Transcript of the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable Aug. 10, 2010
Topic: "Back to School! What do we need to know as the school year starts?"
Advice to New Educators in SL:
Links of Interest:
Photos by Hobbs Constantine. Join our VWER group at Flickr and add your own pictures!
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Hi everyone, and welcome to our weekly Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable meeting.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: If you are sitting in the amphitheater seats, we ask you to come down and join us around the roundtable. There is always an empty seat closest to the ramp.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Our meetings are made possible by the Office of Information Technology at Montclair State University. We meet here each week at 2:30 pm SLT for an hour.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: The Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable is a forum to educate and inform the community about issues that are important and relevant to education.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Our topic today is "Back to School! What do we need to know as the school year starts?" and it will be in TEXT CHAT only
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: The views and opinions of any of our special guests or visitors do not necessarily represent those who volunteer or organize these meetings,
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: or of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Office of Information Technology , or Montclair State University.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: 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.vwer.org
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Some of our transcripts are now available transcribed into a sound file. You can find them in iTunes Podcasts by searching for VWER.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: The Virtual Worlds 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.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Please join the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable group here in SL. You can also find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Flicker, and KoinUp, as well as on Twitter as VWER.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: 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.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'm Iggy, the scribe for this group, and I'm hosting today for AJ Brooks. If you've not seen the transcripts I run, you should check them out - they are a great information asset.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: 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.
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've taught four courses with SL. I'm part of a design team building an immersive simulation of Poe's House of Usher. This simulation debuted in the 2009-2010 academic year.
Kali Pizzaro: Evelyn McElhinney Glasgow Caledonian University Nurse Lecturer
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Hi JC..we are just doing intros
Zotarah Shepherd: I am a MA in Education (technology & psychology) student at Sonoma State University in northern California working on a Thesis curriculum project: Teaching and Learning Life Foundation Skills in Second Life on my sim Ralanora.
Delenn Daines: Judy Kelly, Biology Dept, Henry Ford Community College
Robin Mochi: Robin Ashford, Librarian and adjunct instructor for SOE at George Fox University
hobbs Constantine: is Heather Dodds, Course Mentor for Natural Sciences at Western Governors University, also is working on PhD in Instructional Design for Online Learning at Capella University
Marcia Kjeller: Marcia Kloepper, Auburn University, IT Specialist
Lim Portal: John Walsh, educator in Vancouver.
Robin Mochi: oh, Portland, Oregon USA
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Rosanna Brown, Lassen Community College Library, Susanville (northeastern), California, rbrown@lassencollege.edu, @RbrownLassen. In world, call me Loce.
JeanClaude Vollmar: Hello everyone. I'm Jeff Le Blanc from the University of Northwestern Ohio. I'm the VP for IT there.
Karlene Voom: Hi I am Karlene Molina , NETDREAMERZ, a virtual presence designer working with not for profits and education
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: anyone else?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia saves up an AJ Brooks line
JeanClaude Vollmar: Just in time. :D
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: going once
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: twice
Trudy Takacs: Trudy Takacs, my own e-publishing consulting & the coordinator of the NY-CT Talent for Growth job training programs for SLams in SL
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: yay!
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Sold to Trudy and those partiers in Boston
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: at SLCC
Trudy Takacs: ha
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: well, we have a small group but we'll generate some good ideas
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: This topic is a cool one for me, and I've written a few
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: questions to guide us
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: First off, How many of you will be teaching with SL this next term? How many supporting a teacher?
Kali Pizzaro: have a seat Jimmie
Kali Pizzaro: teaching
JeanClaude Vollmar: I support teaching
Kali Pizzaro: maybe supporting too
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: support teaching (teaching w/ SL in Spring 2011)
Karlene Voom: both
Jimmie Veeper: I'll be using TSl again for the 2nd year.
Trudy Takacs: Plans are that I will be - supporting and maybe teaching
hobbs Constantine: wishing, and hoping, and dreaming
Robin Mochi: supporting a teacher and newbs this term and teaching a course spring 2011
Lim Portal: No specific role yet.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: good range here...we'll get some good advice I'm sure
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I sure wish I'd come to these sorts of meetings
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: before my first class in SL in Spring 2007
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: So that's where I'll start
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: My first question is some advice for teachers bringing a class into SL for the first time. Everyone name one thing they should know. Just state the first thing that comes into your mind.
Trudy Takacs: technology!
hobbs Constantine: Don't be afraid of naked people
Kali Pizzaro: how to work the viewer they are using
Trudy Takacs: IT barriers that is
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: LOL hobbs
Robin Mochi: don't overwhelm your students - take it slow in the beginning
Karlene Voom: get a headset for voice
JeanClaude Vollmar: technology, laptops that is.
