Transcript of Second Life Education Roundtable: Dec. 15, 2009
Topic: Language Instruction in Second Life
Thanks to Ponderosafish for photos. Visit our photo-sharing sites at Flickr and Koinup to add your own.
Links for Language Instruction:
Wiki on language learning in SL: http://slexperiments.pbworks.com/
Translators:
* X-Lang: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Olexandrovich/214/17/601
* Q-Translator: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shipwreck%20Bay/239/234/24
* MH Translator: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Donohue/133/245/1030
* AF Translators (Pro and Basic): http://slurl.com/secondlife/Milaniovic/18/136/57
* Simbolic: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cupo/105/120/36
* Ferd's Free: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phaze%20Demesnes/218/209/24
Olivia Hotshot: Our meetings are made possible by the Office of Information Technology at Montclair State University. We meet here each week at 2:30pm SLT for an hour.
Olivia Hotshot: The SL Education Roundtable is a forum to educate and inform the community about issues that are important and relevant to education.
Olivia Hotshot: The views and opinions of any of our special guests or visitors do not necessarily represent those who volunteer or organize these meetings,
Olivia Hotshot: or of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Office of Information Technology , or Montclair State University.
Olivia Hotshot: Our meetings are roundtable style, so those in the theater seats please come down and join us at the table. Our magic expanding table will always have an empty seat, located closest to the ramp.
Olivia Hotshot: Our topic/theme today is Language Instruction in SL
Olivia Hotshot: This is a public meeting, so we do keep a transcript of what is said in local chat. For a copy of transcripts, please visit http://www.virtualworldsedu.info/slroundtable/
Olivia Hotshot: Special thanks to Iggy Onomatopoeia for taking care of this. If you've not seen the transcripts, you should check them out - they are a great information asset.
Olivia Hotshot: Some of our transcripts are now available transcribed into a sound file. You can find them in iTunes Podcasts by searching for VWER.
Olivia Hotshot: Thanks to Margaret Michalski and The University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Distant Medical Education for making this possible.
Olivia Hotshot: Information on FUTURE MEETINGS is available from the notecard giver on the West wall of the Amphitheater. We have an amazing lineup of meeting for you, with topics set (subject to change) between now and the beginning of January.
Olivia Hotshot: The SL Education Roundtable meeting happens each week and we are looking to develop a community of educators from around the world with a variety of thoughts, needs, and ideas.Â
Olivia Hotshot: The in-world group for the SL Education Roundtable can no longer be joined by new members. We are asking all new members to join the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable group.
Olivia Hotshot: We are also asking all existing members to leave the SL Education Roundtable group and join the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable group.
Olivia Hotshot: Look for our SL Education Roundtable group on Flickr and make sure to add your pictures there. Thanks to Olivia Hotshot for taking care of all that.
Olivia Hotshot: You can also find the new Virtual World Education Roundtable group on Facebook as well as being on Twitter as VWER.
Olivia Hotshot: Finally, if you have Mystitool on, or other similar tool, please put it to sleep or detach it for now. :-) It tends to lag things.
Olivia Hotshot: As a hint, it is better to have "local chat" open for these meetings, it will help you follow along better.
Olivia Hotshot: You can find local chat by clicking COMMUNICATE in the bottom navigation bar and you'll find LOCAL CHAT as one of the tabs at the bottom of the window
Olivia Hotshot: I'd also like to remind folks to come on down and join us around the table, there's always an open seat closest to the ramp.Â
Olivia Hotshot: Why don't we get started they way we usually do, by introducing ourselves. No need to wait, go ahead and type who you are, where you are, and your ties to education into local chat.Â
Olivia Hotshot: I am Ann Steckel, an educational technology consultant and educator from California State University, Chico.
Calisto Encinal: James Abraham, Spanish Faculty, Glendale Community College, AZ.
cyber Placebo: Edith Paillat
Ignatius Onomatopoeia is Joe Essid, Dept. of Rhetoric and Communication Studies. I'm the University of Richmond's Writing Center and Writing Across the Curriculum Director. I'm now teaching my fourth class with SL. I'm part of a design team building an immersive simulation of Poe's House of Usher, to launch in Spring 2010.
Lolly Dovgal: I'm Laura Sederberg, manager of the Technology and Learning Program at CSU Chico.
