Just!last!week!it!was!all!I!could!do!to!rub!my!key!fob!across!the!pad! and!hit!the!handicapped!button!to!open!the!school!door!(RL).!I!stood! waiting!with!my!arms!full!of!books,!papers,!my!purse!with!iphone,!my! laptop!and!ipad,!my!lunch,!and!all!the!other!items!that!get!a!free!ride!to!and! from!work!everyday.!!After!all,!how!can!I!live!without!them?!While!I!waited! patiently!for!the!door!to!open,!another!teacher!walked!up!behind!me!and! said,!“hi.”!I!said,!“hi”!back!and!then,!without!thinking,!I!looked!at!her!and! added,!“I’m!waiting!for!the!door!to!rez!”!
Our!worlds!are!colliding!–!not!in!a!violent!way,!but!definitely!with!a! forceful!impact!that!has!the!ability!to!ch ange!the!world!
People!who!live!in!virtual!worlds!know!what!I!am!talking!about.! That!crazy!feeling!of!sitting!in!meetings!and!thinking,!is!this!RL!or!Second! Life!(SL)?!Or!being!so!engaged!in!an!activity!in!World!of!Warcraft!(WoW)!or! SL!that!you!lose!track of!time!and!forget!you!are!sitting!in!front!of!a! computer!screen!with!some!of!your!best!friends.
Time!flies!when!you!are!having!FUN!!And,!for!this!issue,!we!have! been!having!a!lot!of!fun!exploring!many!of!the!places!we!have!always! wanted!to!visit!in!RL!b ut!couldn’t!afford,!either!because!of!time,!expenses,! or!both.!Each!time!I!am!late!to!work!or!getting!on!an!airplane!to!go!to!a! conference,!I!so!wish!travel!were!as!easy!in!RL!as!teleporting!is!in!SL.!Like!a! turtle,!in!SL,!no!matter!where!I!go,!I!have!all!the!things!I!can’t!live!without!at! the!click!of!a!mouse!in!my!inventory!!What!a!life!
In!this!issue!we have!some!excellent!articles!and!resources!for! newcomers!as!well!as!virtual!world!veterans.!THANKS!to!everyone!who! contributed!to!this!issue!!Also,!welcome!to!our!newest!columnist,!Trevor! Roe,!who!brings!a!student!perspective!to!virtual!education.!
This!issue!specifically highlights how!virtual!worlds!and!real!life! are!colliding!.!.!.!and!have!the!potential!to!change!and!enrich!our!lives!in! ways!we!can’t!begin!to!imagine!!After!all,!learning!the!culture,!meeting!the! people,!exploring!the!sites,!experiencing!the!beauty,!and!seeing!the!world! through!the!eyes!of!the!creator(s)!is!what!makes!virtual!worlds!so!vital!to! our!existence.!!
Like!us,!we!are!sure!you!will!devour!this!issue!–!there!are!so many! great!morsels.!Then,!make!sure!to!pass!VEJ!on!to!colleagues!and!friends,! because!this!issue!is!too!good!not!to!share!!Finally,!as!always,
VEJ!–!OUT!OF!THIS!WORLD!!
Keep!smiling!!
Rosie!Vojtek,!aka!Roxie!Neiro! (sl)
In#This#Issue • Reflections by Lowly High Grand Poobah BJ Gearbox
• Aero Pines Park & Recreation Area: An Interview With Cindy Bolero
• Minecraft Simple To Complex
• 10 Places – Check Them Off Your Bucket List!
• Games MOOC: Online and Virtual – Synchronous and Asynchronous
• Game To Learn
• Build It & They Will Come
• If You Missed VWBPE 2012 . . .
