Education in SL – Moving Beyond the Lecture December 1, 2009

Last week for the in-class meeting of our LIS Virtual Worlds course, students presented their collaborative projects. Perhaps unsurprisingly, each of the three groups chose to communicate “lecture-style” (albeit with some stimulating interesting videos and images to spice things up).

 

This isn’t meant as criticism. (In fact, my group chose to address our peers through a lecture as well.) This is merely an observation. After all, the lecture is probably the most common educational tool. From primary school to graduate school, students listen to lecture after lecture. Whether or not this is an effective teaching strategy is up for debate.

 

But as my group discussed in our presentation, by using Second Life educators can begin to diversify their teaching methods. Students can visit and explore virtual representations of historic locations. They can participate in educational role plays and simulations. They can even build their own objects and locations. Virtual worlds have the potential to make learning more immersive, participatory and fun.

 

The question is: If virtual worlds are so great, why are educators still relying on lectures?

 

It could be due to lack of funding. Or it could be lack of familiarity with virtual world technologies. More likely, it is that people are resistant to change.

 

What should advocates of virtual worlds and alternative education tools do? They might consider implementing a few pilot projects.

 

There have been a number of studies that have demonstrated the benefits (and pitfalls) of using virtual worlds in formal education. However, the majority of these studies seem to have been one-off trials, abandoned after a few months.

 

It seems to me that more formal, long-term pilot projects that actively involve students, educators and administrators would hold more sway with school boards and academic institutions.

 

And then?

 

It will take time to convince educators to use virtual technologies in their classrooms. Teachers, lecturers and students will need to be trained to use these technologies. Money will need to be invested. But a little at a time, virtual worlds can (and hopefully will) become commonly used educational tools.

 

In the near future, I think we will see virtual worlds being used more and more often in classrooms around the world.

 

It is my opinion that virtual worlds really do have the potential to revolutionize education.

Education and Second Life November 16, 2009

As part of a collaborative assignment, I have been researching the benefits of using virtual worlds to create immersive learning environments for post-secondary students.

There are many advantages to incorporating virtual worlds and social media to engage students in learning. The flexibility of virtual worlds such as Second Life, which thrive on user-generated content, means their potential as innovative learning tools can stretch as far as the imagination.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of educators around the world use virtual worlds to make learning fun. Elementary school teachers, high school teachers and post-secondary educators from all fields of study are all dabbling with new virtual tools to transform the way we think about education.

Public Libraries in Second Life? November 7, 2009

These past weeks, I’ve dedicated lots of energy to better understanding the educational opportunities available in Second Life. I have considered how Second Life can be used as an alternate form of education, instruction and learning for academic and school libraries. However, I have largely overlooked the value of virtual worlds as media for public libraries.

In my last post, I discussed some of the personal reasons people choose to reside in Second Life. For some, this virtual world is a venue for learning and exploring. For others, it is a place of leisure. For more still, Second Life provides a sense of community and, in some cases, personal support. It occurred to me that these are some of the same reasons people visit public libraries.

And so, I decided to learn a bit more about public libraries in Second Life. While some public libraries in Second Life were merely big rooms filled with books, other locations had much more to offer.

Many public libraries in Second Life provide access to a small range of information resources, including links to their OPACs and information about their community. See the Olathe, Kansas Public Library and the Glenview Public Library for some examples. The Bibliotheek Amsterdam is worth a visit as well.

The most disappointing part of visiting public libraries in Second Life was the lack of people. In the “real world” public libraries are usually teeming with people. And though not all public libraries make efforts to build a sense of community, they do serve as meeting places.

Most public libraries in Second Life are doing an adequate job of meeting the information needs of their patrons. Or at least, they seem to be trying to meet the information needs of their patrons.

But people also use public libraries to connect with people. Libraries are meeting places. The role of library as place is largely overlooked by public libraries in Second Life.

Only by creating a venue for people to connect to one another can public libraries in Second Life play a role in meeting the community needs of their users. In order to better serve Second Life residents (and real world communities) virtual public libraries must become community hubs.

Then again, maybe librarians are the only people who dream of libraries crowded with people who are just hanging out and connecting with one another …

A Few Reasons to Spend Time in Second Life November 4, 2009

These past few weeks, I have been trying to appreciate the positive aspects of Second Life – not only from an educational standpoint, but also from the perspective of community groups and individuals. The truth is: Second Life has much to offer people who are interested in exploring this virtual world out of personal interest.