IzzyLander Karu: Joseph Doan, TAMUCC
Firery Broome: Faculty Support University of Delaware
Hattie Haystack: Gail Hanson Brenner, Clinical Instructor in Nursing, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Grinn Pidgeon: Dr. Barbara Pittman, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio. Faculty Development/Instructional technology/English teacher
cyber Placebo: language technologist Victoria University of Wellington
Kali Pizzaro: Evelyn McElhinney lecturer Glasgow Caledonian University - nursing
louise Portilo: I am Ulla Gudnason, a language teacher and tester at the Danish defence College. Copenhagen, Denmark
enzo Tungsten: Bill Stewart, curricula developer, ComputerLiteracyUSA.com
Wena Merlin: Rita Marriott (Wena Merlin) from the University of Birmingham
Jennette Forager: Janalee redmond, Washington, DC, SL Facilitator
Kali Pizzaro: come on down to the table
Dusty Artaud: Randi Kopp, Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum, on the campus of The College of New Jersey
Katarina Camino: Amy Wehner spanish instructor at the university of south florida, developing SL spanish program for our department
Aphilo Aarde: Scott MacLeod World University & School -open and free like Wikipedia with MIT Open Course Ware - http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/World_University
Olivia Hotshot: anyone else?
Zotarah Shepherd: I am a MA in Education (technology and psychology) student at Sonoma State University in northern California working on a curriculum project: Teaching and Learning Life-Skills in Second Life. Part of that is an Immersive Interactive Educational build about Life-skills on an educational sim called Ralanora. I also have a build for Multiple Intelligences.
Aphilo Aarde: WUaS is potentially in all languages, with translation between - Google WAVE, as it develops?
Griffin Hartle: James Taylor , English Dept UCLA
Olivia Hotshot: Last call.
Aphilo Aarde: http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Languages is the languages page, still in seed form
Olivia Hotshot: Excellent.
Lu Swansong: Luann Swanberg SL Project Coordinator at Ventura College - CA
Olivia Hotshot: Please let me begin by giving your all 3 presents.
Olivia Hotshot: 1. The Reaction grid Meeting for VWER is now set for Feb 8 at 2:30pm pacific time.
Olivia Hotshot: 2. there are 2 boxes on the end of the stairs, both the same. They have empty gift boxes, ribbons etc, and also today's notecard
Olivia Hotshot: 3. There is a very good chance that AJ, our fearless leader, might make an appearance at the end of this meeting.
Olivia Hotshot: Now to start the content part of the conversation.
Olivia Hotshot: If you look at the notecard you will find some valuable resources for translators in SL.
Zotarah Shepherd: I opened the gift box Olivia. Wow there is a lot in it. Thanks! Also the Notecard which most here will not be able to read since they cannot rez the box here to open it.
Olivia Hotshot: If you do not own one, i highly suggest getting one. The card will give you locations and prices.
Olivia Hotshot: hmmm
Olivia Hotshot: Kali, will give you a card if needed
Aphilo Aarde: (Here's an example of how language learning works in World University & School, and in Second Life - http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Courses#Language_Learning - free weekly class in German through the Goethe Institute, as well as 6 days a week languages get togethers).
Zotarah Shepherd: I can give out my copy if you like
Olivia Hotshot: One second Aphilo?
cyber Placebo: Y please
Aphilo Aarde: Certainly
Olivia Hotshot: First of all, is anyone here on the premise of this being about language in terms of english classes? Not second language learning?
Olivia Hotshot: anyone?
Hattie Haystack: Thanks Zo!
Olivia Hotshot: Ok, then will assume we are discussing 2nd language learning
Olivia Hotshot: 2 points and then the convo:
Olivia Hotshot: About 54% of Second Life members live in non-English speaking countries. Most speak widely used languages like German, French, and Spanish, but others speak languages such as Portuguese, Turkish, and Korean. Many also speak English, but often not well.
louise Portilo: for me english is the second language
Zotarah Shepherd: I think I got everyone.
Olivia Hotshot: Over a half dozen automatic language translating HUD’s are available in Second Life. Some of them are free. Each of them translates at least 32 languages. They only translate typed text at present – automatic translation of speech will be a major technical challenge – but they allow users to hold a basic conversation in a wide variety of languages.
Kali Pizzaro: Thanks Zo
Zotarah Shepherd: If not let me know
Zotarah Shepherd: You are all welcome.
Olivia Hotshot: anymore housekeeping?
Olivia Hotshot: ok here is the start:
Olivia Hotshot: How do we communicate with them when we meet them?
cyber Placebo: them=students?
Wena Merlin: Thanks Zotarah
Zotarah Shepherd: I have a simbolic translator that is free and seems to work well and easily.
Olivia Hotshot: Any person who does not speak your language.
Kali Pizzaro: they are very useful
Olivia Hotshot: do you avoid sims where your native language is not spoken?
Kali Pizzaro: no
Katarina Camino: if they don't speak one of the languages i speak we tend to use english, they like to practice i've been finding
cyber Placebo: people do definitely
Olivia Hotshot: How do you currently handle this?
