information literacy in virtual worlds part 1

Information literacy in virtual worlds: Pt 1

Sheila Webber, Department of Information

StudiesSheffield University, UK

July 2009

This is for presentation at Information Literacy with Web 2.0 and is part of a page at http://www.netvibes.com/sheilawebber#Using_virtual_worlds

Who I am&

Part 1: What are virtual worlds and what is Second Life

Sheila Webber, July 2009

Characteristics of virtual worlds

• “persistence of the in-world environment• “a shared space allowing multiple users to participate simultaneously• “virtual embodiment in the form of an avatar (a personisable 3-D

representation of the self)• “interactions that occur between users and objects in a 3-D

environment• “an immediacy of action such that interactions occur in real time• “similarities to the real world such as topography, movement and

physics that provide the illusion of being there.”• (Smart, Cascio & Paffendof: cited in Warburton, 2009: 415)


Increasing use of virtual worlds by young people (13 & under)

Kzero virtual world consultantshttp://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/?page_id=2537


Second Life

• 3-D Online Digital world, owned by Linden Labs• Most things created by SL residents: SL fashion

designers, architects, bakers, animal makers ….• Avatars- 3D representation of yourself – free to signup

and can live on freebies, but need Linden dollars if want to own land, buy clothes etc.

• Need to download SL browser & have good connection & graphics card

• Communication through text chat, Voice and Instant Messaging

• 40-80,000 people online simultaneously• http://www.secondlife.com/


http://secondlife.com/

Education• Only 18+ on main grid: separate Teen grid• 90% UK universities with some presence• Many disciplines: English, Psychology,

Chemistry, Biology etc. etc.• Role play, simulations• Discussion, communication• Problem solving, inquiry

Virtual Hajj


http://www.mydebitcredit.com/Dr. Steven Hornik / Robins HermanoKenneth Dixon School of AccountingUniversity of Central Florida900+ accountancy students

Peter Miller/ Graham MillsLiverpool Universityhttp://tidalblog.blogspot.com/

Tour of the Testis


Biology learning & exploration

Problems I know people have with virtual worlds and schools

• Blocked by firewalls• Seen as too risky• Computers not good enough• Broadband connection not good enough• If only have access during school hours, miss out

on interesting events in evening/ at night

But, if you can …

• Enjoyment of being able to fly/ build/ drive a car/ change “the world”

• Connection with schools internationally• Appeals to multiple intelligences … visual, aural …

new ways of seeing things … things not possible in real life

• Act out poems, plays, try and build models of difficult concepts

• (etc.)

Librarians in SL are…

• Providing “reference” services• Providing links to “real life” web resources • Providing help in using SL• Working with educators … and sometimes

educating on their own• Doing reader development (e.g. through exhibitions,

recreations, reenactments)


Presentation about “What information specialists think about Second Life” held 2 July 2009 on Infolit iSchool in Second Life. This slide summarises some views from a survey.


The next slide has snapshots of SL, showing examples of networking, collaborating and Continuous Professional Development. Clockwise from top right:1. Focus group discussing librarians in SL;2. One of Sheila’s students about to interview a Canadian student for an assignment3. Vicki Cormie being the “inworld” leader for a “crossover” event. She and Marshall Dozier were at the SCONUL conference in real life, people there were asking questions of the people (inc. Sheila) who were in SL. (Vicki and Marshall are Scottish librarians) 4. All 3 of us watched a stream of the Oxford “Libraries of the future” conference, discussing the issues amongst ourselves in SL5. Sheila is a member of the Educators Coop, a community of educators (mostly American)6. Sheila, Vicki and Marshall discuss plans for the class with Sheila’s students, taking place next day


Sheila Webber, 2009

Collaboration, networking, CPD

How have I used it?

• First year (18/19 years old) students learning to do interviews in Second Life and carrying out research interviews into information behaviour

• Masters students, learning about educational technology

• Organising a discussion series & involved in organising conferences

• Attending conferences, networking, learning about teaching

• Several ppts at http://www.slideshare.net/sheilawebber/Sheila Webber, July 2009

Links to websites, articles, tutorials, videos, and places in Second Life: http://delicious.com/LILACSL (Topics: Education in SL and Libraries/Librarians in SL: all the other links will be found there)

Warburton, S. (2009) “Second Life in higher education: Assessing the potential for and the barriers to deploying virtual worlds in learning and teaching.” British journal of educational technology, 40 (3), 414–426.


Now!

• Look at some of the videos and websites on the Netvibes page, to get a better idea of what Second Life is and to hear about how a few people have used them in schools

• You can also get an avatar free & download the SL browser free – but it is a good idea to go in for a particular event and/or to identify a mentor

• There is a PowerPoint Part 2 – in which I talk about information literacy and Second Life
