The document discusses using various virtual worlds in schools, including Second Life, OpenSimulator, Quest Atlantis, and MinecraftEdu. It provides examples of how these platforms have been used for both K-12 and higher education classes, focusing on subjects like computer programming, project management, and digital literacy. Benefits mentioned include hands-on, visual learning and experiential opportunities. Challenges include preparing students who are used to passive learning and maintaining student focus. Future plans include expanding usage to more subjects and implementing collaborative projects between schools.
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Using Virtual and Immersive Learning Environments in Schools
1. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
David W. Deeds
ISTE Conference
Virtual Environments
Special Interest Group
June 25, 2013
2. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Using Immersive/Virtual Learning
Environments (ILE/VLE, aka 3D virtual
worlds) since 2006
3 years higher ed, 4 K-12/international
5. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life:
Massively Multiplayer Online…Insert
Your Favorite Description
Here…Game?
Introduced by Linden Labs in 2003
Own currency and
economy, intellectual property rights
Built-in 3D CAD and language/IDE
Open to people 16 and up since 2010
6. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Peterson Schools Cybercampus:
Teaching 6
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching%206
/237/211/25/
7. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Firestorm Viewer:
http://www.firestormviewer.org/download
s/
xxxx
Second Life:
http://www.secondlife.co
m
11. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: Higher Education
Classes (500+ students inworld):
Mine: Freshmen – Juniors: Computer
Programming, Business Management,
Internet Marketing, Project Management
(Uni: Regular Majors, College: Votech)
Others: Freshmen – Seniors: Wide
variety of English courses, including
Business English
(S/T in our college plus others, global)
12. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: Higher Education
What Were We Doing?
Teaching without textbooks (some
e-books)
Kids created/managed cybercampus,
put on shows, made and sold
real/virtual products
Handled all management, pricing,
marketing
Learned programming via LSL, also
CAD
Active, learner-centric, English
13. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: Higher Education
What Worked?
Bridged the communications gap –
digital natives knew what to do, even in
English
Overcame ASMeB – Antisocial Social
Media Behavior –
synchronous, anonymous (FUN!)
Hit the sweet spot re: programming
“payoff”
14. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: Higher Education
What Didn’t Work?
Trying to recreate classroom
configuration or situation in virtual world
Worrying about kids meeting SL weirdos
(socialization, experimentation worked
out)
Assignments too open-ended (cohesive
structure/theme needed, goals)
Mixing English with others subjects
16. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: K-12
Classes (50+ students inworld):
Information Technology in a Global
Society – Three Strands: IT Systems,
Social and Ethical Significance,
Application to Specified Scenarios
In Group 3, Individuals and Societies –
provides technical education regardless
Diploma Program opportunity for kids
with low English skills, Special Needs
17. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: K-12
What Are We Doing?
Students maintain cybercampus and
host students from other
schools/countries
E-textbooks provide content for IT
lessons, ethical/moral and other
discussions
Projects/products: website, t-shirts,
more
21. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: K-12
What Has Worked?
Hands-on, visual aspect of just about all
work (learning styles)
Experiential opportunities, meeting
people
Sense of freedom and openness (to a
degree!)
Provided teachers with sources of
professional development (teacher and
22. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: K-12
What Hasn’t Worked?
Convincing the IBO to abolish the
written examination (70-30
external/internal grade)
Students too shy to train teachers
(students!) but there’s still hope to make
this a service
Pretending it’s not FUN! (It is, just don’t
tell!)
23. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Second Life: K-12
Future Classes
Next NAIS Challenge 20/20 Project to
involve wide variety of subjects
ITGS students will use cybercampus to
promote 3D Global Village
Want to expand SL usage for teacher
professional development
24. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
If you’re interested in getting your own
Second Life cybercampus, contact
Carol Pfeifer of the New Media
Consortium:
carol@nmc.org
26. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator:
Massively Multiplayer Online…Insert
Your Favorite Description
Here…Game?
Introduced in 2007, not an SL clone!