Dusty Artaud: Ferd's works for us except with arabic speakers - I think their keyboards are different
Kali Pizzaro: translator
Grinn Pidgeon: I used to have a line in my profile that said I only speak English, assuming people read my profile.
cyber Placebo: love to practice english with other people
Katarina Camino: i almost always go to non english smis
cyber Placebo: or other languages actually preferable the one they feel most comfortable with
Olivia Hotshot: Good idea Grinn. I have a line that says i speak English, but i have a translator
Katarina Camino: i met a romanian once and we communicate in spanish almost exclusively, that is what he felt most comfortable communicating with me in since we had it in common
Grinn Pidgeon: Good idea, I took the line out because I thought some people might interpret it to mean they should go away
Olivia Hotshot: does anyone have an opinion about the translators?
Zotarah Shepherd: I only use my translator when I must since it otherwise spams the chat log.
Katarina Camino: i have found most of the free ones translate very literally
cyber Placebo: I don't think it is good for language instruction
Grinn Pidgeon: is it visible to those around you?
Katarina Camino: are there any out there that are phrase based?
Kali Pizzaro: i used a translator to talk to a norwegian person who i would not have been able to talk to otherwise
Olivia Hotshot: Zo, the notecard has a list of things to look for in translators, and one is no spam in chat.
Zotarah Shepherd: It would be nice to have one that does not show on the chat for everyone.
Dusty Artaud: we keep one at our gateway so new residents can use it right away
Kali Pizzaro: yes Zo
Zotarah Shepherd: Ok I will go shopping Thanks Olivia.
Calisto Encinal: For the most part, I wouldn't want my students to use one. I wouldn't hand them a translating device as they walked into my traditional classroom.
Olivia Hotshot: The card has locations and descriptions as well
cyber Placebo: @calisto same here
Katarina Camino: i agree
Kali Pizzaro: agree
Katarina Camino: they are inappropriate for the classroom
Calisto Encinal: I could see how this could be an activity, though. So they see how they work (for better and many times worse).
Olivia Hotshot: Really?
cyber Placebo: no way no translators
Olivia Hotshot: I like them for feedback to make sure i am somewhat close in saying what i want to be saying.
cyber Placebo: the whole point is immersion
Katarina Camino: i think the point of the class is to get them speaking or using the TL
Kali Pizzaro: if there is one in the room would that not be enough
cyber Placebo: not bilingualism
Katarina Camino: a translator ruins that
cyber Placebo: oop typo bilingualism
Kali Pizzaro: spelling is a problem with the translator haha
Olivia Hotshot: 28 people in the sim for the record
Kali Pizzaro: beat me to it
Katarina Camino: i don't allow use of online translators in my RL classes either
Olivia Hotshot: Examples of Translators
* Ferd's Free Translator (free)
* Simbolic (free)
* AF Translator Basic (aka Translator Box) (180 Lindens)
* AF Translator Pro (340 Lindens)
* MH Translator (370 Lindens)
* Q-Translator (390 Lindens)
* X-Lang (500 Lindens)
Katarina Camino: are any of these phrase based?
Katarina Camino: not just word based?
Wena Merlin: how do you "call" a translator? I've never used one.
Calisto Encinal: I think these could be used as a tool to take students to a higher level. They might learn about culture and some language, but the danger is that they don't make the effort to try to understand and just let the translator do all the work.
Kali Pizzaro: it is a hud
Zotarah Shepherd: I used to use Babbler which was a pain to use and it didn't translate correctly either sometimes.
Olivia Hotshot: Wena, you put in the language being used by the other person, and then the language you are speaking.
Kali Pizzaro: i use the simbolic translator
Olivia Hotshot: and it translates in chat
Kali Pizzaro: yes
Olivia Hotshot: i use simbolic too
Kali Pizzaro: find it easy
Katarina Camino: i spoke with an italian using a translator once and couldn't understand the translations at all
Wena Merlin: thanks. I'll investigate.
Olivia Hotshot: OK, then second question: We can and should learn foreign languages, but no one can learn them all. Is there another way?
Olivia Hotshot: IF we do not use the translators
cyber Placebo: that is a strange question Olivia
IzzyLander Karu: It is very difficult Olivia.
Katarina Camino: yes it is
IzzyLander Karu: I've tried to learn Italian & French
Wena Merlin: why would we want to learn them all?
Olivia Hotshot: strange?
Olivia Hotshot: how so.
Dusty Artaud: don't see how - Americans are mono-lingual not much facility even in 2nd language usually
cyber Placebo: is it rather should we bother learning other languages than English>
Aphilo Aarde: Thanks !
IzzyLander Karu: so i go to the Italian and French sims...
cyber Placebo: the whole point of SL
IzzyLander Karu: unfortunately, i was mostly ignored
cyber Placebo: is to be able to Tp to sims that are not English when learning a language
Katarina Camino: i think that is why lengua francas develop so that we can all have some basic conversations with each other
IzzyLander Karu: so, in my case, the translators were of tremendous help
cyber Placebo: @izzy did you speak one or the other language?
