Overview

A JISC funded project piloting the use of Multi-User Virtual Environments with Art & Design and Philosophy students

A collaboration between:The University of Oxford; Leeds Metropolitan University; King’s College London

Supported by:The JISC Emerge Community of Practice

Core project team:Dave Cormier; Graham Hibbert; Margarita Perez-Garcia; Ian Truelove; Steven Warburton; David White

Technology:Second Life (Linden Labs); OpenSim (Open Source); Wonderland (SUN micro-systems)

‘Reality Not Helpful’

“You don’t wear a hat in real life…”

‘Reality Not Helpful’

“…and your not in a computer game in real life”

‘Another World?’

“Each world while it is attended to is real in it’s own fashion.”

William James, The Principles Of Psychology, 1890

‘An Extension of Real Life?’

“I’m just having a virtual conversation”

David White, On the Phone In His Office, 2008

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Principle 1

“Identify why and how the use of a MUVE should enhance student learning.”

Themes

•Not trying to ‘Solve a Problem’•Exploratory

MUVE = Large Breadth of Potential

Activity

Activity

Activity

Activity

Activity

Activity

Principle 2

“Think carefully about the degree of collaboration that is required for completion of the in-world task.”

Collaboration? - Quests

Collaboration? - Quests

Collaboration? - Quests

Gather your team members together. Sit on the ground in a circle and play word association. (e.g. Say a word in response to the word just spoken by the avatar on your right.)

When you get bored, look back through the chat window and copy the best 8 word sequence. Build a sequence of objects to represent each word, and arrange in a circle. Use as chairs for team meetings.

Collaboration? - Quests

Build the one or more of the following types of tree in your team's orchard:

•realistic tree •surrealistic tree •typographic tree •tree of life •family tree •naughty tree •musical tree •people tree •tree for sale •fruit of knowledge tree •tree into toe won't go •tree of oblivion •tree from hell •symbol tree •science fiction tree •love tree •snakes and ladders tree  •monkey puzzle tree •idolatree

Communication, Cooperation, Collaboration

Communication Cooperation Collaboration

LearningInformation transmission

Knowledge transmission

Knowledge generation

Inquiry Individual inquiry Delegation of tasks Common inquiry

Decision-making Agree to disagree Vote (majority rules) Social negotiation to consensus

Goals/agendasMultiple goals/ multiple agendas

One goal/ multiple agendas

One goal/ one agenda

Accountability Individual accountabilityIndividual accountability

Group accountability

Learning relationship

Complete independencePartial interdependence

Complete interdependence

“Building community in an online learning environment: communication, cooperation and collaboration” Melanie Misanchuk & Tiffany Anderson

Philosophical Problems

The Gettier problem:John believes Jane owns a Lotus Elan. This is because John has seen Jane driving a Lotus Elan around town. But the car John has seen Jane driving is not her own car but her brother's. In fact though Jane does own a Lotus Elan, but she never brings it out of the garage.

What does this show us about the classical account of knowledge as justified true belief?

Principle 3

“Provide/develop ground rules for communication and use of channels. In-world communication functions very differently from real-world.”

Dialogue

[8:11] Marianne Thespian: Cade: In dreams we have excellent reason to believe our beliefs are justified, but despite this many of the things we dream are not true (though some still are).

[8:11] Elfed Helendale: Yes, if we dream of a red sport scar we must have seen one Well, we must have seen redness (until the demon brings that into question too).

[8:12] Cade Halster: Marianne, I will need to think about that - the words are getting in the way again!

[8:12] Elfed Helendale: whereas an evil genius could just plant the idea into our minds

[8:12] Wichard Wisent: The dream issue seems to be why Descartes retests his propositions repeatedly. One test isn't every enough,

[8:12] Marianne Thespian: Is that true Elfed, is it the case that if we dream of a P Ps must exist (if you see what I mean)?

[8:12] Shak Maroon: If we were in fact dreaming all the time, wouldn't there still be some of our beliefs which would be true?

[8:12] Elfed Helendale: not always Marianne, but some of the time

[8:13] Marianne Thespian: "In the Meditations he's rather redundant"? What does that mean Wichard?

[8:13] Marianne Thespian: Arrrg! Stop a second!

Communication Expectations

•Reflective vs Dynamic•Non-verbal communication•Controlling the flow•Gaps-length

Thoughts

•Shared Experience – ‘Eventedness’

•Useful where knowledge is negotiated

•Fun? - Social

Contact - Information

www.openhabitat.org

david.white@conted.ox.ac

.uk