Jimmie Veeper: security
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'd tell them "don't just say 'go explore.' Have a guided experience that takes it slowly.
Robin Mochi: yes, headset for voice
Kali Pizzaro: ensure you have good instructions to give the students
Trudy Takacs: oh yes
Trudy Takacs: expectations need to be set properly
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Let me ask a few follow ups
Robin Mochi: offer lots of help...help as needed - one-on-one help was critical for my older graduate students
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: JeanClaude, do you mean be prepared to use SL on a laptop?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Hi Sheila, come join us
Kali Pizzaro: in lab practice if you can do it before distance learning
Sheila Yoshikawa: just waiting for things to rez ;-)
JeanClaude Vollmar: Yes! So many students bring laptops but need help installing and configuring SL for use with mics and speakers.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: And Jimmie, elaborate on what you mean why security. What are some key things for new teachers to know?
Robin Mochi: my students are all at a distance...I never see them f2f
Robin Mochi: hi sheila :)
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: *what you mean by security
Zotarah Shepherd: Appeal to students interests and teach something about life skills that they can use immediately.
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Have a basic project for first-timers. That way they can have a positive experience right away.
Kali Pizzaro: so you do a session in -world, yes?
Kali Pizzaro: Robin
Kali Pizzaro: have a sound pedagogy
Robin Mochi: all my sessions are inworld and students have asynchronous assignment during the week as well
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @JC--I like meeting them with the tech they have, in person, one-on-one to walk them through the download, avatar creation, first hour
Jimmie Veeper: When we were having a group discussion of invited guests on Sparta Island, in TSL, I asked an estate manager to monitor the crowd, 15-20, for disruptions.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Lo, my last class discovered that traveling in pairs or trios made it much less intimidating to be a noob
Kali Pizzaro: our area is private, invitation only
Trudy Takacs: yes and team teaching is good
Robin Mochi: yes, I provide written instructions via a wiki and then one-on-one if needed after they have gone through the orientations and a couple other things
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: So I'm hearing this:
Trudy Takacs: I've been in the lab while another has met them in world, very helpful
hobbs Constantine: Agrees with Iggy that traveling in groups is good
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: to recap: have a plan, think of pedagogy first, consider student tech abilities and hardware
Jimmie Veeper: Sort of like educational bouncers.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I heard have a guided experience for noobies, understand security needs in world
Kali Pizzaro: i also make them use their uni email for their student av and if they want one to go party create an alt
Kali Pizzaro: students
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Kali--good point
JeanClaude Vollmar: Yes, Windows defaults in the SL viewer aren't ever "right" for mic/headsets.
hobbs Constantine: what if they already had an account Kali?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I have mine sign a waiver that shows they understand what they might see here
Trudy Takacs: yes, we print out the community standards and go over it and have them sign a hard copy
Kali Pizzaro: i dont want to know if they are on every minute of the day if they are using it a s asocial networking tool
Karlene Voom: yes business and recreation avatars is important concept we always recommend
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: but my undergrads would *never* party here...their weekends are already "avatarian" on Frat Row
Jimmie Veeper: Does anyone use an AUP and have students/parents (TSL) sign it?
Kali Pizzaro: ha
Kali Pizzaro: aup?
Kali Pizzaro: Jimmie
Trudy Takacs: AUP?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: good point, Jimmie--what's an AUP?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: aha--for minors b/c you are using Teen SL
Kali Pizzaro: my students are all professional Rns and mature students
Jimmie Veeper: acceptable use policy
Trudy Takacs: We belong to Skoolaborate, which has the procedure in place
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: For US educators, there may be FERPA issues for adult students.
Delenn Daines: Ferpa?
Sheila Yoshikawa: they already sign an acceptable use policy for general use of the web/networks
Kali Pizzaro: ah i have a netiquette
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: If a student's parent gets upset about using SL, I may not be able to give specifics unless
Kali Pizzaro: and they can be struck off if they misbehave so......
Sheila Yoshikawa: I think that those acceptable use policies already cover the important things
Kali Pizzaro: yes Sheila
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: the student has signed the FERPA (Federal Education Records Privacy Act) form
Kali Pizzaro: whether it is on campus or online
Trudy Takacs: oh
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I had two concerned parents last year
Trudy Takacs: good idea
Jimmie Veeper: General use is being questioned now with the reality of virtual worlds.
Romane Levee: This topic is my interest.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: These parents had seen "The Office" episode and thought SL was all losers and pervs
Delenn Daines: how would a faculty member know if a student has signed ferpa?
Kali Pizzaro: that is the point of my alt what they do with the alt is at their own risk
Jimmie Veeper: Specifics are being asked for by educators, I hear, for protection, and for an added awareness for students.