Aphilo Aarde: Just added the two free Second Life Translator's to the wiki World Univ & Sch here ; http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Educational_Software#Translation_Software_-_Virtual_Worlds
Olivia Hotshot: Thanks Aphilo.
Katarina Camino: i'm like izzy i spend a lot of time in spanish, french, swidsh and norweign sims
Katarina Camino: i use my language skills there
cyber Placebo: Calisto has created a sim that is for Spanish learners
cyber Placebo: and this is the whole point
cyber Placebo: of SL
Aphilo Aarde: YW - (This FREE educational software page is rich, and pretty cool, too).
cyber Placebo: immersive environment
Olivia Hotshot: Calisto, want to talk more about that? And Aphilo too?
Katarina Camino: i've gone to some german sims also, but we mostly communicate in english
cyber Placebo: @katarina
cyber Placebo: if you make a point that you want to speak German
Olivia Hotshot: I have met faculty who stay away from non-englih speaking sims because they did not know about the translators.
Katarina Camino: yes?
cyber Placebo: ppl will answer back in German
Olivia Hotshot: excellent, Cyber!
Katarina Camino: i know, i don't speak german though, they jsut ahve good islands
Calisto Encinal: Thanks Cyper! I just created an interactive Mexican village for a sabbatical last spring. Here's the final report: http://web.gccaz.edu/~jtabraha/sabbatical/abraham_sabbatical.pdf
Katarina Camino: but taht is what i do on the spanish and french islands
cyber Placebo: ahahahah @ Katarina no wonder they spoke to you in English then :-)
Calisto Encinal: It is for first year language students.
Zotarah Shepherd: When I find people who do not have a translator I tell them where they can get free ones.
Katarina Camino: however i think the whole point of sl is that you can isolate a language so that you can practice
Katarina Camino: that's why our students should come here
cyber Placebo: @katarina Yes!:-)
Olivia Hotshot: good comment!
Olivia Hotshot: so why do language instructors hate the translators so much?
Calisto Encinal: Because they do the work the students need to be doing.
Katarina Camino: if your goal is to really practice here, then they don't help you do that
Katarina Camino: they only get in the way
Olivia Hotshot: ahhhh
Calisto Encinal: They are often inaccurate.
Katarina Camino: extremely inaccurate
Olivia Hotshot: i have experiences that myself.
Olivia Hotshot: it is a bit like using spell check, isn't it?
Calisto Encinal: I don't think machines will be ready for human translation for awhile. It's just too complex.
Katarina Camino: since there are so many words that have multiple meanings there is no way a computer could know every single answer
Calisto Encinal: I've heard that the military is using a handheld device that is supposed to be pretty good. In Iraq and Afghanistan.
Katarina Camino: what would be better would be interactive SL language dictionaries
Kali Pizzaro: yeah i wonder if it is translating what i say
Olivia Hotshot: Key features to look for:
* Toggling between automatic language detection and a specified language.
* Toggling object translation on and off.
* Spell checker
* Anti-spam filter to block repeating statements when you speak in the target language.
* Displaying your current language settings
* If you are not a native English speaker, does it offer a HUD or help in your native language?
Kali Pizzaro: as i don't have a clue
Calisto Encinal: I wrote a script that goes to the google translate page.
cyber Placebo: @olivia, do not use translators!!!!!!!!
Olivia Hotshot: hehehe
Calisto Encinal: And opens the browser window in SL with the translation.
louise Portilo: yes but they only need very few words and dont want to learn iraqui
Zotarah Shepherd: I just want people to understand me enough to get what I am saying. If I need exact translation I would use something else or a native speaker.
Olivia Hotshot: Ok cyber! =)
Calisto Encinal: For simple one word definitions or translations.
cyber Placebo: :-)
Zotarah Shepherd: Using translators is better than not being understood at all.
Katarina Camino: that's where a dictionary or phrase book would be handy
Jennette Forager nods.
Olivia Hotshot: I just found it very interesting that 54% of SL does not consider English to be the first language.
Kali Pizzaro: agreed
Kali Pizzaro: oh
Katarina Camino: just like in RL
Calisto Encinal: Well, are we talking understanding or learning to communicate?
Calisto Encinal: I think we are talking apples and oranges.
cyber Placebo: @Zo yes but it depends what you are doing on Sl
Zotarah Shepherd: True
Olivia Hotshot: so communicating and learning are two separate things? the apples & oranges?
cyber Placebo: either you are learning a language in which case you don't use a translator
Kali Pizzaro: indeed
cyber Placebo: or you are there to communicate for other purpose in which case you use a translator
louise Portilo: for communicating superficially with the locals translators are good, not for truly learning, they might even de-motivate
Zotarah Shepherd: If I was teaching a class to people who didn't speak any English a translator would probably not work at all.