Own currency and economy,
intellectual property rights, etc.,
coming soon
Built-in 3D CAD and language/IDE
27. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Imprudence Viewer:
http://wiki.kokuaviewer.org/wiki/Imprudence
:Downloads
Peterson Schools URL:
http://209.126.208.161:9020
29. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator: K-12
Classes (200+ students inworld)
Middle Years Program (MYP)
Technology – Shift from Digital Literacy
made long ago;
Art, Music, Science, Humanities soon
Primary Years Program (PYP)
Information Communications
Technology (ICT) - switch from Digital
Literacy to IB Design Cycle
th
30. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator: K-12
What Are We Doing?
Teaching Computer-Aided
Design, Project
Management, Programming
Teaching task-based lessons with other
tools
Changing Technology to inquiry-/task-
based
Using skeleton lesson plans, students
34. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator: K-12
What Has Worked?
Simple Instructions/Skeleton Lesson
Plans
Three C’s – Connect, Communicate,
Collaborate (and #4: Cooperate –
Project Management)
IB Design Cycle: Investigate, Design,
Plan, Create and Evaluate (also
Attitudes!)
35. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator: K-12
What Has Worked?
Reciprocal guidance, “guide on the side”
Changing viewer interface to student
primary language
Constructivism, esp. Social
Constructivism
Self-reliance, adapting to change skills
Scratch and S4SL for programming
basics
36. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator: K-12
What Hasn’t Worked?
Assuming productivity the first week!
Calling it a GAME! Use “immersive
learning environment” instead! Also, e-
/textbooks
Overcoming, but still dealing with active
versus passive role (not Asia specific!)
Trying to jump right into LSL (Scratch
first!)
38. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
OpenSimulator: K-12
Future Classes
Will pitch 3D Global Village at upcoming
Annual Educators’ Conference
Cross-curricular efforts
Expand to Middle and Elementary
School classes, other campuses
Use as foundation for advanced
programming classes
39. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
If you’re interested in getting your own
OpenSimulator cybercampus, contact
Snoopy Pfeffer of Dreamland
Metaverse:
snoopy.pfeffer@yahoo.com
41. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Quest Atlantis: K-12
• Visit: www.atlantisremixed.org (regular
version plus new game-like beta)
• FREE prebuilt 3DVW with readymade
quests (you can create your own, also
build with tools)
• For students 9-16, maybe as young as
8
• Trainers in different locations, regular
schedule; must have 2 teachers to
42. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Quest Atlantis: K-12
Classes (30+ students)
• English Language A/B classes (native
speakers plus other kids who are
proficient)
• Registered users have a code of
conduct and other guidelines to follow
while inworld
• Missions include everything from
stopping bullying to saving a city from
the plague (!)
43. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Quest Atlantis: K-12
What Has Worked?
• Structured aspect of just about
everything easier for kids to handle
(lack of uncertainty)
• Increased focus on tasks (out of
necessity)
• Exposure to wider range of scenarios
and situations (versus another SL/OS
sim)
44. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Quest Atlantis: K-12
What Hasn’t Worked?
• Students with poor English skills (but
then teachers like the reading aspect!)
• Special Needs kids no; Gifted kids yes,
but they need special lesson plans
• Anything smelling remotely like a
lecture (kids just want to go inworld)
• Couldn’t get it going in Mexico
because of bureaucratic problems
47. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Quest Atlantis: K-12
Future Classes
• Try it again at just one campus first
• Want to expand to: Humanities and
Science classes
• English Literature classes too
(stories), tie in with more than just
blogs
• Want to arrange virtual field trips
to/from other schools: QA is “safe”
48. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
If you’d like to get started with Quest
Atlantis at your school, contact Bronwyn
Stuckey:
bronwyn.stuckey@gmail.com
50. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
MinecraftEdu: K-12
• Regular version: www.minecraft.net
• 20 million+ registered users
worldwide,
5 million+ have bought the game
• Building things, mining for minerals,
fighting monsters, you name it!
• Singleplayer (free) or multiplayer
(license), license is about US $30
• Kids (and adults) love the game, but
51. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
MinecraftEdu: K-12
• Hosted solution: Massively Minecraft,
www.massivelyminecraft.org
• Special inhouse mod for education:
MinecraftEdu, www.minecraftedu.com
• MinecraftEdu: “Playing offline,” local
server, no regular licenses
needed, US $45
• Up to 100 students (we’ve had up to
50)
52. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
MinecraftEdu: K-12
Classes (125+ students)
• Middle Years Program Technology
classes
• Making the IB happy by partnering
with Art and other classes
• Logic gates and other interactivity
exercises, seems simple but can be
sophisticated
• Feature of 10th grade Computer
53. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
MinecraftEdu: K-12
What Has Worked?