• Capturing The Magic: An Interview With Kriste Beck
• The Political Machine: Real World and Virtual World Inner Workings
• We Need A Hero
• Educators Connect Virtually
• ISTE SL Tours 2.0 – Sunday September 9, 2012
• Drum Circle Fun
• eXtension Virtual 3D, a New Ki nd of Experiential Learning
• Lightn ing Productions: An Interview with Coz Okelly
• Mexican High School Gets Into 3D Virtual Worlds
• G.A.M.E. Gamers Advancing Meaningful Education
• On Walkabout – Chapter 3
• ISTE SIGVE Speaker Series: About Kitely
• Book Review: The Connected Educator
• Don Singleton In His Own Words
• In Loving Memory of Our Dear Friend, Don Singleton
To!Read!VEJ!online!visit:! http://www.virtualeducationjournal.com/ For!more!information!about!ISTE!SIGVE!or! to!join!the!fun,!visit:!
http://sigve.iste.wikispaces.net/ Follow!us!on!Twitter!@VEJournal!or! #VEJournal! 1
A ero%Pines%Park%&%Recreation%A rea%
An%Interview%With%
Cindy%Bolero%(SL),%Cynthia%Stagner%(RL)
By%Roxie%Neiro
Aero!Pines!Park!&!Recreation!Area!is!sponsored!and!developed!by!The! Bolero!Group,!an!SL!Solution!Provider!specializing!in!large scale!mixed! reality!events,!hazardous!occupations!&!first!responder!training! simulations,!and!special!music!and!machinima!projects.!For!more! information,!contact!Cindy!Bolero (sl).
Some!of!the!most!fun!activities!in!second!life!can!be!found!on!the! grounds!of!the!Aero Pines!Park!&!Recreation!Area!–!such!as!ice skating and!concerts!on!the!pond!in!the!winter and bike!riding!and!hiking!in!the! summer.!In!fact,!right!now!you!can!join!the!fun!exploring!the!Halloween! Trail!!This!past!year!many!people!watched!the!live!Kentucky!Derby!race! from!the!Aero!Pines!stand,!mint!julep!in!hand!!
On!September!11,!2012,!I!caught!up!with!Cindy!Bolero!at!the!Annual! Tribute!To!The!Fallen!Firefighters!and!asked!if!we!could!talk about!her! exciting!work!and!special!projects.! The!interview!follows.
Once!you!have read!this!interview!with!Cindy!about Aero!Pines,!you!will! want!to visit!it!for!yourself.!Cindy!graciously!welcomes sl!visitors!to!the! park,!offering!fun!and!friendship.!If!you!haven’t!been!to!Aero!Pines,!it!is! comparable!to!any!of!the National!Parks!in!America.!Like!Yellowstone! National!Park!or!Yosemite!National!Park,!there!is!so!much!to!see!and!do.! Each!season!brings!something!new.!So,!stop!by!to!ride!horses,!bike!and! hike!the!mountains!and!trails,!or!just!find!a!quiet!place!to!sit,!relax,!and! enjoy!the!scenic!beauty.!It!is!truly!magnificent!!
Roxie: How!did!you!get!started!in!SL?
Cindy: I(got(started(in(SL(with a(recommendation(by(a(friend(who(thought( I(would(be(interested.(Later(they(said(they(were(sorry(they(did!(I(became( obsessed.(On(the(first(day(I(logged(in,(I(knew(it(was(going(to(be(the(next( phase(in(the(evolution(of(my(occupation.(At(the(time,(I(had(just(formed(a( location(video(webcasting(company(after(getting(downsized(and(having( lost(my(full(time(contract(at(NASA.(I(had(been(serving(many(NASA( technology(research(areas(in(education(outreach(doing(video,(multimedia,( events,(and(exhibits(support(for(about(10(years.
Within my(first(week(in(Secondlife,(I(took(the(plunge.(I(rented(a(small( beach(lot(at($15(US(a(month.( I(bought(a(prefab(house,(began(to(furnish(it,( and(then realized(I(was(bored(and(lonely.( I(wanted(more(land(to(create( more(environments.( Within(a(month(I(had(bought(up(lots(around(me(as( they(became(available(and(my(new(SL(friends(rented(them.(Within(three( months(I(had(started(a(land(group(with(more(tenants(who(liked(my( concepts.(Within(6(months(we(had(expanded(to(several(sims(and(open spaces.(I(had(over(30(residents(spread(over(ranch(lands,(tropical(beach( fronts,(with(riding(stables,(a(diving(reef,(airport,(etc.