Katarina Camino: communicating and learning are more like yellow apples and red apples to me
Olivia Hotshot: =)
Jennette Forager: Always hard to force yourself to stop relying on a book or a tool and really stop thinking and learn a language
Katarina Camino: just different kins of the same thing
Vic Michalak: Basic understanding/communicating/getting the point across is different from grammatical fluency....
Grinn Pidgeon: how would you know if your students acquired a translator?
Olivia Hotshot: ooooh good question Grinn.
Katarina Camino: yeah but many native speakers don't have grammatical fluency
Vic Michalak: NO translator is even close to perfect --- easily detected....
Calisto Encinal: The mistakes that they would make would indicate that they were using a translatore.
IzzyLander Karu: even human translators aren't perfect, no?
cyber Placebo: yes same as plagiarism
Kali Pizzaro: yes but if only one person in the class did not speak the main language surely it would be better than nothing
cyber Placebo: easy to detect
Olivia Hotshot: As far as i know, none work in private chat, only public, so yes you would see it.
Katarina Camino: plus when they use on in SL it says "translator" or something in the chat box
cyber Placebo: unless the level is higher
Calisto Encinal: Like saying carne for meet...(it should be conocer)
Olivia Hotshot: but...
cyber Placebo: but even though
Wena Merlin: Sorry, I have to go. I'll catch up by reading the transcript later. See you all next time!
Olivia Hotshot: bye Wena!
Kali Pizzaro: bye
Vic Michalak: Translators are wonderful for communications, but a crutch for actually teaching/learning a language.... unless they are used as a tool for how the real language differs from the word-for-word translation....
IzzyLander Karu: Bye Wena
Olivia Hotshot: OK, then lets shift gears, can anyone speak about their teaching in sl in regard to language learning?
Calisto Encinal: I'm teaching online as well as in SL and it is very obvious when students use a translator.
Olivia Hotshot: And please continue to place links to resources in the chat for the transcripts.
cyber Placebo: http://slexperiments.pbworks.com/ wiki focussing on language learning
Katarina Camino: i'm new to teaching here and would very much like to know how you all view it and what your students think?
Olivia Hotshot: Aphilo, do you want to tell us abit about your experiences?
Calisto Encinal: I've been teaching Spanish in SL for a year. I kind of had to invent a new type of class. It was online, but synchronous because students had to meet me in SL. Our campus didn't know how to handle it.
cyber Placebo: with lots of nice people to meet :-)
Grinn Pidgeon: I'd like to know how to tell faculty how to find places where their language is spoken
Kali Pizzaro: How so Calista
Kali Pizzaro: calisto
Katarina Camino: @calisto, that is what i'm trying to develop for my school
Calisto Encinal: I used SL like I would use small group activities in class.
Kali Pizzaro: did you use voice
Olivia Hotshot: ohh good question!
cyber Placebo: @grinn start by going to the "international languages" (ahahah what a name) picnic area
Dusty Artaud: @ Grinn For newcomer communication beyond translators, I keep collection of notecards for where to go to speak or learn french, italian, german, japanese, Portuguese -- and to learn English, I send them to LanguageLab (but would like a place for english that is free)
Calisto Encinal: I meet with my students and we do the small group activities in voice.
Calisto Encinal: So this gives online students a sense of being and a chance to practice speaking.
cyber Placebo: you will find a lot of language links
cyber Placebo: on INFO island
Grinn Pidgeon: how did you find those places where French or Spanish is spoken?
Calisto Encinal: We also went on field trips. I gave them a web worksheet and some pre-reading, say for Palenque. Then we went to the Visit Mexico sim and experienced it.
Grinn Pidgeon: @cyber thx
Calisto Encinal: I think that is very powerful learning.
Kali Pizzaro: yes
Katarina Camino: @calisto did they have the same groups each time, or did you make them have different groups?
Calisto Encinal: SL can give a strong sense of place.
Vic Michalak: Grinn... like of like a Google search, put in the keyword as it would be in the language of choice --- do not type in "Sweden" but "Sverige"
Calisto Encinal: I mixed them up.
Calisto Encinal: One trick I learned.
Vic Michalak: Same goes for French or Spanish...
Calisto Encinal: using voice conferences....
Calisto Encinal: You can put two students in a conference (along with yourself). It will make a new tab in Communicate.
Vic Michalak: Then you can find where the language is spoken.... want a French dog -- search for "chien" not "dog"
Calisto Encinal: You can then jump between te tabs listening to the different groups.
cyber Placebo: @calisto this is a fabulous finding
Katarina Camino: i saw that in use when i observed a class at the instituto español in here
Aphilo Aarde: http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Master_Plan
Calisto Encinal: Just like walking around in a class listening to each group.
Olivia Hotshot: Excellent idea Calisto.