Robin Mochi: iggy, what do you say to concerned parents? I have older students but just wondering
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I show them my very funny waiver
Kali Pizzaro: when they are using their students ava then act like you would if you where on campus
Jimmie Veeper: Less than 18 are minors.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: and explain that in my experience, no students have had any interest in the adult content of SL
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I add "they think it's lame"
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: never failed me yet
Robin Mochi: LOL
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: We have students younger than 18.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Lo, that is very different
Jimmie Veeper: The blurring of HS and higher education are exposing students below 18 to situations that are less clear.
Romane Levee: Your students are not interested in vampires and sex?
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: The standard is they can attend if they can benefit.
Romane Levee: Hello!!
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Romane, not in SL :)
Robin Mochi: LoC, so you are on teen SL then, correct?
Delenn Daines: What I have done with students under 18 is to assign thme to watch specific youtube videos and write about them
Kali Pizzaro: hey blueskies join us at the table
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: would be safer here than what I hear about RL weekends
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: If they can benefit, we assume they can handle adult material.
Jimmie Veeper: Yes, TSL.
Jimmie Veeper: @ Delenn: why?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: this leads pretty nicely to my second Q
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: What is the biggest mistake a first-time teacher can make? Again, just name the first one that comes to you.
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: No, on regular SL. This is a community college, 1st 2 years of college, in theory.
Delenn Daines: because I have some dual enrolled high school students in my college classes
Trudy Takacs: make the expectations that it is a cool game
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: make the expectation that VWs are "the next big thing"
Robin Mochi: assuming students are understanding what you are talking about in the beginning was my big mistake first time teaching in here
Jimmie Veeper: That RL classroom dynamics is true for VW.
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Mistake? Ignoring Murphy's Law.
Sheila Yoshikawa: come inworld and just do a powerpoint?
Kali Pizzaro: not knowing how to use SL
JeanClaude Vollmar: The assignments have to be contextually appropriate otherwise students just don't get it.
Kali Pizzaro: and then can not troubleshoot
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: wow--good bullet list of points already
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: any other big mistakes?
Kali Pizzaro: not having something for the students to do that they can see value in
Romane Levee: Is someone writing all this down?
Trudy Takacs: maybe rush too much and not let them bond with their avatar, have alone time
Kali Pizzaro: same as in class
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I am, Romane, for the transcript
Jimmie Veeper: Using a VW, SL, for something that can be done FtF.
hobbs Constantine: (transcript keeps all!)
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I think I made the mistake of overestimating my students' tech skills
Kali Pizzaro: yep that happens with me in every online class haha
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: beyond Facebook, 90% are really not very good with tech or careful, though most all of them learn fast
Robin Mochi: good one, Trudy, that is very important IMO as well...they need time like that in the beginning
Kali Pizzaro: 16 on the sim for the transcript
Sheila Yoshikawa: not trying things out with an alt or someone else
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Jimmie--good point. I found that students most liked being able to IM me when they were in world with a Q. But if they needed extended help, they had to come in person to see me.
Trudy Takacs: some good advice I got for the young ones, just allow the first 30 minutes for them to go crazy the first couple of sessions, they then settle down and ready to do something
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Sheila, could you elaborate for those who've not taught with SL or supported it with a class?
Kali Pizzaro: yeah do a wee getting to know your avatar - socialisation
Sheila Yoshikawa: i think it isn't just the young ones
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: What are some examples of why you'd use your ALT ?
Trudy Takacs: @Shiela, true
Jimmie Veeper: @ Trudy. I agree, that's called play.
Trudy Takacs: There is so much at first-- reminds me of another one
Sheila Yoshikawa: testing out that things give notecards, that you can copy or buy, or whatever you want the students to do (re alt)
Trudy Takacs: don't take them in world until you your intro done, once they are here, you've lost them!
Jimmie Veeper: @ Iggy - my general rule is that if it can be done FtF do not use computer technology to communicate.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: thanks. We used ALTs to check builds too
Kali Pizzaro: i do a ok now walk to this end of the room, ok now find john in your firiends and teleport him etc
Sheila Yoshikawa: or in one case i didn't try something out with several people simultaneously and didn't realise it wouldn't work with more than a couple of people trying to do it at once
Kali Pizzaro: before starting teaching
Kali Pizzaro: good point Sheila
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Jimmie, it's been a constant since the early 90s to put pedagogy ahead of tech...I just wish more folks got that message
Kali Pizzaro: I know i have mentioned this before but make sure your student does not mute you ;-)
Sheila Yoshikawa: lol
Trudy Takacs: ha
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: LOL
Sheila Yoshikawa: has that happened to you?
Sheila Yoshikawa: was it deliberate?