Being(a(rancher,(equestrian,(and(motorcyclist,(who(grew(up(in(a(family(of( pilots(and(boaters,(these(were(all(elements(of(my(real(life(background(and( lifestyles.(The(declining(economy(took(most(of(those(activities(away.(After( 30(years(of(owning(horses,(I(sold(my(last(horse(to(buy(my(first(sim.( Secondlife(became(my(new(hobby,(while(my( sims,(community(groups,(and( projects(began(giving(me(experience(with(what(I(needed(to(know(about( virtual(worlds(and(serving(clients(in(the(future.
Unexpectedly,(I(got(a(jump(start...
A(group(at(NASA(found(me(in(Secondlife(and(asked(me(to(assist(with(a( "mixed(reality"(event.(A(large(conference(was(coming(up(at(NASA(Ames(in( the(Silicon(Valley.(The(requesters(assumed(I(would(be(familiar(with(the( conference(center(and(all(the(red(tape(involved(in(carrying(out(this(new( and(innovative(concept.(And(yes,(I(do(know(the(building(and(staff(well,(as( well(as(the(bureaucracy that(would(be(in(the(way.
It(was(quite(the(ordeal(as(NASA(divisions((IT,(Video,(&(PAO)(were( blindsided(by(the(virtual(mixed(reality(event.(But(since(orders(came(from( the(center's(Administrator,(a(path(was(cleared(and(we(succeeded(with( bringing(Apollo(Astronaut( Buzz(Aldrin's(keynote( speech,(and(the(next(three( days(of(the(conference,(to( the(NASA(CoLab(Theater in( Secondlife.(
From(then(I(became(a(mixed( reality(specialist.(My(real(life( video(crews(and(Secondlife( teams(went(on(to(support( many(mixed(reality(events( on(the(West(Coast(from(LA( to(Seattle,(and(beyond.(We( did(several(NASA( conferences(as(well(as( events(from(the(Tech( Museum(to(the(Tech(Virtual,(plus(many(other(corporate(and( entertainment(events.( Some(of(the(real(life(people(I(streamed(live(to(the( Web(and(Secondlife(include:( Doug(Engelbart((Inventor(of(computer( mouse),(Steve(Wozniak((Inventor(Apple(Computer),(Philip(Rosedale( (founder(of(Secondlife),(Peter(Norvig((Google's(Chief(Research(Scientist),( Jill(Tarter((Director(SETI(Institute),(Ann(Mulcahy((CEO(Xerox( Corporation),(and(Jeff(Clark((Mavericks(Surfing(Pioneer),(just(to(name(a( few.
The(following(are(some(examples(of(presentations(in(rl(and(sl.
Second(Life(was(prominently(featured(through the(event http://www.nasa.gov/50th/future_forums/sanJoseImage_SecondLife.html
Watch as Keynote Speaker Phillip Rosedale speaks at the Tech Museum of Innovation.
http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=ZjUWK3PXtPk
How(The(Tech(Museum(uses(Secondlife(for(designing(museum(exhibits( (2010(Linden(Prizewinners)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lbROp18lVw
Presenter!at!Program! for!the!Future! Streamed!to!Second! Life
Mixed!Reality!at! Program!for!the!Future! streamed!to!Second! Life.
AbGradCon!sponsored!by!Nasa”s!Astrobiology!Institute
Cindy: Another(evangelistic(endeavor( I(did,(was(teaching("introduction(to( Virtual(Worlds"(at(several(San( Francisco(Bay(Area(community( colleges.(My(students(included(K212( educators,(students,(musicians,(artists,( and(designers.