Calisto Encinal: So you can drop into their conversation and correct, encourage, whatever.
Calisto Encinal: Get some of your friends together and try it.
Calisto Encinal: It's like having break out rooms in Elluminate.
Kali Pizzaro: fab
Katarina Camino: that's really cool
Olivia Hotshot: Simple ideas that work. gotta love 'em.
Kali Pizzaro: yes
Calisto Encinal: My jaw dropped when I realized that.
Katarina Camino: my university set up small group stations that you can send groups to work in, they are more than 20 m apart so there is no interference
Vic Michalak: I have taught classes in SL for three years -- U.S., French, and Mexican students -- they use whatever language they want and there is usually someone there than can understand enough...
Olivia Hotshot: Has anyone tried using upper division students to mentor the younger ones?
Katarina Camino: then you can tp easily between areas to listen in
Grinn Pidgeon: @Vic great example
Calisto Encinal: That is good too, Katrina, but how do you listen in? You have to travel? With the conferences, everyone can be standing right next to each and not hear the other group.
Calisto Encinal: Okay, tp works, sorry katarina.
Katarina Camino: yeah that is the problem i had with that set up
Katarina Camino: i like the conference idea
Katarina Camino: is it limited to 3 people ina group?
Olivia Hotshot: The small group conference call is a great ida for many curriculum areas.
cyber Placebo: @vic where they exchanges ?
Calisto Encinal: I think the students enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of SL. My com colleaguesays her students discuss much more openly when in SL.
Grinn Pidgeon: @Calisto its like a backchannel
cyber Placebo: @calisto you might be interested in the Sky tables
Jennette Forager waves at AJ.
Calisto Encinal: I've got a set of Pokey's pods.
AJ Brooks waves back
Vic Michalak: cyber, sorry... exchanges?
Calisto Encinal: I think it is the same.
Olivia Hotshot: Hey look who is here.
Olivia Hotshot: =)
Kali Pizzaro: hello hansome
Calisto Encinal: Poinky's Pods.
Kali Pizzaro: handsome
cyber Placebo: check the Sl experiments wiki
AJ Brooks: Hi Olivia, Kali - hello all
Jennette Forager: Poinky's Pods are so fun to use.
Olivia Hotshot: For anyone who does not know, this is AJ Brooks who is our leader for SLER and VWER.
cyber Placebo: @vic exchanges between mexican, French and US?
Calisto Encinal: Hola AJ!
Kali Pizzaro: Kali bows
Vic Michalak: See... everyone here can understand SLese pretty much! :)
Jennette Forager: ha!
louise Portilo: Poinkys pods?
Olivia Hotshot: too funny Vic
Jennette Forager: they are like break-out tools...
Jennette Forager: you seat a group and then press a button and whoosh!
Calisto Encinal: It was a little awkward when I crashed a few times in the middle of class.
Olivia Hotshot: (please do not throw tomatoes) Where can you get these translators?
* X-Lang: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Olexandrovich/214/17/601
* Q-Translator: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shipwreck%20Bay/239/234/24
* MH Translator: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Donohue/133/245/1030
* AF Translators (Pro and Basic): http://slurl.com/secondlife/Milaniovic/18/136/57
* Simbolic: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cupo/105/120/36
* Ferd's Free: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phaze%20Demesnes/218/209/24
Kali Pizzaro: interesting
Jennette Forager: they separate far enough so that chat is not overheard
Calisto Encinal: But the students know to just hang around until I get back.
Vic Michalak: cyber... yes, mostly building and scripting classes, but also culture.... the students managed well, but the schools were pretty multi-cultural.... the website I used for one class has comments in English and in French... pretty interesting...
cyber Placebo: @ calisto do you teach distance?
Calisto Encinal: Yes, online, SL and f2f.
cyber Placebo: @vic do you share the link to your website :-)
Calisto Encinal: I had students stay after class for an hour asking questions.
Aphilo Aarde: Please add free translators to WUaS - http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Educational_Software#Translation_Software_-_Virtual_Worlds - WUaS is like wikipedia
Jennette Forager: Free from Terra incognita resource centre
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Terra%20incognita/184/83/30
Vic Michalak: Okay... let me find it... not too pretty... more functional...
cyber Placebo: @Calisto when you are f2f do you also use SL?
Jennette Forager: (poinky's Pods link ^)
Calisto Encinal: When does that happen f2f? They were engaged and comfortable and just wanted to learn.
Olivia Hotshot: Excellent additions, please post into chat any more resources you may have.
Calisto Encinal: No, I haven't used SL in my f2f yet.
Calisto Encinal: I may though.
cyber Placebo: @ calisto do you consider?
Calisto Encinal: I know Flora Almendros at Penn State uses SL in her f2f classes.
Calisto Encinal: It is like a lab session for them.