Perhaps the most obvious of these benefits, Second Life provides the opportunity to meet and interact with people from around the world. There are few other venues, if any, for people from across the globe to meet, chat, learn and interact without needing to hop on an airplane. Of course there exist more traditional chat rooms, but these don’t provide the same interactive experience as do virtual worlds such as Second Life.

 

What amazes me about Second Life is the opportunity to interact with others in innumerable ways.

 

Second Life residents can come together to explore different places – natural wonders (such as coral reefs and mountains), historic locations (such as Ancient Egypt and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre), imaginary worlds (such as Hogwarts and Sunnydale), and much more. Second Life provides people with opportunities to explore places they have only ever dreamed of. And because Second Life residents can build their own content, the possibilities are endless.

 

What’s more, Second Life residents can share their experiences with other people, be it through chat, animations and/or role pay.

 

But the exploration of new worlds is only the tip of the iceberg. Second Life is also a venue for assembly. Groups and communities, with members from all continents, can meet in Second Life to discuss common interests (from SCUBA diving to libraries).

 

To name just a few possibilities, group members can share personal hardships (through various support groups, including alcoholics anonymous), express their artistic side (through venues such as Burning Life), and share academic ideas (by attending lectures or visiting places such as Genome island).

 

For some Second Life residents, the communities they join can provide them with the support and opportunities they lack in real life. This may be especially important for marginalized people who feel alone and unaccepted in their real world communities.

 

However, with so many groups, possibilities and experiences available in Second Life, finding opportunities that interest you can be quite the challenge …

At last, a Place for Libraries in Second Life! October 19, 2009

It’s no secret I’ve been quite the pessimist when it comes to Second Life. I don’t think Second Life is a good investment of time or money for most schools and workplaces. Nonetheless, it does offer wonderful opportunities to learn and explore in a fun and interactive way – one just has to know where to find them.

I’ve been doing lots of exploring in Second Life. Truth be told I’ve been wandering around rather aimlessly and enjoying the scenery. After reading about the Second Life adventures of fellow bloggers, I decided I was missing out on some really cool places. So I made an effort to explore a bit deeper.

I went to Genome Island and learned about cell biology and genetics. I went onstage at the Globe Theatre and imagined myself playing Desdemona or Portia. These were both fantastic islands to visit! I enjoyed both these locations so much that I fantasized about High School teachers across the country taking their students to these virtual locations. I could see it already – students were wiping the drool off their chins and actually enjoying biology class!

What does Second Life have to do with Libraries Anyway? October 8, 2009

Ever since I began exploring Second Life, I have been keeping my library science friends informed of my successes and my frustrations. It still amazes me how many responses I receive every time I post a Facebook comment related to SL.

It seems most library science students have strong opinions about SL and its use in library environments. Some people think Second Life is fun and interesting, others think it is a waste of time. Most interestingly, no one seems to agree!

So the question is: Should libraries be dedicating people, time and money to SL?

My vaguely disappointing answer is: It depends!

Defining Virtual Worlds September 27, 2009

For the past few weeks, I have been trying to find other virtual worlds to compare with Second Life. I quickly hit a wall. Given the wealth of social networks and programs available on the Internet, I couldn’t understand why I was having such difficulty finding other virtual worlds. That’s when it occurred to me that I needed to reevaluate my definition of virtual worlds.

My recent venture into Second Life marked my first experience with virtual worlds. And so when I began to search for other virtual worlds, I found myself looking for programs comparable to Second Life. But it seems there are no virtual worlds quite like Second Life – at least not for Mac users who don’t want to pay for access.

Second life is a free virtual world that is compatible with PC and Mac computers. It has thousands and thousands of avatars, fantastic graphics, and almost infinite potential for user generated content. Most virtual worlds lack the breadth and the flexibility of Second Life. When it comes to virtual worlds, it seems Second Life is the exception, not the rule.

Once I realized this, I decided to redefine my understanding of virtual worlds. Of course this is easier said than done. What are virtual worlds? Are they extensions of reality? Are they games? Are they programs that allow people of varying abilities and means to connect with one another? I’m certain entire books could be dedicated to answering these questions. I won’t even attempt to answer them here.

For my purposes, I’ve decided that virtual worlds need only two things. First, they need to provide a graphic representation of a physical space through which avatars can move and carry out tasks. Second, within this space, people from different places around the world need to be able to interact with one another.

I think the latter characteristic is especially important because the social interaction between people is what differentiates virtual worlds from computer games. But please, feel free to disagree with my interpretation of virtual worlds.

Following the guidelines I set out for myself, I decided on two other virtual worlds (both free, as well as Mac and PC compatible) which I will explore as I continue learning about virtual worlds. These are Pirate Puzzles (a virtual world for teens) and Farmville (a Facebook application).