Meanwhile,(the(land(group(I(founded( continued(to(grow.(By(late(2008,(I( developed(a(16 region(continent(with( over(75(sponsoring(residents.(We(had( many(different(interests(groups(all(using(the(same(land.(Equestrians,(pilots( and(aircraft(builders,(firefighters,(boat(builders,(bikers,(and(even( mermaids(made(up(the(communities.(Believe(me,(it(was(not(easy(at(first( having(each(group(compromise(for(the(others.(Then(one(day,(role2play cops(showed(up(and(started(to(bully(me,(our(residents,(and(our(guests..(The( drama(that(followed(cost(me(the(loss(of(thousands(of(dollars(and(16( months(work.(I(broke(off(the(partnership(with(our(partner(in(the(land( group(that(endorsed(the(cop(RP,(and(we(moved(on(to(build(a(new( continent(called(Aero(Pines Park.
Roxie: What!is!your!vision!for!Aero!Pines!Park!and!Recreation!Area?! How!have!you!accomplished!this!vision?
Cindy:!My(vision(for(Aero(Pines(Park(is(to(have(an(all purpose(facility(for( everything(you(can(do(with(the(Secondlife(and(beyond.(While(there(are( many(others(who(build(classrooms,(conference(centers,(office(buildings,( etc.,(I(feel(those(are(sterile(environments(and(would(lay(empty(most(of(the( time.(With(land(being(so(expensive,(why(not(create(an(environment(with( more(variety(and(activities? Also,(having(such(a(large(land(mass((currently( 10(regions)(allows(me(to(host(large2scale(events(and(gives(me(plenty(of( workshop(space.
Since(1980(I(have(served(the(education,(corporate,(government,( technology,(medical,(sports,(music,(and(entertainment(industries.(That(is( why(there(is(so(much(variety(in(the(events(that(we(do(in(Aero(Pines(Park.( Our(main(events(area(on(our(valley(floor(is(much(like(your(local(city( stadium.(We(change(out(builds(for(a(large(event(once(a(month.(We(host(or( accommodate(expos,(conferences,(exhibitions,(holiday(festivities,(and( more.(You(may(land(and(find(something(different(going(on(than(the(last( time(you(were(there.(When(there(are(no(special(events,(the(valley(floor(is( our(equestrian(center(featuring(interactive(riding(arenas,(rodeo(grounds,( and(a(racetrack.
Roxie: Yes,!you!have!a!wonderful!recreation!area!!I!have!attended!many! activities!at!Aero!Pines!Park!such!as!the!Kentucky!Derby!last!year,!ice! skating,!bike!riding,!a!rodeo,!and!concerts.!What!have!been!some!of!your! favorite!activities?
Cindy: All(our(events(are(a(favorite(or(we(wouldn't(do(them!( Each(event(is( expensive(and(time2consuming.(We(don't(charge(admission(nor(beg(for( tips.(It’s(our(treat(to(offer(the(best(in(what( Second life's(multimedia(technology(can( do(for(mass(crowds.(And(to(be(honest,(my( team(and(I(are(just(honing(our(skills(each( time(we(do(a(mega(event.(But(the(one( thing(that(is(always(integral,(every(event(is( interactive.(I(do(not(build(anything(just(to( look(at it.(It(must(make(it(engaging.
Examples(would(be(our(annual(USA(4th(of( July(Party.(It’s(a(high(quality(concert(video(
At(our Super(Bowl(Sunday( event(we(offer(free(jerseys( and(cheerleader(outfits,( tailgate(party(interactions,( cheerleader(dance(pad,(and( a(jumbo(TV screen(bigger( than(life(on(the(football( field.
Roxie: That!sounds!like!a! lot!of!fun!
streamed(via(private(server(only( to(our(stage.(Guests(operate(the( fireworks,(balloon(cannons,(flip( burgers,(and(get(beer(from(a(keg.(
Cindy: Our(9/11(Stair(Climb( Tribute(to(Firefighters(is( another(totally(interactive( build(where(we(give(visitors( free(fire(gear(to(wear(while( they(climb(110(stories(of(the( ghosted(World(Trade(Center( towers(in(honor(of(The( Fallen.(And(this(month,(our( 5th(Annual(Halloween(Trail( is(underway.(We(have(over(30(interactive(displays(along(the(roads(of(9( regions. After(that? Well,(thousands(anticipate(our(Winter(Festival.(Aero( Pines(Park(becomes(a(winter(wonderland(–(with(skiing,(sledding,(
snowboarding,(sleighs,(as(well(as(our(famous(huge(outdoor skating(pond!