Calisto Encinal: Every Friday they go in.
cyber Placebo: people might also be interested in hearing about Virtlantis where ppl exchange languages conv
Katarina Camino: I've used SL in my f2f
Calisto Encinal: How did it go, Katrina?
Katarina Camino: it was interesting
Katarina Camino: you have to plan pretty well
cyber Placebo: al your students had an individual avatar?
Katarina Camino: i just posted it up on the projector and we went and explored some of the spanish landmarks
Katarina Camino: i gave them some fun facts about different cities and then we went and saw the items
cyber Placebo: @katrina this is the best situation for LL
cyber Placebo: and LL
Katarina Camino: like the statue of chris colombus in barcelong
cyber Placebo: LL in SL
Calisto Encinal: Great idea. Did any of the students want to get into SL themselves?
Katarina Camino: yeah i know, but i haven't been able to do that in my class yet
Katarina Camino: i now have 7 students in SL
Katarina Camino: and we hang out sometimes and speak in spanish
cyber Placebo: all distance?
Katarina Camino: next semester i'm implementing it more in my classroom
Katarina Camino: they don't have any of this developed at my school yet
Katarina Camino: and i'm trying to start it
Vic Michalak: cyber... for example, see http://www.slvirtualed.net/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31 and http://www.slvirtualed.net/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8 from the same international team....
Jennette Forager: Sharing the screen is a great way to use SL...
Jennette Forager: and intro it to people.
Katarina Camino: i had a friend of mine from SL come on and my students interviewed him through sl
cyber Placebo: @vic international school with int"l students
Jennette Forager: Yes, exactly.
Olivia Hotshot: Well, folks, we are almost through with this meeting. I would like to turn the floor over to AJ now.
AJ Brooks: Hi everyone
AJ Brooks: its great GREAT to be back
Aphilo Aarde: Hi AJ
AJ Brooks: I have missed these meetings
Olivia Hotshot: =)
cyber Placebo: @katarina fabulous
Jennette Forager: So they get the feel of it, interaction even, before they are in-world.
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi AJ!
Calisto Encinal: That is a cool idea, Katrina. I found a native speaker that wanted to do intercambios. My students had to make contact with her in SL and arrange to meet her.
AJ Brooks: and I'm thrilled to say that I'll be back next semester
Olivia Hotshot: we are doubly thrilled.
Calisto Encinal: I've also tp Spanish speaking friends into class and le the students ask them questions.
Jennette Forager: I find it often motivates people to get through the early days.
cyber Placebo: How about building a language learning centre
AJ Brooks: I wanted to remind everyone about our Logo Design Competition
cyber Placebo: with holodecks
AJ Brooks: which is ongoing
AJ Brooks: you can find information at
cyber Placebo: where students can from different unis can meet?
Vic Michalak: @cyber.... University courses in U.S. and France, both for credit, with co-instructors, and sometimes bringing in students from Mexico from another university...
AJ Brooks: http://vwerlogodesign.wikispaces.com
cyber Placebo: (that is my plan) if anyone is interested let me know
Grinn Pidgeon: This is going to be a valuable transcript--don't screw it up, I mean can't wait to see it :)
AJ Brooks: also
AJ Brooks: we have a BIG name change coming up in a few weeks
AJ Brooks: after our holiday party on the 29th
Jennette Forager: It's exciting, AJ.
AJ Brooks: we will no longer be called the SLER
Olivia Hotshot chuckles at Grinn.
AJ Brooks: we will become the VWER - or Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable
cyber Placebo: @vic this is very interesting who is the French counterpart?
AJ Brooks: our first meeting is going to be amazing
Calisto Encinal: What are some other strong language groups in SL?
Grinn Pidgeon: what would be the international pronunciation of VWER?
AJ Brooks: Intellagirl will be here
AJ Brooks: Fleep
Olivia Hotshot: REMINDER FOR CALENDARS: Reaction Grid Meeting Feb 8 at 2:30 pacific time.
AJ Brooks: Wainbrave
AJ Brooks: Daniel Livingstone
Kali Pizzaro: woop woop
AJ Brooks: its going to be amazing
Olivia Hotshot: VWER = viewer
AJ Brooks: a repeat of our first meeting last year
Calisto Encinal: SLexperiments Language Teachers is very good.
Zotarah Shepherd: Will be nice to see them again
Birdie Newcomb: w00t
cyber Placebo: http://slexperiments.pbworks.com/SL-Free-Objects
Jennette Forager: Nice!
AJ Brooks: we're also visiting different virtual worlds
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: and For Metaplace....Jan 11 with Mimi Muircastle
AJ Brooks: we did Heritage Key in November and will be going back
AJ Brooks: 1/11 is Metaplace
Olivia Hotshot: Iggy do you have the time?
