Poster presentation at ISTE 2011, June 27, 2011

2. Project Based Learning Cycle Second Life Community Education Team, Occupational Therapy Center at Jefferson in Second Life and the Garden of Healthy Aging Faculty Susan Toth-Cohen (Center) 1 st year OT students Veronica Souter (L) and Kaitlin Rodriguez (R) 2 nd year students (from L): Alyssa Sariano, Kathryn Kokoszka, Elizabeth Vanderlaan

3. What is Project Based Learning? … an educational approach that focuses on group work performed in teams , that extends over tim e , incorporates key milestones , and includes formative evaluation (Donnelly & Fitzmaurice, 2005). Students work together in teams to create and present educational materials that are based on research, present information in a user-friendly way—skills that they will use in their future careers as occupational therapists. They also participate in giving and receiving feedback from peers and the faculty advisor. Fig. 5 The Garden of Healthy Aging is based on ideas from Rowe and Kahn’s (1998) work. The exhibit highlights ways that keeping engaged with life, avoiding disability, and staying mentally and physically fit can substantially influence how we age. A team of 4 BS/MSOT students developed the exhibits. Fig. 5 The Garden of Healthy Aging is based on ideas from Rowe and Kahn’s (1998) work. The exhibit highlights ways that keeping engaged with life, avoiding disability, and staying mentally and physically fit can substantially influence how we age. A team of 4 BS/MSOT students developed the exhibits. Students put the finishing touches on an exhibit they planned over a semester, Mental Health: Beyond Stigma

4. What is Second Life? What are we doing there? Students working on the project explain it this way: Second Life® is a virtual world that allows you to create an avatar to represent yourself and use that avatar to meet other people & explore different events and communities. In Second Life® you have the option to change your appearance, attend classes, participate in meetings and groups, and build virtual objects. For some people Second Life® provides opportunities for social interaction and is a way to meet people who have similar interests. Second Life® also provides a creative outlet for many people. Second Life© allows us to use pictures, videos, and other interactive materials to help us present information to our visitors and gives us a unique way to reach out to people we otherwise may not have the opportunity to meet. We can provide people information and resources about different OT topics such as mental health, caring for older adults, and how to incorporate universal design into their home environments. As students we learn how to present information to reach a wide range of people and interact with people from all over the world. This unique opportunity allows us to become comfortable educating people and answering questions.

6. Types of Interactive Exhibits Holodeck enabling visitor to change scenes and see ways to adapt environment for person with dementia Videos Models, quizzes, objects that “ talk, ” and links to real life & Second Life resources Adapted home showing simple ways to set up the home to accommodate challenges in mobility, cognition, and low vision Models SL and RL Resources

7. Events and Tours Students create presentations on the topic developed with the team and provide tours of exhibits related to the presentation—or create new exhibits to complement the presentation they designed. Shown : Universal design presentation May 2011.

8. Example of Project Based Learning Process: The Garden of Healthy Aging Exhibit and Descriptive Study Student-developed exhibit on “Living with Diabetes” created for the Garden of Healthy Aging Project

13. Descriptive Study Exploring Responses of Visitors to the Garden of Healthy Aging

14. Garden of Healthy Aging Exhibit and Descriptive Research Project Social support; spirituality Living with diabetes Caregiving; healthy activity Heart health; Stress management 3 paid GA’s join project; Assist exhibit development N=18 Initiation of Alzheimer’s Caregiver support group based on findings Further content development