Roxie: I!can’t!wait!!I!will!be!there!!LOL!
Cindy: We(have(our(annual(events(we've(been(doing(since(2006 07.(Our( busiest(time(of(year(is(fall(and(winter(starting(with(our(9/11( Remembrance,(all(the(way(through(Valentine's(Day.(As(we(head(in(to( 2013,(Aero(Pines(Park(SL(will(decrease(in(size(because(the(current(SL( economy(no(longer(supports(the(funding(it(takes(to(support(so(many( regions.
Roxie: Tell!us!about!your!September!11th!Tribute!–!How!it!began,!what! you!do,!and!what!you!hope!people!take!away!from!the!experience.
Cindy: My(associate(builder,(Bethlee(Spad,(and(I have(been(the(nuts(and( bolts(of(Aero(Pines's(exclusive(events.(In(the(summer(of(2010(we(knew(the( 10 year mark(of(9/11(was(coming(up.(We(wanted(to(do(something(special( and(unique.(As(9/11(was(only(a(week(away,(Bethlee(saw(a(news(report(on( TV(of(how(local(firefighters(were(organizing(a(stair climb(tribute(in(an( Atlanta(skyscraper.(Bethlee(said,("That's(what(we(are(going(to(do,(a(stair climb(tribute(on(our(sim".
We(didn't(even(discuss(it.(We(just(went(into(build(mode(like(never(before.( As(I(mentioned(above,(I(must(make(our(builds(interactive(and(engaging.( This(interaction(involved(the(visitor(wearing(full(firefighter(gear,(and(then ascending(the(stairwells.(We(were(still(working(on(the(structures(and( interface(as(people(were(already(starting(to(arrive(days(before.(Other(fire( depts. in(SL(started(donating statues,(displays,(gear,(trucks,(gifts,(etc.
When(Sept(11(arrived,(we(were(hit(with(hundreds(of(visitors(every(hour.( Plus,(much media(attention! This(type(of(event(was(not(one(for(us(to(gloat( about(the(success,(nor(be(happy(about(all(the(attention,(but(Beth(and(I( admit(we(did(outdo(ourselves.(It(touched(so(many,(so(deeply.(It(was( difficult(reading(the(entries(in(the(guestbooks(because(of(tears(welling(up( in(my(eyes.(It(was(much(more(emotional(for(the(real(life(and(role play( firefighters(who(train(and(practice(in(Secondlife.(They(arrived(as(whole( fire(department(crews,(to(climb(together(in(honor(and(in(tribute(to(fallen( brothers.
You!can!learn!more!about!our!9/11!Tribute!and!Firefighter!Training!in! Aero!Pines!Park:
http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2012/09/second life 911 memorial.html
http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds/episodes/firefighters
Roxie: You!do!many!simulations!and!trainings!for!first!responders!in!sl.! Please!share!a!few!of!the!examples!of!what!you!have!done!with!our! readers.
Cindy: I(serve(mainly(as(host(and(administrator for(such(activities.(I( provide(the(land(and(a(few(builds.(The(training(group(subscribes(to(the( land(bringing(their(expertise(and(content.(They(are(good(at(what(they(do,( and(I(am(good(at(what(I(do,(which(is(taking(those(concepts(to(other( levels.( I(embraced(the(firefighter(training(and(hazardous(occupations( training(concepts(using(virtual(worlds.(We(did(demos(here(and(there,( which(led(to(other(projects(such(as(the(Florida(power(company(that(trains( electrical(linesmen(on(substation(controllers in(SL,(and(our(aviation(3D( ground(school(development.
students!in!virtual!environments? Real!Life!Electrical!Linesmen!at!Substation!Simulator
Cindy: Regarding(conducting(classes,(I(try(to(get(rid(of(all(distractions(to( the(students/users.(A(classroom(needs(to(be(in(a(place(where(they(see(only( the(content(that(is(involved(with(the(lessons.(Even(if(that(means(a(bland( skybox.(After(the(class,(then(turn(them(loose(on(the(other(content.
