This is meant to be an entertaining and non-boring presentation about Texas State University's tenure in Second Life 2006-2013.
The copy uploaded here is meant as a backup for those with less than perfect internet connectivity in SL.
We will be presenting this material as a part of the Second Life 10th Birthday events on June 19th at 2-3pm SLT (Pacific) at the Auditorium.
PLEASE NOTE: We intended this to be a fun presentation. IF you're disappointed about the content, please make sure you see the latter half of the presentation -- we have plenty of snapshots of our campus, we have a few informational videos about our projects and we have links to our spaces in SL and our website at the end of the presentation.
If you would like find out more about our efforts please like our page on Facebook:
You can visit our campus by teleporting to: (using the SL client)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/111/157/26
Please contact Troy Vogel in SL for more information.
2. 2
Texas State University
• Location: San Marcos, Texas
• Student Population: 34,225
• Established: 1899
• Degrees:
• 96 different bachelor’s,
• 87 master’s, and
• 12 doctoral programs.
• Instructional Technologies
Support - IT
3. 3
SL10BHappy Birthday SL!
We are proud to be a part of SL
history since 2006.
We have been a part of SLB since
2010.
Be sure to visit our booth:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife
/SL10B%20Electrify/153/183/22
5. 5
2006
University Meets
New Educational Technology
Acquired first sim.Acquired first sim.
We built a campus.We built a campus.
People liked it!People liked it!
Don’Don’t know what else to do butt know what else to do but
EXCITED!EXCITED!
6. 6
2007
Gold Rush into SL
We have online classes in SLWe have online classes in SL
We make machinema clips.We make machinema clips.
Our management loves it.Our management loves it.
Campus gets good reviews.Campus gets good reviews.
Educational destination inEducational destination in
published guides.published guides.
7. 7
2008
Stagnation & Loss
Technical issues.Technical issues.
SL starts losing users.SL starts losing users.
EDU Locusts move on.EDU Locusts move on.
Why are we here?Why are we here?
What’s the point?What’s the point?
8. 8
2009
We soul search and decide to
stay.
Build simulations.Build simulations.
Renovate campus.Renovate campus.
Offer SL faculty workshopsOffer SL faculty workshops
Get more students to see SLGet more students to see SL
9. 9
2010
We are rebels in our department.
Virtual Learning SpacesVirtual Learning Spaces
InitiativeInitiative
Field School Project, GEO 4190Field School Project, GEO 4190
Campus renovated.Campus renovated.
SL workshops for undergrads.SL workshops for undergrads.
Participate in SL events.Participate in SL events.
10. 10
2011
Field School Project
Replica of a NM villageReplica of a NM village
GEO 4190 Class Fall 2011GEO 4190 Class Fall 2011
Learning Management hostedLearning Management hosted
distance education class.distance education class.
Synchronous LecturesSynchronous Lectures
Asynchronous AssignmentsAsynchronous Assignments
Field School ClassroomField School Classroom
12. 12
2013
Virtual Classroom Simulation
Curriculum & Instruction SeniorsCurriculum & Instruction Seniors
Class of 15 students & 1 TeacherClass of 15 students & 1 Teacher
4 Scenarios created4 Scenarios created
Students trained for using SLStudents trained for using SL
Voice ChatVoice Chat
Discussion & Reflection ActivitiesDiscussion & Reflection Activities
13. 13
SL
Immersion
One 2 Hour Class for Undergrads
Introduction to SL – LectureIntroduction to SL – Lecture
Computer lab classroomComputer lab classroom
Sign in & orientationSign in & orientation
Core skills practiceCore skills practice
Group ActivitiesGroup Activities
Observe & ReportObserve & Report
Final Written AssignmentFinal Written Assignment
14. 14
Lessons
Learned
SL is suitable for a wide variety of
online learning activities.
Make a project plan & schedule.Make a project plan & schedule.
Identify objectives and goals.Identify objectives and goals.
Never disregard your audience.Never disregard your audience.
Practice & prototype test.Practice & prototype test.
Have alternate activities. Make contentHave alternate activities. Make content
available in multiple locations.available in multiple locations.
Document & capture class activities.Document & capture class activities.
15. 15
Lessons
Learned
Your students want to learn
whether they know it or not.
Get students to write about their SLGet students to write about their SL
experience.experience.
Do surveys! Gather feedback.Do surveys! Gather feedback.
Gotchas to watch out for:Gotchas to watch out for:
Beware of equal access requirements.Beware of equal access requirements.
Accessibility concerns.Accessibility concerns.
– Get permission from students.Get permission from students.
– Count on SL doing a mandatoryCount on SL doing a mandatory
update in the middle of your class.update in the middle of your class.
16. 16
Discussion Topics
• How are YOU using Second Life for
education?
• How WOULD you use Second Life for
educational purposes?
• What can Second Life community/Linden
Lab do to get the educators back?
• Does Education still have a place in Second
Life?
• What new features / services may have an
impact on education?
31. 31
SLURLS & Links
• Teleport to our Main SL CampusTeleport to our Main SL Campus
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/111/157/26http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/111/157/26
• Teleport to Field School SimTeleport to Field School Sim
– http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/65/248/23http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/65/248/23
• Teleport to our Virtual ClassroomTeleport to our Virtual Classroom
– http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/168/197/26http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/168/197/26
• Teleport to our SL10B Booth (expires at the end of SL10B)Teleport to our SL10B Booth (expires at the end of SL10B)
– http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL10B%20Electrify/153/183/22http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL10B%20Electrify/153/183/22
• Team WebsiteTeam Website
– http://www.its.txstate.edu/departments/etc/researchanddevelopmenthttp://www.its.txstate.edu/departments/etc/researchanddevelopment
• University WebsiteUniversity Website
– http://www.txstate.eduhttp://www.txstate.edu