Collaborative and Experiential Collaborative and Experiential Learning in the User-Created Learning in the User-Created Virtual World of Second Life Virtual World of Second Life

Ali Andrews (AKA, Aline Click in RL)Northern Illinois University

My BackgroundMy Background Assistant Director of Assistant Director of

eLearning at Northern Illinois eLearning at Northern Illinois University and involved with University and involved with the development of online the development of online education since 1994.education since 1994.

Bachelors of Fine Art in Bachelors of Fine Art in Electronic Media, Masters of Electronic Media, Masters of Science in Education with Science in Education with emphasis on Instructional emphasis on Instructional Technology and currently Technology and currently working on a doctorate in working on a doctorate in Educational Technology, Educational Technology, Research and AssessmentResearch and Assessment

2007 Horizon Report2007 Horizon Report

* user-created content* user-created content

* social networking* social networking

* mobile phones* mobile phones

* virtual worlds* virtual worlds

* new scholarship and emerging forms of publication* new scholarship and emerging forms of publication

* massively multiplayer educational gaming* massively multiplayer educational gaming

The New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative The New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative

This annual report describes six emerging technology areas likely to This annual report describes six emerging technology areas likely to have a large impact on teaching, learning, or creative expression have a large impact on teaching, learning, or creative expression within higher education in the next one to five years. For 2007, the within higher education in the next one to five years. For 2007, the technology areas spotlighted are:technology areas spotlighted are:

Some Problems with Online EducationSome Problems with Online Education

IsolationIsolation

CollaborationCollaboration

Lack of social/emotional Lack of social/emotional communicationcommunication

Lack of ability to simulate Lack of ability to simulate complex eventscomplex events

Learning stylesLearning styles

New generation of New generation of learnerslearners

Non-traditional learnersNon-traditional learners

A Solution Could Be 3D Virtual WorldsA Solution Could Be 3D Virtual Worlds

Defined as a world that Defined as a world that exists entirely onlineexists entirely online

The users “avatar” interacts The users “avatar” interacts with other avatars through with other avatars through animations, chat and audioanimations, chat and audio

Provides for a sense of Provides for a sense of communitycommunity

The social and emotional The social and emotional presence is enhanced due to presence is enhanced due to how the avatar behaves. how the avatar behaves.

Gender, ethnicity, age and Gender, ethnicity, age and disabilities are not apparent disabilities are not apparent since you can present since you can present yourself the way you wish.yourself the way you wish.

Popular MUVEs include:Popular MUVEs include:

Harvard’s River CityHarvard’s River City

Active WorldsActive Worlds

Second LifeSecond Life

ThereThere

The Sims OnlineThe Sims Online

So what is Second Life?So what is Second Life?

Opened in 2003Opened in 2003 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents 8,623,396 people from over 1008,623,396 people from over 100 A typical Sunday afternoon - 45,000 residents onlineA typical Sunday afternoon - 45,000 residents online Residents retain the rights to their digital creationsResidents retain the rights to their digital creations 12,000 CPUs support 300 square miles of virtual land12,000 CPUs support 300 square miles of virtual land

Universities in Second LifeUniversities in Second Life Over 300 Universities in Second Life:Over 300 Universities in Second Life:

Harvard University: Harvard University: Cambridge, MassCambridge, Mass.. Idaho State University: Idaho State University: Pocatello, IdahoPocatello, Idaho.. Illinois State University: Illinois State University: Normal, ILNormal, IL Northern Illinois University: Northern Illinois University: DeKalb, ILDeKalb, IL Ohio State University: Ohio State University: Columbus, OHColumbus, OH Pennsylvania State University: Pennsylvania State University: (Various towns), PA(Various towns), PA Stanford University: Stanford University: Palo Alto, CAPalo Alto, CA Texas State University: Texas State University: San Marcos, TexasSan Marcos, Texas University of Colorado at Denver Medical Center: University of Colorado at Denver Medical Center:

Denver, CODenver, CO Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech: Blacksburg, VirginiaBlacksburg, Virginia

Educational OrganizationsEducational Organizations The Center For Internet ResearchThe Center For Internet Research Association for Educational Communications & Association for Educational Communications &

Technology (AECT)Technology (AECT) Global Kids, Inc.: Global Kids, Inc.: New York, NY, USANew York, NY, USA Institute of Rural Health: Institute of Rural Health: Idaho,USAIdaho,USA International Society for Technology in Education International Society for Technology in Education Ohio Learning Network: Ohio Learning Network: Columbus, OHColumbus, OH Social Science Research Council: Social Science Research Council: New York, NY, USANew York, NY, USA The New Media Consortium (NMC) The New Media Consortium (NMC) The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) British CouncilBritish Council