Kali Pizzaro: yes i think it was a mistake
Kali Pizzaro: hehe
Karlene Voom: lol well if they mute an object.. you created.. it will mute you
Kali Pizzaro: they then could not open any note cards etc
Kali Pizzaro: indeed
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I have had studets log out and get stuck in a sim that left the grid
Kali Pizzaro: Karlene i found that out the hard way,
Trudy Takacs: wow!
Robin Mochi: After my older students create their accounts I have them attend another orientation for at least another hour to learn and practice the basics...then I reinforce some of those on my skydeck with posters and we spend the whole first group class going over some of the most important as a group...like camera controls, etc.
Sheila Yoshikawa: i got stuck in SL for the first time earlier in the week
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: that was the worst...they used to get stuck in limbo
Jimmie Veeper whispers: How does everyone handle a group discussion with 6-10 students?
Sheila Yoshikawa: my alt came and looked at me - weird
Trudy Takacs: yes, count on Murphey's Law - I had an entire class get ejected off the sim, new class
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Jimme, like this--get them to surf the local chat window
JeanClaude Vollmar: @Sheila - LOL
Kali Pizzaro: i gave up Jimmie
Kali Pizzaro: group chat did not work so often
Karlene Voom: always good idea to have alt handy.. it can ask them.. can everyone here so and so...
Jimmie Veeper: How using voice for the moderator and chat for students?
Kali Pizzaro: yeah i have done that
Kali Pizzaro: Jimmie
Sheila Yoshikawa: i usually have them working in smaller groups unless they are sharing something specific so it is obvious who should be taking the lead
Karlene Voom: for group voice, recommend push to talk mode
Kali Pizzaro: we are also creating a induction which they need to go through to collect documents for the module
Kali Pizzaro: teachers and students
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: these are good bits of advice. They could apply to any SL-style VW
Kali Pizzaro: slightly different for both
Delenn Daines: I have used a group conference phone number to talk to them and they to me,
Kali Pizzaro: mmm interesting
Kali Pizzaro: DEL
Delenn Daines: while we are on al
Robin Mochi: I only allow one student to use voice at a time and others can talk via chat until the one is done...had too many feedback problems
Kali Pizzaro: good point Robin
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'll ask a Q in a moment about OpenSim worlds--who has experience there?
Kali Pizzaro: they new hover and turn up the avatar voice is good
Trudy Takacs: not I but started to explore soon
Romane Levee: I have promises....
Kali Pizzaro: to increase voice in individual avatars
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'm learning--3RG and Reaction Grid mostly
Robin Mochi: Worked with a class in World of Warcraft and SL at the same time and used ventrilo for voice which was awesome
Trudy Takacs: and, what do you think?
Karlene Voom: yes expecting to explore that in not to distant future... open sim
Trudy Takacs: I have a ? about Reaction Grid please
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Any advice for those using these other worlds?
Delenn Daines: ive visited 3RG and blue mars
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: ok Trudy, what's the Q?
Trudy Takacs: my question about Reaction grid being PG
Kali Pizzaro: we have an opensim but it is in the early stages
Robin Mochi: yes, tried reaction grid and something else
Trudy Takacs: how do they screen that, it isn't as strict as SL is it?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: In theory it is, but I saw Mature regions once on the map
Kali Pizzaro: tried Heritage key
Trudy Takacs: Is there any screening?
Robin Mochi: yes, heritage key too
Kali Pizzaro: woop VIv
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Trudy, don't know
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Viv's here? woo hoo
Trudy Takacs: I didn't have anything when I went in about a 6-8 months ago
Kali Pizzaro: no just woop
Kali Pizzaro: haha
Marcia Kjeller: talk of other VW has me worried. Is there a movement to leave SL behind?
Trudy Takacs: I would want the screening with the under 18
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I found out about OS worlds just to expect slower performance and more crashes for now
Kali Pizzaro: i can not keep up with one never mind others
Trudy Takacs: at least a little something
Marcia Kjeller: we met and meet in SL. gonna get confusing :)
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Marcia...I worry that SL will fold. Linden Lab has not been as supportive of educators lately
Trudy Takacs: @Marcia, I hope not
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: but don't worry--we'll keep meeting here
Trudy Takacs: @Ignatius, I am very worried, I can't believe all the education sims now gone
Marcia Kjeller: then we educators need to stick together and make a very loud noise :) wont happen if we migrate to other VW
Jimmie Veeper: If you're going to SLCC Philip will be doing a keynote address.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I like the freedom to build in other grids, and the ability to back up my content off-world
Trudy Takacs: yes!
