This presentation is an introduction to 3D virtual environments teaching. I will go over the basics of how an avatar-based 3D virtual world can be used in the classroom to improve engagement, cooperation, critical thinking, motivation and digital citizenship skills.
The document below was provided as a handout. It is a summary version of Global Kids, Inc’s Best Practices in Using Virtual Worlds for Education (see the original http://olpglobalkids.org/pdfs/BestPractices.pdf). Check the full version online for detailed info in each section.
A. Best practices for working in a VW
1. What happens in your VW stays in your VW
2. Create multiple places of meaning
3. If you build it, they will come
4. Go beyond your VW
5. Use real world content when addressing real world issues
6. Don’t wait until someone has the floor to start typing
7. Don’t fear multiple communication channels.
8. Carefully design and build the tools required.
9. Ensure the program is designed for the recruited participants
B. Best practices for bringing a class into a VW
1. Build, build, build!
2. Don’t just build; design and manipulate avatars.
3. Think globally, act locally.
4. Know when your students know best
5. Employ effective, rigorous, targeted recruitment.
6. Replace the dominant VE culture with your own.
7. Support emerging leadership
C. Best practices using a VW for real world education
1. Playground versus Workplace
2. Performative
3. Collaboration and Cross-functional Teams
4. Social Networking
5. Recognize and Support Skill Stratification
6. Teacher becomes Facilitator, Student becomes Peer Mentor
7. Scale Projects to Fit Resources
8. Situate your VW within a Larger Internet Ecology
9. Leverage In-world Resources
10. When Technology Fails, Know When To Move On
11. Time is Relative
12. Distance Learning Tool
D. Best practices for bringing content into a VW
1. Interactive workshops
2. Photo shows
3. Scavenger hunts
4. Quizzes
5. Building contests
6. Guest speakers
7. Movie screenings
8. Role play
9. Architecture
10. T-shirts and accessories
11. Panel discussions and debates
12. Create machinima
Resources
A Guide to Using Problem-Based Learning in Second Life
>>http://previewpsych.org/BPD2.0.pdf
Scilands Best Practices in Education Panel and Discussion
>>http://www.slideshare.net/01archivist/scilands-best-practices-in-education-panel-and-discussion
KZero Worldswide (ref. Virtual Worlds maps)
>> http://www.kzero.co.uk/
The Blue Book: A Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds (11/17/2010 just released by the Association of Virtual Worlds)
>>http://www.associationofvirtualworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/AVW-The-Blue-Book-Nov-2010.pdf
Virtual World Kits
Activeworlds Software Development Kit >> http://www.activeworlds.com/products/download.asp
Edusim (for the classroom interactive whiteboard) >> http://edusim.ning.com/
Jibe >> http://jibemix.com/
OpenSimulator >> http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Main_Page
Unity3D >> http://unity3d.com/
…among others. Shop around. Some are free downloads, others are commercial products. Check the specs for each, ask for recommendations based on your virtual world project, and triple check the company’s customer support and if there is any special attention catering to educators. Virtual world kits are not made equal and some are just simply not designed for first users/creators without programming knowledge.
Another option is to shop around the current worlds which already cater to educators (3rd Rock Grid, Reaction Grid, ScienceSim…) or use online worlds relevant to your students’ age group and your discipline content (e.g., kidscom.com for health, ecology, and global awareness).
MUVE your pupils: Best Practices in Multi-User Virtual Environments for Learning
1. MUVE Your Pupils:
Best Practices in Multi-User Virtual
Environments for Learning
By Dr. Sabine Lawless-Reljic
San Diego Computer-Using Educators, November 6, 2010
2.
3.
4. Technical best practices
• Web integration
– Registration
– Portal
– Database backend
– Summary, results,
history
– Reporting tools
• In-World Practice
– Sizing and
Proportions
– Bypassing inventory
– Customized themes
and viewer selection
– Consistent HUD
based instructions
– Managing cam
controls
5. Strategies
• Interactive practice (Genome: Genetics)
• Student discussion groups & guest speakers
• Field trips
• Independent projects on a theme (biome:
modeling in science)
• Glossed-over machinima (Biome: Cell Tour)
• Exhibits
• Fun stuff (fly, tp, vehicles, etc.)
7. Don’ts
• Don’t go into a VW without a purpose
• Don’t build without a specific purpose
• Don’t expect users to understand the
opportunities
• Don’t plan a MUVE session without a RL plan
9. Your class
• Get students up and running quickly
• Allow individual expressions in avatar appearance
• Get them involved in the Metaverse
(island>world, grid>hypergrid, other VWs)
• Encourage emoticons in text and gestures
shortcuts (important proxy for body language)
• Attend an event
• Engage one or more guest speakers
• Have them join one or more groups
• Be understanding with technological issues
10. Text or Voice?
• Benefits of Voice:
– Familiarity (What we are used to f2f)
– Indicator of gender, emotion, etc. (pitch, tone, ..)
– Good when typing not necessary or too slow
• Benefits of Text:
– Participation increase & simultaneous
– Easy archiving
– Access for many disabled students
>>Distribute media based on context and role if
MUVE allows it.
11. Digital Citizenship & Internet
Safety
• Intellectual Property Laws
• Creative Commons
• Licensing
• What is/isn’t legal to download
• Cyberbullying
• TMI (Too Much Information)
• Cyber predators
• Social Networking
• IM/e-mail/txt/chatrooms
12. Resources
• Scilands Best Practices in Education Panel and
Discussion
>>http://www.slideshare.net/01archivist/scilands-
best-practices-in-education-panel-and-discussion
• A Guide to Using Problem-Based Learning in
Second Life
>>http://previewpsych.org/BPD2.0.pdf
13. Contact Info
Sabine K. Lawless-Reljic, Ed.D.
• Communication Officer for ARVEL (Applied Research
in Virtual Environments for Learning)
ARVEL SIG: http://www.arvelsig.com
• Web: Sabine Reljic (Skype, Twitter)
• Virtual Worlds: Willow Shenlin (3rd Rock Grid,
3DXplorer, InWorldz, Reaction Grid, Science Grid,
Second Life, SmallWorlds); Willow Virtual (Grand
Central Sim); WillowWarC (World Of
Warcraft); SKYlawless (Blue Mars); Sabine Reljic (AET
Zone, ScienceSim).