National OrganizationsNational Organizations National Physical LaboratoryNational Physical Laboratory

National Oceanic and Atmospheric National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administration

Center for Disease Control and Center for Disease Control and PreventionPrevention

Global Kids, IncGlobal Kids, Inc

Institute of Rural HealthInstitute of Rural Health

International Society for International Society for Technology in Education Technology in Education

Ohio Learning Network Ohio Learning Network

Social Science Research CouncilSocial Science Research Council

The New Media Consortium (NMC)The New Media Consortium (NMC)

Corporate in Second LifeCorporate in Second Life ToyotaToyota NikeNike SonySony SearsSears BMGBMG StarwoodStarwood DellDell IBMIBM Men’s WarehouseMen’s Warehouse Circuit CityCircuit City NBCNBC SunSun AdidasAdidas

Question: Is Second Life a Game?Question: Is Second Life a Game?

A game is an activity, in which A game is an activity, in which participants follow prescribed participants follow prescribed rules that differ from those of real rules that differ from those of real life as life as striving to attain a striving to attain a challenging goalchallenging goal (Heinich, (Heinich, Molenda, Russell, & Smaldino, Molenda, Russell, & Smaldino, 2002); simply put it is organized 2002); simply put it is organized play (Prensky, 2001, p. 119).play (Prensky, 2001, p. 119).

Answer: No but it contains games.Answer: No but it contains games.

“Gamers come to virtual worlds because in them they find more than a game, they find other gamers. They come to compete with each other, to collaborate with each other, to learn from each other, to profit from each other, to talk to each other in the game, at the coffee machine at work or in chat rooms on the Internet.”

Community of Gamers/LearnersCommunity of Gamers/Learners

Ludlow, P. and Wallace, M. (2006). Only A Game: Online Worlds and the Virtual Journalist Who Knew Too Much. to be published by O'Reilly Press.http://www.slconvention.org/ludlowwallace_chapter.pdf

An Real EconomyAn Real Economy

You could sell $10,000 L$ which stands for Linden dollars You could sell $10,000 L$ which stands for Linden dollars for anywhere from $30 to $40 depending on the market for anywhere from $30 to $40 depending on the market value that day.value that day.

The Learning CurveThe Learning CurveJuly 2005July 2005

Orientation Island Orientation Island Explore and meetExplore and meet Sandboxes and timeSandboxes and time In-world workshopsIn-world workshops The power of the groupThe power of the group

All objects start as All objects start as a primitive objecta primitive object

Video StreamingVideo StreamingMy “First Land”My “First Land”

Building theBuilding theNIU CampusNIU Campus

The Terrain The Terrain September 2005September 2005

Laying the floors of Altgeld HallLaying the floors of Altgeld Hall

The Walls of Altgeld HallThe Walls of Altgeld Hall

Altgeld Hall in Second LifeAltgeld Hall in Second Life

Altgeld Hall Real LifeAltgeld Hall Real Life

NIU Students in Second LifeNIU Students in Second Life

In world lessons can contain both synchronous and asynchronous experiences: educational games animations and simulations note cards with assignments ] presentations (both slideshow and video) audio survey/quizzes interaction with classmates, the instructor and other residents. experiential learning

Black Sun IIBlack Sun IIUCM Cyberculture CourseUCM Cyberculture Course

Synchronous LearningSynchronous Learning

ResourcesResources

SL Educators Wiki: SL Educators Wiki: www.simteach.com SLED Educators ListservSLED Educators Listserv Groups such as builders and scriptersGroups such as builders and scripters ““Info Island” for free resources and Info Island” for free resources and

librarieslibraries

Overcoming technical challengesOvercoming technical challenges

Supported video cardSupported video cardVideo/Graphics Card: Video/Graphics Card:

nVidia GeForce 2, GeForce 4mx, or better nVidia GeForce 2, GeForce 4mx, or better

OROR ATI Radeon 8500, 9250, or better ATI Radeon 8500, 9250, or better

Broadband connectivity requiredBroadband connectivity required

Contact InformationContact Information

Avatar : Ali AndrewsAvatar : Ali Andrews Real Life: Aline ClickReal Life: Aline Click Email: Email: aclick@niu.edu Phone: 815-753-0673 Phone: 815-753-0673 SL URL for Glidden Campus, NIU SL URL for Glidden Campus, NIU

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glidden/88/166/30/