1. Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference
In Second Life (and other platforms)
Brief Look at VWBPE 2014
Image courtesy of http://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com
Sean Henry -
4/2014

2. Sean Henry - 4/2014

3. Sean Henry - 4/2014

4. About VWBPE
 Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education is a global grass-roots community
event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments.
 VWBPE is an open conference is organized by educators, for educators, to
provide an opportunity to showcase the learning that takes place in this
community of practice.
 All educators K-12 and in Higher Education are encouraged to present,
attend and take part in this discussion of collaborative deeper learning and
co-presence in virtual worlds and games.
 The 2014 Theme “Connections” challenged us educators to explore
relationships and reflect on the tapestry of how we became who we are,
those we connect with, and the innovations in education that brought us to
where we are today. “The virtual frontier provides new tools and techniques
to recognize these interconnections as well as new means to build
previously impossible paths which help establish the links between us all.”
Promotional Video
Sean Henry - 4/2014

5. VWBPE 2014 Attendance
Statistics
4500 total attendees from
around the world:
3400 in Second Life
100 in OSgrid (open source
alternative to Second Life)
1000 in Livestream
Sean Henry - 4/2014

6. VWBPE Presentation Formats:
Seven keynote addresses from cutting-edge educators
as well as the both the creator of Second Life as well
as the new CEO
Sean Henry - 4/2014
Image courtesy of http://joyardley.wordpress.com

7. Keynote from new Second Life
CEO
In “Reconnecting with the Education Market,” new CEO Ebbe
Altberg promises to restore broken connections in a rousing
keynote and lengthy Q & A “town hall”session
Sean Henry - 4/2014
Image courtesy of http://joyardley.wordpress.com

8. VWBPE Presentation Formats:
21 Workshops, including “Creating Immersive
Environments” by Isa Goodman in New Zealand
Second Life supports many
media formats for
presentations. Currently,
YouTube and Slideshare are
very popular.
Sean Henry - 4/2014

9. Part of “Creating Immersive Environments
Sean Henry - 4/2014

10. Other VWBPE Presentation Formats:
Lectures
Formal panel discussions
Informal roundtable discussions,
and …
Sean Henry - 4/2014

11. Sim Tours …
… such as a guided tour of “Hitsville USA,” a recreation
of 1960’s Motown/Detroit
Sean Henry - 4/2014

12. Plus a live theatrical play!
The Quill and Quarrel Theatre production company presented their
production of Margaret Edson's WIT, winner of the 1999 Pulitzer
Prize for Drama
Sean Henry - 4/2014

13. Social Media Communication at
VWBPE
Live nearby conference chat stream or personal IMs to individual
attendees/avatars, plus other conversations with friends or groups
you have going on simultaneously in Second Life
This green sound
wave pattern
indicates that
voice chat is
enabled and the
avatar is
speaking
Sean Henry - 4/2014

14. A few VWBPE 2014 observations
 Much emphasis on gamification and game-based learning
 Large representation of language education and online
nursing programs
 More emphasis on libraries and information literacy
 Some restored faith in Second Life while noting that it has
never reached its huge potential as a social media platform
due to access issues
 Recognition that Second Life needs to set clear, strategic
future goals to remain a viable platform
Sean Henry - 4/2014

15. VWBPE Conference Links
VWBPE Website
VWBPE on Flickr
VWBPE on YouTube
Sean Henry - 4/2014