If you’re interested and want to hear more about my thoughts and adventures through Second Life, Pirate Puzzles and Farmville, stay tuned.

Second Life and CSI September 20, 2009

Bored, I was watching a rerun of CSI: New York this morning. The show’s latest murder victim was wearing a sexy costume and a green wig – but it wasn’t Halloween. As it turned out, the victim was dressed-up to look like her Second Life avatar.

The show quickly captured my attention as Gary Sinise’s character created an avatar and  investigated a real life murder in Second Life. He ventured to different places, and he talked to, fought with, and deceived various avatars in Second Life. Ultimately, Gary Sinise made Second Life look cool!

I’ll admit until I enrolled in a Virtual Worlds course, I had never given much thought to virtual realities such as Second Life. If you had asked me about Second Life a few weeks ago, I would have supposed it was a form of entertainment and social networking for a very small group of people interested in computer programming and virtual realities. But the appearance of Second Life on CSI: New York made me see this virtual world in a whole new way.

My own limited experience with Second Life has left me feeling frustrated and uninterested. I have had such difficulty navigating through this new reality that I have not been able to enjoy myself. Learning about Second Life through the eyes of a CSI investigator allowed me to see the variety of Second Life users, and the fun that can be had in this virtual world.

On this episode of CSI: New York, Second Life users included a crime scene investigator, a professional assassin, a young man hiding from the world, and a politician, amongst others. The avatars visited strange and interesting places, including a Roman Colosseum. The avatars flew, fought, changed their appearance, and fell in love. The world of Second Life was portrayed as a place where people can transform themselves into anyone, and create places others have only dreamed of.

At last, I was convinced that Second Life could be a fun place! A world I could enjoy exploring and learning about. And so, thanks to an episode of CSI: New York, I find myself looking forward to further ventures in Second Life and other virtual worlds.

Second Life – A Tool for Schools and Workplaces? September 17, 2009

As a first time user of Second Life, I have my doubts as to this program’s practical application for real workplaces and educational institutions. It has been proposed by the creators  (or at least the marketers) of Second Life, and by librarians, that meeting in virtual worlds such as Second Life is an effective substitute for face-to-face meetings with peers in different places around the world. My experience with Second Life compels me to disagree.

Screenshot from nanobugle.files.wordpress.com

In order for electronic and virtual tools to be useful for people in their “first life,” they need to make tasks easier and faster. Most importantly, such tools need to be user-friendly. It may be sad to say this, but it is a harsh reality of workplaces and schools that tools must increase efficiency rather than only add fascination.

Second Life can be described in many ways, both good and bad. Unfortunately, I am inclined to describe Second Life as unintelligible to the average person. It is certainly not user-friendly – at least not for users taking the leap into a virtual world for the first time.

This is not to discredit Second Life. I think its popularity attests to its quality as a virtual world application. I simply think this program is not meant to be used as a tool for workplace meetings and distance education – or for any other “first-life” task.

Indeed the creators and marketers of Second Life would likely disagree with my opinion. I am open to other views, but as I struggle to learn the ins and outs of this virtual world I remain skeptical.

A Story About a “Booktalk” March 9, 2009

This has been my first experience developing a booktalk, although I did not actually talk about a book. I decided to make the subject of my talk the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series because there are few things I like more than Buffy. After all, it is a cult classic for good reason. What I had to do was pinpoint the reason for its success.

I found it difficult to envision my talk as a video. I am fairly well practiced at presentations, and I was able to imagine how I would present my talk in person. But on video it seemed to me more like a commercial than anything else. And so, I went about developing a video to sell the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series to today’s teens, who in all likelihood know little or nothing about the show.

I began by researching Buffy online and watching clips of the show on YouTube. I was trying to pin down what made Buffy such a popular show. All my research led to the same conclusion: the best thing about Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the way they talk. As a teen, I learned about sarcasm, irony and wit, not in English class, but by watching Buffy. Watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show changed the way I talked. Apparently, I wasn’t alone. In his book Slayer Slang, Michael Adams argues that Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way America speaks.

Once I had understood what teens liked best about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I attempted to build the language into the script for my talk. I looked online for Buffy quotes, and I selected a few of my favourites that still made sense out of the context of their television episodes. Then I wrote up a point form summary of the premise and plot of the show. I put the “slayer slang” and my point form summary together into a script – more or less successfully. Although the script worked out, my acting skills are somewhat lacking. I gave it a shot nonetheless, but my acting skills left me thinking that next time I should try to be more myself. Check it out if you like.