Romane Levee: What has disappeared?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Princeton is gone, period
Kali Pizzaro: so there is still lots of good education going on
Romane Levee: Princeton?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Virtual Harlem is scaling back
Trudy Takacs: a lot of cut backs
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: UT system is continuing, however
hobbs Constantine: I think there are plenty of educators to come and plenty of VWs to go around
Marcia Kjeller: if this info "gets out" IMHO many institutions will follow
Romane Levee: UT = Univ of Texas?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: So my idea is to do my next build on a grid w/ backup and the ability to export to OTHER OpenSim grids
Marcia Kjeller: so we have to promote, promote and showcase
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Romane--yes. 15 campuses with multiple islands
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'll get you a SLURL
Romane Levee: good grief.
Marcia Kjeller: UT only had funds for one year
Trudy Takacs: @Ignatius, yes, it's a new project for UT, I'm very eager to see how it goes
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: But Marcia, we had a speaker form UT here
Romane Levee: Is Georgia Tech on SL?
Marcia Kjeller: that was known when it showcased
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: and most campuses renewed on their own
Kali Pizzaro: hey i am am inviting Becca over she is new to SL education but
Marcia Kjeller: yes. Ogee Bluewave, correct?
Zotarah Shepherd: If I cannot pay tier this month I will lose my sim and would probably go to Reaction Grid or Grand Central Grid.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: this link it to the Teleporter to their campuses http://slurl.com/secondlife/UTD%20SOM/138/78/22
Lim Portal: Anyone have experience with Active Worlds?
Kali Pizzaro: can we welcome her
Trudy Takacs: Well, I'm hopeful that 'fast, easy' works - we've had so many barriers to getting students here
Trudy Takacs: we tried Active Worlds, seems so stiff compared to here
Trudy Takacs: but I prefer here and just want it to work
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: For Now, OpenSim is not fast or easy.
Lim Portal: Nasa/NIA has designed a very interesting national science competition for high school students in Active Worlds.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: but neither was SL in 2007
Trudy Takacs: yes and that is the problem with me
Trudy Takacs: how do I say, OK, here is SL viewer for our build but the under 18s here is a totally different viewer
Trudy Takacs: crazy
Robin Mochi: @Lim I checked out active worlds once a couple of years ago
Trudy Takacs: the hippo thing drives me mad
Kali Pizzaro: HI Becca
Trudy Takacs: I'm sorry, I have to leave.
Romane Levee: It seems to me that trying to use SL with traditional pedagogy is like trying to put new wine into old wine skins.
Trudy Takacs: thank you all for the discussion
Kali Pizzaro: hI this is Becca she is new to SL
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Trudy, don't send them to SL. Go to a grid like Reaction Grid
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: they permit minors
Lim Portal: @Robin. Impressions of Active Worlds?
Trudy Takacs: here's to many good announcements coming out of the conference!
Kali Pizzaro: but an experienced educator and Nurse
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Hi, Becca.
Kali Pizzaro: Have a seat Becca
Karlene Voom: hi Becca
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: thanks, Trudy. Look for the transcript by next week
Romane Levee: We need new approaches for using SL in instruction. My particular interest is in technical
hobbs Constantine: Hello Becca
Kali Pizzaro: next to the guy in the hat
Trudy Takacs: @Ignatius - yes, we belong to Skoolaborate - but if we look at costs for next year and the PG thing. . .
Trudy Takacs: it is getting quite complicated
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: LOL the black hat, Kali
Trudy Takacs: some of our kids turn 18 during the program
Robin Mochi: @Lim, I was only in AW twice and it seemed similar in many ways to SL...but was over 2 yrs ago...not real sure
Romane Levee: presentation, but just doing a powerpoint and presenting it in SL doesn't bring anything new and exciting to the table.
Trudy Takacs: so we can get a group with mixed ages - groan
Lim Portal: The NASA curriculum dev consultant showed me a screen shot of their interface. Multiple comm portals.
Trudy Takacs: sorry, I have to leave, thank you all
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: oh oh Boss man
Delenn Daines: Hey AJ!
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Hey AJ
Kali Pizzaro: hanks Trudy
AJ Brooks: Hey everyone
hobbs Constantine: bye Trudy!
hobbs Constantine: Home owner!
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I have a Q aimed at start of the year housekeeping chores
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: What are some tips for those who build or maintain simulations in-world? What sorts of housekeeping do you do before the term begins?
Jimmie Veeper: HI AJ
Kali Pizzaro: ensure everything works
Romane Levee: We need new ways of using SL that are: (1) easy and intuitive to use, (2) engaging, and (3) increase the user's knowledge in unexpected ways.
Kali Pizzaro: fix what does not
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I know for House of Usher, I go around and pick up stray prims, making sure my notecards and props are there
Delenn Daines: make sure terraforming abilities are turned off for students!
