An Entire Statewide University System Goes Virtual

Mario Guerra - UT AustinCarmen Fies, Ph.D. - UT San AntonioJessica Sanchez - UT Pan American

Saul Gutierrez - UT El PasoSarah Jones - UT Arlington

How did this project start?Bluewave Ogee/ Dr. Leslie Jarmon

How is project success being measured?

• Campus participation and collaboration• VL in undergraduate courses• Cost savings• IRB approved research studies• Undergraduate conference

http://tuelearningcommunity.com/vlci/

What major obstacles have been encountered in the project and which are still lingering?

How are 16 geo-spatially separated campuses collaborating in virtual worlds?

How has each campus fostered faculty buy in?

Second Life ChallengeProvide Incentives:

– Laptop, 8GB flash drive, WebCam w/ Mic, headset, Linden dollars for building

– $500 support to present research at a conference

9 classes being taught in SL this semester

How does each campus support faculty and student use?

• Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment

• 3 tiered approach– Tech support– Pedagogical support– Assessment support

How does each campus support faculty and student use?

• Center for Online Learning, Teaching & Technology is the support area for our University.

• Dedicated 1 full time staff and 3 part time students.

• Good relations with IT to get computer labs set up with SL

• Provide open trainings.

• Meet one-on-one and in groups for demos, activity brainstorming, and orientation

• Provide content: builds, gadgets, uploading textures for them, etc.

• Being available

How has each campus built out or planned to build out their island?

How has each campus built out or planned to build out their island?

How has each campus built out or planned to build out their island?

• Designated with class• UTPanAmerican One

provide resources about our university.

• UTPanAmerican Two: Sandbox

• UT PanAmerican Three: small city for sims.

How has each campus built out or planned to build out their island?

UTArlington IWelcome Center, Orientation area, large auditoriumMaverick Café – café, gallery/exhibition space, and conference room

UTArlington IIClass and group meeting spacesSandbox area (to be relocated from UTArlington III)

UTArlington IIIAcademic CommonsFaculty offices and studios

How has each campus built out or planned to build out their island?

How does each campus plan to fund their islands after the grant ends?

• ½ from the Provost• $1,000 each from the

deans of Nursing and Liberal Arts

• the balance from the dean of the Library

• ½ FTE for the campus lead from the Library

Tuition fees

Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment

How does each campus plan to fund their islands after the grant ends?

How will the project continue to grow & evolve?

• Second Life Challenge continued..

• Cross collaboration between institutions and other universities.

• Goal: is to increase awareness and use in our institution as well as locally

• Evolve: internally grow in our skill set with scripting and make more intricate simulations.

How will this project continue to grow and evolve?

Activities coming up:• Genomics Journal Club (College of Nursing)• Freshman Leaders On Campus – SL version of

their RL exhibits on food sustainability: “You Are What You Eat”

• Pilot build for a World Café style facilitated group discussion

• Interdisciplinary projects with the College of Liberal Arts

• Incorporation into a new Digital Media track in Art for the undergraduate University Studies degree

• Use of SL as a student recruitment venue• Continued outreach to faculty, students, and

student groups

How will this project continue to grow and evolve?

Contact Information

• Luigi Miles (SL)Mario Guerra - UT Austinmariog@austin.utexas.edu

• constructivIST Solo (SL)Carmen Fies, Ph.D. – UT San AntonioCarmen.Fies@utsa.edu

• zhska Takacs (SL)Jessica Sanchez –UT Pan Americanjessica@utpa.edu

• Razitra Artizar (SL)Sarah Jones – UT Arlingtonsjones@uta.edu

• Saul115 Maximus (SL)Saul Gutierrez – UT El Pasosagutierrez@utep.edu

http://www.slideshare.net/razitra