Regarding(using(virtual(world( tools(as(part(of(the(lessons(or( coursework,(students(or( participants(will(have( different(levels(of(skill.(I( always(assign(the(tutorials(at( the(Ivory(Tower(of(Prims( before(the(first(class(or( session.(It(really(speeds(things( along.
Regarding(training( simulations(and(teambuilding( exercises(–(Leadership(is(the( most(important(component of
Hazardous!Work!Area!With!heavy!Equipment!Demo! For!OSHA
teaming(up(online.(Without( good(leadership(and( respect(from(the(other( users,(you'll(have(too(many( chiefs.(Positions(need(to(be( established(prior.(If( everyone(is(well(qualified to(be(a(chief,(then(some(will( have(to(humble(themselves( and(take(on(more( subservient roles.(In( general,(professionalism(is( required(for(success(in( simulations(and(especially( those(that(involve(role play.(
Roxie: What!has!been!most rewarding!to!you!about!your!work!at!Aero! Pines?
Cindy: The(most(rewarding(thing(is(the(flow(of(messages(from(visitors( such(as(these(just(in(the(last(week:
"This(place(is(awesome"
"This(is(my(favorite(place(in(SL"
"This(is(the(best(event(I've(ever(been(to(in(SL"
"I(love(Aero(Pines(Park!(Keep(up(the(good(work!"
"Can(I(bring(my(group(here(for(activities?"
"Are(you(going(to(do(Halloween(Trail(again?(Its(so(much(fun!"
"Are(you(going(to(do(WinterFest(again?(Its(the(best(in(SL"
"How(can(I(be(a(part(of(Aero(Pines?(What(can(I(do(to(support?"
"Our(friends(told(us(about(Aero(Pines,(it’s(our(first(time(here.(OMG(we're( having(a(blast..."
Roxie: What!are!your!plans!for!the!future?
Cindy: We're(not(revealing(too(much(right(now,(but(Aero(Pines(Park(2.0(is(
in(development.(I(will(say,(that(it(is(a(web based(viewer,(and(the(platform( will(have(more(realistic(environments,(more(flexibility,(and(can(host( thousands(of(users(at(one(event.( We(will(be(changing(from(very(expensive( land(with(lots(of(cheap(content(in(Second life,(to(infinite(land(with(very( expensive(content.(Its(a($30k(US(startup(cost,(and(will(probably(take(about( $150k(to(get(where(we(want(to(be.(It(will(be(primarily(serving(first( responder(training(with(a(supporting(virtual(community(like(we(have( been(doing.(You(are(probably(thinking,("Wow,(that's(expensive",(but(the( reality(is,(to(build(Aero(Pines(Park(from(scratch(right(now,(it(would(easily( cost($30K.
Roxie: You’re!right! Not!to!mention!all!your!time.
Cindy:(We(will(still(carryout(our(annual(events(in(Secondlife,(but(we'll( have(less(regions(making(up(the(park.(Visitors(probably(won't(notice(much( of(a(difference.(We(have(increased(and decreased(the(size(of(our(landmass( several(times(over(the(years.(But(as(far(as(large2scale(events,(I(can't(just( stop(throwing(parties(and(conducting(events(that(attract(more(than(1000( guests(at(a(time.(It’s(so(fulfilling(to(entertain(and(engage(so(many.(I(could( never(do(that(in(real(life.(The(cost(would(be(millions(of(dollars.
Roxie: I!had!no!idea!you!attracted!that!many!guests!at!a time!!
Cindy: The(more(we(do(this,(the(better(we(get(at(it.(The(world(is(going(to( need(this(experience(and(expertise(when(virtual(worlds(do(become(more( mainstream.(I(have(a(100%(success(rate(with(my(professional(mixed( reality(events,(where(so(many(others have(failed(due(to(the(technical( complexity(and(lack(of(experience.(I(couldn't(brag(about(it(unless(I(had( done(a(lot(of(it.(Aero(Pines(Park's(events(give me(a(lot(of(practice(in( between(jobs.