Sheila Yoshikawa: I cut down the prims a bit, tidy up
AJ Brooks: groups
Romane Levee: Constructing a house that people can walk into is not very imaginative.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Delenn---VERY important. As are groups, AJ
AJ Brooks: get them set up, clean out old names, make sure perms are right
Sheila Yoshikawa: and refresh things, so it looks up to date and interesting
Sheila Yoshikawa: though i aim to do that through the year
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Watch the terraforming on your land. Drexell got hit by a terraforming griefer.
AJ Brooks: so did we here
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: they had to go to LL for a rollback
AJ Brooks: only on two small spots tho
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: amazing how griefers find that out
Marcia Kjeller: can you explain that? what happened?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'll show you a picture of Drexel, Marcia
Romane Levee: It is somewhat interesting to walk thru, but the learning experience is limited because in that case SL is only mimicking RL, rather than providing something new for the user to learn.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: http://iggyo.blogspot.com/2010/07/terraforming-griefer-at-drexel.html
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: it was awful--big wall right through one of their exhibit buildings
AJ Brooks: they find parcels that have terraforming for all open, and the raise the land to 100m, which is the max by default (but can be changed)
Kali Pizzaro: so if everything is good. do folks try things out with other educators
Kali Pizzaro: to see if everything worked
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: That can bump items off the sim... they get lost in the LL database
Marcia Kjeller: ty for url. I will look later
Kali Pizzaro: cheers Marcia
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: so I heard housekeeping chores, terraforming check, group maintainance
Marcia Kjeller: these are the things we all need to know about...as they happen. Did I miss the notify of the sim griefers?
Kali Pizzaro: activities work
Kali Pizzaro: open etc
Kali Pizzaro: what makes sense to you makes sense to others
Kali Pizzaro: ;-)
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I like Sheila's idea of just making things look fresh for the next group
Kali Pizzaro: Marc hello
Marc Rexen: Hello.
Becca Berman: hi
Robin Mochi: I also make sure they know how to reach me outside of SL if they are having problems during a live class
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Maybe get somebody else to go through and try out everything.
Robin Mochi: I use Zonkster and give them my cell number
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Good point Robin.
AJ Brooks: how do you tell them to reach you, Robin?
Kali Pizzaro: yeah my IMs go straight to my iphone
AJ Brooks: ty
Sheila Yoshikawa: what's zonkster?
Robin Mochi: zonkster is great for getting a message to someone in world
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I rarely think of that b/c I always see them in the flesh
Robin Mochi: let me get the url
Robin Mochi: http://www.zonkster.com/index.htm
Becca Berman: sorry for standing in RL my back is perfect!
Robin Mochi: it has come in very handy in the past
AJ Brooks: is it free?
Kali Pizzaro: mine email me or IM - pushed to iphone. note to self turn to silent in the night
Robin Mochi: yes, zonkster is free
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'd add inventory control to a start-of-year duty
Robin Mochi: and very simple to use
Robin Mochi: big plus
AJ Brooks: inventory control -HA
Kali Pizzaro: yeah tidy up your inventory
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I hate not finding stuff when a student needs something
AJ Brooks chortles
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: <--type A about this stuff, believe it or not
Kali Pizzaro: i have tried to be organised this year and have folders wooooo
AJ Brooks: i've given up on being organized and now I just search inventory
Jimmie Veeper: Iggy, explain inventory control.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia loves folders and subfolders and boxes with stuff in them to make one little item :)
Kali Pizzaro: yeah that is handy
Jimmie Veeper: breifly
AJ Brooks: godo Q Jimmie
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Jimmie, I make folders with names like "student landmarks" or "items for new SLers"
Kali Pizzaro: so once you have them. do you find students help each other out or do you have to troubleshoot a lot
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: or put all that in a box and give the box out
Jimmie Veeper: ok
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Kali, they work together after the first hour, with an SL buddy
Sheila Yoshikawa: yes i do do folders but i still lose things
Kali Pizzaro: i had one guy who after two sessions was sorting any problems - great
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: My students figured that out by themselves. I'm such a loner in SL and love just walking into a crowd
Robin Mochi: my older adult students are very willing to help each other
Kali Pizzaro: yeah me too Sheila - who says SL is not like real life
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: they had a lot of fun when they were together IRL and logged on to SL as small groups
Kali Pizzaro: yes Robin i found that and they created their own etiquette
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: then they could talk IRL and no one in SL could hear them
Sheila Yoshikawa: as in RL, some of them helped each other and some larked around
AJ Brooks: Iggy, your students are in the same room in the actual world while being in SL?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: right--they can walk over and point out a feature of the UI that way
Robin Mochi: yes, Kali - I think they see it as an adventure they are in together and want to make sure everyone is doing well
Kali Pizzaro: mine are at a distance
Jimmie Veeper: larked around.....I like that.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @AJ--in the same room but never in class. They used SL after class only.
