David W. Deeds' presentation for the OpenSimulator Community Conference 2014 (OSCC14). Also a member of the OpenSimulator K-12 Power Panel.

1. Using OpenSimulator in
K-12 Schools
David W. Deeds
OpenSimulator Community Conference
November 9, 2014

2. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
Welcome! I’m determined that this session won’t
be Death by PowerPoint!
I’ll do a quick introduction and then present some
questions to choose from.
Or you can ask your own. I’ll start with the
questions from this morning’s OpenSimulator
K-12 Power Panel in case you missed it.
Ready? Here we go!

3. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
Introduction
• Been using VWs since 2006, started using
OpenSimulator in 2009 with switch to K-12
international schools
• Have managed my own grid, plus used hosts:
ReactionGrid, Dreamland Metaverse, Kitely
(and VIBE)

4. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

5. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
Introduction
• Have taken 200+ kids inworld, K to 12 (tried
Pre-K too)!
• Georgia, China, Mexico and now I’m the High
School Technology Integration Coach for the
American School of Guatemala

6. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

7. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
Introduction
• Published “OpenSimulator: School Quick Start
Guide” in 2011, one day I’ll get around to the
Second Edition!
• Lots of outdated information, but still some
good stuff:
http://www.nmc.org/pdf/OpenSimulator-
School-Quick-Start-Guide.pdf

8. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

9. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
OpenSimulator K-12 Power Panel Questions:
1. What makes an effective virtual world learning
activity?
2. What makes young students excited to be in
virtual worlds?
3. What are the advantages of having one’s own
grid and how do you effectively manage it?
4. How do you get others to engage in virtual
worlds teaching?
One or more of these?

10. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

11. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
Frequently Asked Questions
5. How do I get virtual worlds started at my school?
6. What can you teach using virtual worlds?
7. Does this meet Common Core or other standards?
8. How do you assess virtual world activities?
9. Can virtual worlds be used for training teachers?
10.How does this compare to Games-Based Learning
or gamification?
One or more of these?

12. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

13. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
1. What makes an effective virtual world learning
activity?
• “Skeleton” lesson plans: just enough structure
to keep students focused on objectives
• Differentiation so that students can succeed
on individual and/or team basis
• Connect, communicate and collaborate
• Task-based exercises and project management
• IB Design Cycle: Investigate, Design, Plan,
Create and Evaluate (also Attitudes)
• Everything is project-based: No tests!

14. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
2. What makes young students excited to be in
virtual worlds?
• Being in charge of own learning experience
• Programming with instant payoff/gratification
• Cross-curricular or interdisciplinary activities
(connections with lessons in other subjects)
• Wide variety of tools put to practical use:
graphics, sound, etc.
• Freedom to create, (virtually) without limits
• Ability to simulate impossible gadgets/gizmos
• Making machinima (3D cartoons/movies)

15. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

16. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
3. What are the advantages of having one’s own
grid and how do you effectively manage it?
• Locally managed grid means free usage, ability
to not worry about Internet connection
• Complete security, at cost of inability to
hypergrid to other grids, interact with others
• Sells virtual world concept to nervous parents
and administrators re: little munchkins
• Total control over parameters such as prim size
• Mainly a matter of managing OARs: saving and
loading for different classes

17. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
4. How do you get others to engage in virtual
worlds teaching?
• Best if IB (or IB-style) cross-curricular or
interdisciplinary instruction is a goal
• Start with easiest sell: Art teacher for inworld
gallery, Music teacher for inworld concert
• Usually after students start using it, word of
mouth will get other teachers curious
• Conduct demos for teachers of other subjects
according to their interests (e.g., Math)
• Request virtual field trips to education sims

18. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

19. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
5. How do I get virtual worlds started at my
school?
• Best is to start with free local grid or cheapest
possible host company, pay for it yourself
• Don’t try to explain too much in advance
(better to seek forgiveness than permission)
• Could start with education-specific game like
MinecraftEdu and let kids do the sales job
• Start with easiest sell, usually IT Teacher
• Another angle is to introduce it as the best way
to teach programming (as part of STEM)

20. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
6. What can you teach using virtual worlds?
• Obvious: Computer-Aided Design (CAD),
programming, project management
• Teamwork, communication, collaboration
• Self-reliance, being in charge of learning
• Good way to introduce student-centered
learning as concept, also 3D printing
• Subjects: IT, Math, Science, Art, Music,
Languages, even Literature
• Other tools: Graphics, 3D Modelers (e.g.,
Sketchup), Sound and Music Production

21. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

22. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
7. Does this meet Common Core or other
standards?
• Honestly don’t know about Common Core, VIBE
folks about to embark on that project
• Have created IT curriculum that met rigorous
International Baccalaureate standards
• Middle Years Program (MYP) at first, with
reliance on Design Cycle, extrapolated to
Primary Years and Diploma Programs (PYP, DP)
• If World of Warcraft curriculum can meet
Common Core standards, so can OpenSimulator

23. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
8. How do you assess virtual world activities?
• IB Way: Each phase of the Design Cycle
(Investigate, Design, Plan, Create and Evaluate)
has rubric scaled according to performance
• Again, no tests: everything is project based
• IB includes Attitudes, can adopt as rubric
category: Teamwork, Collaboration, etc.
• Let students evaluate each other on
performance, e.g., contributing to team effort
• Keep daily “plus or minus sheet” to track
formative assessment, ends in summative

24. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

25. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
9. Can virtual worlds be used for training teachers?
• Absolutely! All skills students can learn are
valuable to teachers too, tangible (e.g.,
programming) to intangible (e.g., collaboration)
• Great for getting teachers into cross-curricular
or interdisciplinary instruction mode
• Also great for transitioning teachers from tests
to projects, grades to rubrics
• Best way is to train teachers and students
simultaneously, with this and/or games
• Show teachers that learning can be FUN!

26. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
10.How does this compare to Games-Based
Learning or gamification?
• It is Games-Based Learning, just without the
shootings and obvious levels (external XP)
• Goals and milestones are within the game but
tied to class or other external objectives
• Easier to convince skeptical administrators and
parents that this is a learning environment
• Is gamification in the sense that a lesson plan
is tied to achieving goals and winning contests
• Team efforts compare well to all games

27. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

28. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
If you’d like an OpenSimulator grid for your
school, you could do it yourself.
Or you could contact Dreamland Metaverse:
snoopy.pfeffer@yahoo.com
Or Kitely: www.kitely.com

29. Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools
Thank you for (virtually) attending!
Questions/Comments?
ddeeds@cag.edu.gt
davidwdeeds@gmail.com
Follow my Scoop.it page:
http://www.scoop.it/t/3d-virtual-worlds-educational-
technology