Many(enthusiastic(educators(quit(SL(because(of(cost(and(other(challenges.( Those(that(stayed gained(online(social(skills(in(the(areas(of(community( and(virtual(facility(management.(That(is(big!(It’s(one(thing(to(build( something,(it’s(another to(maintain(it(and(keep(a(user(base.(No(matter( what(grid,(server,(or(platform(you're(using,(the(community(management( and(event(and(activity(hosting(skills(go(with(you(wherever(you(log(in.( Understanding(of(how(people(work,(learn,(and(behave(online,(and(keeping( them(engaged,(are(the(most(important(skills(for(success(at(any(level(of(
using(virtual(worlds.(Anyone(can(make(virtual(chairs,(getting(and(keeping( those(chairs(occupied(is(the(mission.
Roxie:!I!LOVE!IT,!Cindy!! You!are!so!right.!I!think!that!this!should!be!our! mantra,!in!virtual!world!education!as!in!real!world.!I!think!I!am!going!to! make!a!poster!and!hang!it!in!my!office!. .!.! “Anyone&can&make&virtual& chairs,&getting&and&keeping&those&chairs&occupied&is&the&mission!”
Than!You for!sharing!all!of!this!with!our!readers,!Cindy,!and!especially! for giving!so!much!of!yourself!and your!talent!through!Aero!Pines!Park! to!all!of!the!residents!in!second!life.!Good!luck!on!you!next!ventures.!We! all!look!forward!to!attending!future! events!at!Aero!Pines!Park!!Thanks!for! making!them!so!much!fun!
Be sure to watch Cindy Bolero on October 1, 2012 “Firefighters” segment of Designing World's show with hosts Saffia Widdershins & Elrik Merlin at http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds
Can’t!get!there!in!RL?!No!Problem!!See!them!in!SL!!
There!are!many!reasons!that!we!can’t!or!haven’t!visited!all!of!the!places! in!RL!that!are!on!our!bucket!list!of!must!see!things!to!do.!Likewise,!there! are!places!in!SL!that!could!or!should!be!on!your!bucket!list!of!“Must!See! Places”!in!SL.! So,!instead!of!“shoulda,!woulda,!coulda”!. .!.!be!sure!to!take! time!this!month!to!“Fill!YOUR!BUCKET”!by!visiting!these!MUST!SEE! SIMS.!Like!us,!you!will!be!amazed!at!how!true!to!life!these!(and!many! more!like!them)!places!truly!are.!The!following!are!10 of!our!Favorite Places where!“Our(Two(World’s(Collide!” ENJOY!!!!!
Love(to(eat?(Come(play(with(your(food!((Meet(rebellious(robots(and maestro(bakers!(Design,(eat(and(trade(your(own(custom(pasties!((A rich,(whimsical(bakery(theme(park(…(there's(lots(to(do.(An(old,(but well(executed(build,(to(entertain(children(of(all(ages! http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/7Days!Magic!Bakery/247/18/25
2. Galaxy%AFT%–%Queen%of%the%Sagittarian%Sea
Always(wanted(to(take(a(cruise?(You(will(not(find(a(more(luxury( liner.(This(is(the(largest(single(build(in(SL.(You(can(rent(anything(
Terrace(Restaurant,(and dance(the(night(away(in(the(Starlight Lounge!(So,(what(are(you(waiting(for?(
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Galaxy%20AFT/68/48/21
WEDCOT(to(life(–(including(his(partnership with(some(of(the(biggest( names(in(SL(food(to(his(venue!((Loaded(with(fun,(be(sure(to(check(out( the(concerts(and(especially(this(month,( the(“Not(So(Scary(Halloween(Party!( Animals(Park.(To(the(left(is(a(picture(of( Trevor(Sleydon(describes(his(work(as( some(memories(at(both(the(WEDCOT(Center(and(Kingdom(of( enjoy(some(of(the(park(food(venues.(
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fabulous%20Land/99/6/33