Kali Pizzaro: agree Robin
AJ Brooks nods
Robin Mochi: mine are all at a distance as well
Sheila Yoshikawa: yes larking is ok, it's pushing each other off sky islands that is more annoying (for the other students)
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: We did have some students who would bring a laptop to class, log in, and show something to the entire class.
AJ Brooks: ROFL - thats fun!
Kali Pizzaro: my students are all nurse so they tend to behave
AJ Brooks: the pushing off skyboaxs, I meant
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I have one more Q on my list for today
Kali Pizzaro: getting struck off is a bit of a bother
Sheila Yoshikawa: some of them find it fun but initially a few finding that a bit threatening and frustrating
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: a fun one, too
AJ Brooks: is that the British spelling, Kali?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: What are your best Web sites for educators thinking about using SL this term?
hobbs Constantine: getting boxed isn't that fun
AJ Brooks: oh - did I say British?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: or for that matter, places in-world to see?
Robin Mochi: LOL - I would just make sure they all know how to wear a chute, sheila! we actually put a parachute on and jump off the skydeck for an exercise during one class - always a fun time :)
Kali Pizzaro: ha -@AJ Kali scrolls back ,mmmm
Delenn Daines: univsity of Cincinnati has a great sl website
Romane Levee: So Kali, have you thought about using SL to simulate illnesses in a patient and have the nurses figure out what is wrong?
Becca Berman: I will show them how to sit!
Sheila Yoshikawa: I'm going to buy the Bora Bora sky gliders I think for this year
Kali Pizzaro: that is what i do
Kali Pizzaro: they have a notecard with a scenario trigger
Robin Mochi: I always have my students visit DrDoug's testis tour and option of ovary tour as well
Romane Levee: Figure out what tests to request and look at the test results on SL?
Kali Pizzaro: yep Romane
Kali Pizzaro: form history to management
Kali Pizzaro: PBL
Romane Levee: So, Kali, how well does it work?
Becca Berman: a whole new world, sorry novice here
Kali Pizzaro: and click a avatar chest to listen to heart sounds
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: So, good sites for faculty new to SL? in world, I'd send them to Svarga or the UT cluster
hobbs Constantine: You are welcome and doing well Becca
AJ Brooks: Svarga, def.
Kali Pizzaro: my first class was this Jan and it was fab
Robin Mochi: Infolit iSchool Island is a must for my students as well - they are graduate education teachers and faculty
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: on the Web, or in world, Jokaydia (and in Reaction Grid)
AJ Brooks: I like sending people to The Theorists Project
AJ Brooks: (shamless self plug)
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'll put Jokay's URL into the transcript
Robin Mochi: yes, The theorists project was one I used last time, they loved it!
AJ Brooks: ty
Kali Pizzaro: check out our blog for a wee taste of what we are working on
Becca Berman: thanks, a little disruptive I realize
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: AJ is right, and that's not shameless. The Theorists' project was a big hit last fall with my class
Kali Pizzaro: http://caledonianblogs.net/soh-secondlife/
Romane Levee: So Kali, how hard was it to implement this application in SL?
Kali Pizzaro: Romanne
Robin Mochi: jokay's education sim in SL is great for teachers too if it's still there, I think it is
AJ Brooks: I have a places to see notecard if anyone is interested - just IM me
Kali Pizzaro: we use AIML bots and volunteers
AJ Brooks: I'm always open to add things to it
Kali Pizzaro: and I do all the building of notecard givers etc
Kali Pizzaro: i have a small team who work together, educators, techs
Kali Pizzaro: etc
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: we covered a lot of ground today--anyone have anything we did not address on this topic?
Robin Mochi: Monash university Chinese area is amazing with high quality huds and a lot more
AJ Brooks: I actually have a team of students who work for me - in the US, we have Federal Work Study - they are free to me and get a check as part of their finaicial aid
Delenn Daines: What viewer are you all using with new students?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: good Q
AJ Brooks: those in the US should check with their Financial Aid people for info on that
Robin Mochi: using new SL V.2
Karlene Voom: viewer 2
AJ Brooks: for new students, 2.x
Robin Mochi: shared media is going to be great this year
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I've not switched but may for Spring, given that help pages are geared to 2.x
Robin Mochi: really looking forward to using that...have been testing it for many purposes
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Though I prefer the Imprudence viewer (and name) for all VWs :)
Robin Mochi: no more ppt viewers needed with shared media
Kali Pizzaro: i have a wee problem with some flash in sl
AJ Brooks: ME TOO!
Kali Pizzaro: anyone have any ideas why that is
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: So we have an announcement
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Mr. Brooks.....