AJ Brooks: and ReactionGrid in February
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I think it's 2pm SLT but I need to check.
cyber Placebo: hae we finished the discussion?
Zotarah Shepherd: I have a AV on Reaction Grid and have explored there a bit.
AJ Brooks: Another BIG announcement - and you are hearing it here first
Kali Pizzaro: drum roll
Calisto Encinal: lol
AJ Brooks: Along with our special first of the month meetings
Ignatius Onomatopoeia beats on drum....
AJ Brooks: every THIRD week of the month
Olivia Hotshot: I believe we will now end the meeting. Next week - meeting Management & Event Facilitation Tools with AJ
Jennette Forager: ^^?
Kali Pizzaro: here it comes
AJ Brooks: what did we call it again?
Olivia Hotshot: Reading Meeting
Kali Pizzaro: haha
AJ Brooks: The Reading Meeting
AJ Brooks: lol
Olivia Hotshot: heh
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: yep
AJ Brooks: I wanted to get it right
Kali Pizzaro: slaps AJ
AJ Brooks: So - we'll be sending out info on a n article to read
Kali Pizzaro: ;-p
AJ Brooks: a few weeks before
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: a short one :)
AJ Brooks: and then we'll all talk about that article as the basis for the meeting
AJ Brooks: yes -a short article
AJ Brooks: :-)
AJ Brooks: and scholarly
Zotarah Shepherd: Reading Meeting hmmm
AJ Brooks: opps
Jennette Forager: Article Club?
AJ Brooks: kinda - like that
Zotarah Shepherd: I like that idea AJ
Kali Pizzaro: fab
Grinn Pidgeon: seminar?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: SLeminar?
AJ Brooks: - one other note
hobbs Constantine: good idea folks
Kali Pizzaro: it was olivias
Zotarah Shepherd: hehe
AJ Brooks: Brian Fishman will be my special guest on the 9th of February
Kali Pizzaro: hehe
Olivia Hotshot: One of the group needs is for individuals to gather ammunition to bring back to colleagues and admins - so we want to build scholarly resources to use.
AJ Brooks: he is part of the President's National Educational Technology Plan group
AJ Brooks: we may have others from that group also
Jennette Forager nods.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: phenom
AJ Brooks: he'll be my special guest - for a one hour interview and Q*A
Zotarah Shepherd: It would be nice to get the authors of papers here to talk about their articles.
AJ Brooks: so in Feb, our first of the month will really be the 2nd _ LOL
AJ Brooks: anyway - that all the good news for now
Jennette Forager: thanks, all.
Zotarah Shepherd: What are the topics of the articles generally AJ?
Jennette Forager: And Olivia, and Iggy.
AJ Brooks: be sure to join us on Facebook, as well as our group here in world - the VIIRTUAL WORLDS EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE group
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Happy Holidays, y'all...thanks Jennette
Olivia Hotshot: Zo, we are in the process of choosing them now.
Kali Pizzaro: teaching and learning in Sl
Aphilo Aarde: If you teach a free language class in Second Life, please add the link and info to World Uni & Sch - http://worlduniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Courses#Language_Learning
hobbs Constantine: can we get a holiday party update? I've been a little out of it
Olivia Hotshot: Thank you so much Aphilo & Calisto.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: we'll have the transcript w/ live links by Sunday night
AJ Brooks: And don't miss our Holiday party on the 29th
Zotarah Shepherd makes a wish for Articles I can use in my Thesis. hehe
Olivia Hotshot: HOLIDAY PARTY: Dec 29. I still need helpers.
Calisto Encinal: Thank you, Olivia...great discussion!
cyber Placebo: Will do Aphilo I am keeping you rlink
AJ Brooks: Olivia is hard at work to bring this about
Aphilo Aarde: Thank you, Olivia! Bye everyone for now
Olivia Hotshot: Bye everyone! =)
AJ Brooks: The building is going on as we speak - right here behind the amphitheater
Kali Pizzaro: cheers Aphilo
cyber Placebo: Calisto nice to see you here
AJ Brooks: things will take place all around and inside
Calisto Encinal: You, too, cyber!
Calisto Encinal: Happy holidays!
Kali Pizzaro: dito
cyber Placebo: Feliz navidad
cyber Placebo: joyeux noel
AJ Brooks: boa natal
louise Portilo: god jul
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Happy Solstice
cyber Placebo: guten Wienachtnen
Olivia Hotshot: =)
Olivia Hotshot: love it.
cyber Placebo: i lige molle
Vic Michalak: y novom godom
Calisto Encinal: Merry Festivus?
hobbs Constantine: happy christmas (British)
IzzyLander Karu: lol Calisto
louise Portilo: tak, cyber
cyber Placebo: hehehe
IzzyLander Karu: Mung Giang Sinh
cyber Placebo: naa men du er dansker?
AJ Brooks: Festivus for the rest-of-us