Supporting a Course with a Virtual World LibraryNancy L. Zingrone, PhD aka Maggie Larimore in Second LifeResearch Fellow, Parapsychology Foundation, Co-Founder, The AZIRE Library and Learning Center

The Talk

Why The AZIRE The Field The Space

Why The ParaMOOC The Structure The Philosophy The Outcome

Scientific parapsychology

Highly controversial field of study

Scientific/academic study of psychic phenomena largely unknown

Multidisciplinary and multinational but a only a handful of researchers worldwide

“Real” work obscured by distortions and exaggerations of popular media and sometimes by amateur researchers

Parapsychology Foundation

Lisette Coly, President,Parapsychology Foundation

Dedicated to the scientific study of psychic phenomena since 1951

Why The AZIRE

Key Decisions

Developing a purpose Finding an affordable space Finding a welcoming community Defining the space Obtaining materials, skills, experience

Ended up Here in 2011Started Out Here in 2009

Then Now

Rodolfo Mirabella and Maggie Larimore

1st Floor Content: Basic Information

Reception desk with Visitor Counter, Donation Box,

Recommendations for Destinations in the

Community and around Second Life

1st Floor Content: Basic Information

Wall of researchers: Dr. Brian Josephson (Nobel Laureate, Cambridge

University), Dr. Wellington Zangari (University of São Paulo),

Dr. Fátima R. Machado (Pontifical University of São Paulo),

Dr. Robert Jahn (retired, Princeton University), Dr. Julia Mossbridge (Northwestern University),

Dr. Stephen E. Braude (retired, University of Maryland-Baltimore Country), Dr. Dick Bierman (University of

Amsterdam), Dr. Alejandro Parra (Instituto Psicología Paranormal), Dr. Bernard Carr (Queen Mary College, University of

London), Dr. Caroline Watt (University of Edinburgh),

Dr. Richard S. Broughton (retired, University of Northampton),

Dr. Jessica Utts (University of California-Davis), Dr. James C. Carpenter (Rhine Research Center),

Dr. Patrizio Tressoldi (Padua University), Dr. Julie Beischel (Windbridge Institute),

and Dr. Renard Evrard (University of Strasbourgh).

1st Floor Content: Basic Information

The AZIRE Advisory Board: Dr. Charles T. Tart (retired, University of California-Davis); Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson (retired, University of Iceland);

Dr. Stanley Krippner (Saybrook University); Dr. Dean Radin (Institute for Noetic Sciences;

Eberhard Bauer (Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene),

Dr. Chris Roe (University of Northampton), and Dr. Christine Simmonds-Moore (University of West Georgia).

The Parapsychology Foundation Staff: Lisette Coly (President); Susan MacWilliam (Film Archivist);

Anastasia Damalas (Administrative Assistant); Natasha Chisdes (Librarian & Outreach Coordinator);

Research Fellows Dr. Carlos S. Alvarado, Dr. Kathy S. Dalton,Dr. James G. Matlock, and Dr. Nancy L. Zingrone; and Research Associate,

Gonçalo Veiga

1st Floor Content: Basic Information

Back wall top left: website viewer of researchers, universities, laboratories, rack of newly published books;Lower left: shelf of new titles; To the right: Recommended books

2nd Floor: Discussion Space

3rd Floor: Virtual Library

Articles and books in Spanish and English freely available on the internet, discussion table and seatingView of the 3rd floor as the sun has started to set

The View from the Meditation Porch at Sunset

The AZIRE Library and Learning Center in SL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madhupak/153/87/60

Why The ParaMOOC

Scientific parapsychology

Highly controversial field of study

Scientific/academic study of psychic phenomena largely unknown

Multidisciplinary and multinational but a only a handful of researchers worldwide

“Real” work obscured by distortions and exaggerations of popular media and sometimes by amateur researchers

The Structure of the MOOC

Multiplatform

6 weeks of live classes

6 months of additional monthly discussion forum

How to tutorials

Introductory lectures (us)

Research (guest speakers)

Certificates

1041 students

312 students

The Platforms

ParaMOOC Locations Now

ParaMOOC Philosophy

Assume students are capable people

Embody the controversial nature of the field

Embody the multidisciplinary and multinational character of the field

The Practical Expression of the ParaMOOC Philosophy

• Scheduled live sessions but archived materials for self-paced review

• Live sessions are scheduled one a day

• Length of live session is up to speaker and attendees

• Length of Second Life discussions up to attendees

• Course design anticipating learner’s needs

• Customizable in light of learner’s feedbackDr. Fátima R. Machado, presenter

in ParaMOOC15,watching the closing session from

her home in Brazil

Some ParaMooc15 Stats

Top cities by number of registrants

1. Helsinki & Mumbai2. Delhi / New Delhi3. London4. Bangalore5. San Francisco6. Chicago & Toronto7. Maharashtra & Vienna8. Los Angeles, New York City, &

San Jose (California)9. São Paulo, Bristol, Chennai,

Dallas, Phoenix & Vancouver (Canada)

809 learners when live sessions ended

1041 today (the course is still open for those who want to work through it at their own pace)

58 countries of origin at the end of live sessions

339 cities represented from all over the world at the end of live sessions

About 60 people finished the requirements for the certificates so far

A core group of about 15 people attended discussions through August of 2015 in the webinar frame or in the virtual world, Second Life

Some ParaMOOC16 Stats

215 learners when live sessions ended

314 today (the course is still in progress and still taking registrations)

Last year was more than full-time while the live sessions were on, so fewer speakers involved this year

Live sessions went from January 18th through February 24th, discussion forums continuing once a month in the webinar frame and in the virtual world, Second Life through August 30th, 2016

ParaMOOC17 will begin the planning stage in October 2016

The future ….

Continue to improve The AZIRE Library

Continue to work towards bringing the Parapsychology Foundation fully online

Continue to work to disseminate the work of the field through The AZIRE teaching projects on WizIQ, in Second Life, on YouTube

ParaMOOC2017

Links and Recommendations

Parapsychology Foundation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKx9X_6Ek5JynhJYtiH_HQA

Parapsychology Online on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ParapsychologyOnline

New Thinking Allowed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFk448YbGITLnzplK7jwNcw

Institute of Noetic Sciences on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thenoeticsciences

Parapsychological Association on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs3rgEjohpmCPSWZA2k661Q

NUPES, Federal University of Juiz da Fora: https://www.youtube.com/user/nupesufjf

The AZIRE Library and Learning Center in Second Life: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Madhupak/154/83/60

www.carlossalvarado.wordpress.com

Thank you for your attention …

1983 2009 2014

To get in touch: IM Maggie Larimore or email nancy@theazire.org