be undependableGrid could be undependable Activities where we had to create or Activities where we had to create or

interact support SL’s real learning interact support SL’s real learning power.power.

Faculty was an excellent faciliatorFaculty was an excellent faciliator

ConclusionsConclusionsThough it can provide a social meeting space, Second Though it can provide a social meeting space, Second

Life is best used for more than discussions.Life is best used for more than discussions.

Data-driven research is developing to measure the Data-driven research is developing to measure the learning effectiveness of Second-Life learning learning effectiveness of Second-Life learning experiences (Example: experiences (Example: http://www.aect.org/secondlife/archives/24-hornik/rhttp://www.aect.org/secondlife/archives/24-hornik/really-engaging-accounting.ppt#256,1,Really eally-engaging-accounting.ppt#256,1,Really Engaging Accounting: Second Life™ as a Learning Engaging Accounting: Second Life™ as a Learning PlatformPlatform

References and Contact InformationReferences and Contact Information

avoorhees@coloradomtn.eduavoorhees@coloradomtn.edu alice@trainers-online.comalice@trainers-online.com References and Resources:References and Resources: http://trainers-online.com/wiki1/tiki-index.php?http://trainers-online.com/wiki1/tiki-index.php?

page=Second+Life+Checklistpage=Second+Life+Checklist%3A+References+and+Resources %3A+References+and+Resources