Online Learning in Virtual Environments using Sloodle

Daniel LivingstoneUniversity of Paisley

Jeremy KempSan Jose State University

Funded and Supported by Eduserv

Learning Support in VLEs

• Different learning environments provide very different support

• Web-based VLEs include:– Asynchronous & synchronous

discussion– Document sharing– Coursework submissions– Assessments– Learning object integration– Management tools/tracking

• Gradebooks

Learning in 3D MUVEs

• Various MUVEs– Shared ‘Presence’

• Exploration, discovery

– Synchronous work• Shared experiences, discussion

• Second Life– Imagining, developing & sharing

own creations• Potentially: Distracting,

Confusing, Hard to Navigate

Teaching in SL: My Experience• Assumed technically proficient students

would be adept self-starters in MUVE– Virtual world too open-ended, lacks obvious

goals, rich social & technical environment– Students needed support for working towards

goals and reflecting on experiences

• Assumed students would develop own ideas for projects– A lot to take in; Students floundered until more

specific project ideas were suggested

• Technical issues– E.g. permissions on objects, group work– Students often needed to work together but

failed to set object permissions correctly

• Discovered a need for greater learning support in MUVE

Sloodle Architecture

MoodleDB

MoodlePhp

SloodlePhp

HTTP

Web Browser

Second Life

LSLObject

Moodle/SloodleWeb-server

Approaches to integration

• The 3D classroom– Original conception

• UI integration– The Sloodle toolbar

• The Rich 3D Learning Environment– Learning & assessment built into a

rich 3D interactive virtual landscape

The 3D Classroom

PrimDrop - Digital Dropbox1. Gathering assignments2. Version control3. Feedback4. Permissions5. Returning

submissions6. Supporting

reflectionhttp://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=VUUnnLm-AG4

UI Integration

Chat: Web-Intercom

Summary

• Second Life can work well in a blended learning environment– Technical issues; User Acceptance

• Need for external applications to support learning experience– Currently a mix and match collection of

web-technologies

• Sloodle aims to provide integrated support and management features to educators and learners

Progress…

• User authentication• User toolbar• Classroom tools

– Chat support/logging/messaging– Glossary– Drop box

• Check permissions• log SL submissions on Moodle

– 3D Classroom– Quiz tool

Any questions?

http://www.sloodle.orgdaniel.livingstone@gmail.com