• MinecraftEdu puts the teacher in
charge!
• Self-directed, self-paced, self-reliant
work (individual and team-based)
• Lots of connections with other tools:
Prezi, Moodle, Google Sketchup and
WordPress blogs
• Reciprocal guidance, project
54. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
MinecraftEdu: K-12
What Hasn’t Worked?
• Need to constantly observe/monitor
students (who still perceive it as a
game)
• Need for tutoring in different
languages
• Lack of structure perceived even with
lesson plans specifying deliverables
and deadlines
57. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
MinecraftEdu: K-12
Future Classes
• Hosted/online solution to work with
students in other schools/countries
(virtual field trips)
• Expand on science connections:
geology, physics, engineering, etc.
• Want to expand community aspects
• Give the PYP munchkins a shot
• Nice: Quest Atlantis-style missions
58. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
If you’d like to try Massively
Minecraft, contact Jo Kay:
minecraft@jokaydia.com
If you’d like to try MinecraftEdu, contact
Santeri Koivisto:
santeri@teachergaming.com
60. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Inspiration/Gurus:
World of Warcraft in School
http://wowinschool.pbworks.com/
Lucas Gillispie, Peggy Sheehy, Craig
Lawson
61. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Download the WoW in School PDF:
http://wowinschool.pbworks.com/f/WoW
inSchool-A-Heros-Journey.pdf
62. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
21st Century Fluency Project:
http://fluency21.com/
Collaboration – teamwork
Solution – problem solving
Creativity – storytelling, art/photos
Information –
interpretation, application
Media - communications
63. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Games-Based Learning/Gamification:
Different learning styles
accommodated
Different subjects simultaneously
Self- and other-directed engagement
Motivating, provides task-based
focus
Project management, strategic
thinking
64. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Kafkaesque
Draenei Warrior, Level 66
Exalted Knight of Divine
Light
Exalted Stormwind Defender
65. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
WoW Background:
Massively Multiplayer Online Role
Playing Game (MMORPG) by
Blizzard Entertainment
Latest in a series, WoW released
2004
Expansion sets, newest one is Mists
of Pandaria, released in 2012
8 million subscribers, #1 MMORPG
Free accounts!
66. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
WoW Background (cont):
Players start by choosing a race and
a classification (e.g., Draenei
Warrior)
Race chosen determines starting
spot
67. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
WoW Background (cont):
Choose server (IRL location)
Choose PvE, PvP, RP (PvE is
“normal”)
68. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
WoW Background (cont):
Players complete quests to gain
XP, rise in level number
Quests and professions earn money
69. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
WoW Background (cont):
Benefits increase as level rises
But also difficulty (regions)
71. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Standards! And I plan to use the IB’s
(especially the Learner Profile) too.
72. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Wow in School:
Teachers were Loremasters, class
managed via Moodle site
Students discuss adventures inside
and outside of WoW (e.g., blog)
Books like “The Hobbit” used as
background material
Go on quests, design quests for
others
73. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Start with WoW background story
and/or strategy guide
74. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Divide class by race, then have them
choose classifications (mixture)
75. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Devise strategies (cross-curricular
between Technology, English, Art
classes)
76. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Ideally, will tie in with
SL/OpenSimulator 3D Global Village,
other projects
77. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
At a certain level, meet at common
location(s) for mutual adventures
78. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Students will maintain blog, different
perspectives according to classes
79. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Will copy the gurus, double XP
system; but: Haiku vs. Moodle, PvE
vs. RP, professions, pet battles, etc.
80. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
And: want to experiment with
machinima (machine cinema)
81. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Colegios Peterson WoW:
Maybe Guild Wars 2: dynamic event
system but costs money
82. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Follow my Scoop.it page:
http://www.scoop.it/t/3d-virtual-worlds-
educational-technology
83. Using Virtual Worlds in
Schools
Thank you!
Questions/Comments?
ddeeds@peterson.mx
davidwdeeds@yahoo.com