AJ Brooks: in fact, I can't get the USTream for Saturday ot work because of flash
AJ Brooks: Ah - speaking of which
Kali Pizzaro: i download flash and it say i aint got it arrrrrg
Kali Pizzaro: flash
AJ Brooks: just a reminder - we'll be having a special VWER meeting on Saturday
Kali Pizzaro: ha not fish
AJ Brooks: its the VWER @ SLCC
Sheila Yoshikawa: lol downloading fish sounds more fun
Ignatius Onomatopoeia is hungry now
AJ Brooks: we'll be coming to you LIVE from SLCC
Sheila Yoshikawa: i had some nice fish for tea
AJ Brooks: Olivia Hotshot and I will be moderating on site
AJ Brooks: and Kali will be our in-world host
Robin Mochi: that's great, aj
Cindy Bolero: I can handle most questions about video
Kali Pizzaro: bow
AJ Brooks: also - please note
Delenn Daines: I read some where a fix for flash, and I did it and it works. I had to download firefox and then download the flash plug in for firefox. Then flash worked in shared media
AJ Brooks: this is our LAST TUESDAY meeting
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: stunned silence
AJ Brooks: starting next week, we'll be meeting on THURSDAYS from now on
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: :)
Kali Pizzaro: thanks Del i will try that
hobbs Constantine: (time for Sat at SLCC please)
Delenn Daines: ys Kali
AJ Brooks: 2:30pm Eastern Time, which is 11:30am SLT I believe
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Yay--VWER and gaming night on the same day! What I nerd I'll be
Jimmie Veeper: Quick SLCC announcement - Stop by the Boston Park Plaza Hotel’s famous âThe Melting Potâ at 5PM where you can get your entertaining evening going by rubbing elbows with educators and other interesting people involved in TSL and educators in general.
Marcia Kjeller: ty Jimmie....see you in Boston :)
hobbs Constantine: in RL or SL?
AJ Brooks: so the 14th at 11:30am - make sure to be part of our groups (facebook or here) for info and then our first weekly meeting on Thursdays on the 19th
Jimmie Veeper: ok Marcia
Becca Berman: Boston virtual?
Delenn Daines: what is the melting pot? a hotel bar?
Kali Pizzaro: is there an ointment for that Jimmie
Kali Pizzaro: rubbing of elbows
Kali Pizzaro: ;-)
Jimmie Veeper: Hotel restaurant/bar/happy-hour
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Only problem with virtual conventions--no drinking or eating :)
AJ Brooks: if you're in our SL in world group, or our Facebook group, you'll get all the up to date info
hobbs Constantine: speak for yourself Iggy
Kali Pizzaro: i'll send you an virtual cocktail
Delenn Daines: speak for yourself Iggy
Marcia Kjeller: will that info be in our registration packet?
AJ Brooks: PLSU - we're about ot unveil our NEW web site
Becca Berman: so no fatigue!
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: LOL
AJ Brooks: which you can se at http://www.vwer.org
Jimmie Veeper: Who's going to SLCC?
Delenn Daines: I am
Marcia Kjeller: raises hand
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: my martini does not get mixed for 30 minutes. I come here sober.
AJ Brooks: ME!
Karlene Voom: not sure yet.. maybe
Becca Berman: SLCC?
AJ Brooks: Second LIfe Community Convention
AJ Brooks: in Boston this weekend
hobbs Constantine: I'll be there virtually as a volunteer
AJ Brooks: still time to register
Kali Pizzaro: virtually
Jimmie Veeper: http://www.slconvention.org/#
Marcia Kjeller: @AJ..... have a count as to how many educators will be at SLCC?
Delenn Daines: does anyone know how many will be attending slcc irl?
Becca Berman: thanks
AJ Brooks: there's a discounted registration if anyone wants
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: going to be a good event this year. Philip Rosedale will be giving the keynote?
AJ Brooks: virtualy
AJ Brooks: but still
Karlene Voom: oh more info on discounted registration please?
Marcia Kjeller: *sigh..... any idea about the hows and whys of him not being in person?
AJ Brooks: let me find the URL - one sec
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: if you see John Lester, AJ, give him all our regards
AJ Brooks: I will see him
AJ Brooks: and will be sure to share
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: well folks, we are at our hour. thanks everyone for coming out today
Delenn Daines: Great chat!
Lim Portal: Iggy -- super questions, TY
Sheila Yoshikawa: thank you
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I'll run the transcript and add URLs & SLURLs soon
Jimmie Veeper: Nice job Iggy.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia: thanks all
Delenn Daines: bye all!
Robin Mochi: yes, must run, thanks all!
Karlene Voom: bye all
Sheila Yoshikawa: bye