4. Ars%Simulacra:%NMC’s%SL%Artist%Showcase%Island
Interactive(Art,(Installation,(Immersive,(StormEye,(Ripple,(Art,(Sculpture,( Education,(Kinetic,(Culture,(Beauty.(Check(it(out(–(Real(Art(in(a(Virtual( World.(An(Artist’s(Paradise!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ars%20Simulacra/17/174/46
5. Inspire%Space Park To(enjoy(the(beauty(of(this( park,(make(sure(to(set(your( world(to(midnight.(Then,( you(can(meditate(in(a( cosmic(sci fi(ambient( natural(space(galaxy,(relax( to(psychedelic(inspiring(chill( tunes(while(you(fly(through( stars(and(hug(the(universe( at(INSPIRE(SPACE(Park.(( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shinda/85/196/1560
6.The%Crooked%House/Shark%Reef This(is(a realization of(Robert(A.(Heinlein's('Crooked(House'(by( Seifert(Surface.(You(will(be(amazed(as(you(explore(the(multiply( interconnected(rooms(of(this(house(modeled(on(the(4(dimensional( hypercube! It(is(truly(a(wonder(to(be(seen!(
To(Crooked(House http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Galaxy%20Quest/128/68/7 72
While(you(are(at(the(Crooked( House be(sure(to(grab(the(Terra( E2chute((a(simple(parachute),( put(it(on,(and(jump(off(the( platform.(When(you(start(to(see( land(below,(type(“pull”(and(then( land(safely(in(the(water!(This(is( a(reusable(parachute,(so(type( “close”(and(jump(again!(Happy( Landing!
7. Steelhead%City There%is%nothing%like%the%great%Northwest!%Steelhead%is%made%up%of seven%Sims built%with%a%Steampunk/turn of the century%Pacific Northwest%Theme.%You%will%love%climbing%to%the%top%of%MT.%Hood%–%or if%you%are%short%on%time,%click%on%the%slurl%below%to%get%to%the%summit. The%view%is%worth%it!%Check%out%the%blog%http://mattpoole.net/EC/ by our%own%Expedition%Reporter%Cyrus%Hush%(SL)%and%Matt%Poole%(RL)%for more%details.%Happy%hiking!
On%the%Summit%of%Mt.%Hood% http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Steelhead%20Boomtown/22 3/20/89
The(Vista(House( with(Mt.(St.( Helen’s(and(Mt.( Hood(in(the( distance. http://maps.second life.com/secondlife /Steelhead! Boomtown/165/13 9/28
8. The%Chelsea%Hotel You(can(no(longer(visit(the(Chelsea(Hotel(in(RL(as(it(has(been(closed( indefinitely.(http://www.hotelchelsea.com/
But,(if(this(historical(hotel(has(been(on(your(bucket(list(you(can(still( learn(how(this(hotel(has(always(been(at(the(center(of(artistic(and( bohemian(activity.(Many(famous(artists(have(stayed(in(the(hotel( including(Sir(Arthur(C.(Clark(who(wrote(the(“2001:(A(Space(Odyssey”( while(living(here (rl).(Other artists who(have(stayed(at(the(hotel( include(poets(like(Allen(Ginsberg(and(Dylan(Thomas.( Be(sure(to( check(out(Hotel(Chelsea’s((sl)(4th Annual(Halloween(Parade(With(DJ( Perky(on( October(31st(628( pm!(1000L$( prizes(for(best( male(and( female( costumes!( http://maps.sec ondlife.com/sec ondlife/Lanestr is/79/182/104
9. Molaskey’s%Pub
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wichi/140/199/31
There(are(many(venues(in(sl,(but(one(of(the(most(authentic(is( Molaskey's(Pub.( Molaskey’s(is(an(Irish(pub(built(by(Apple( MacKay(and(owned(&(operated(by(Apple(&(Katydid(Something.( With(Darts,(a(beach,(a(winter(ice(skating(rink(and(constant( music,(it's(a(great(place(to(meet friends.(Live(Music(on(Sundays( and(Mondays.(This(is(a(great(place(to(relax(at(the(end(of(the(day( by(the(fire(in(the(winter(or(on(the(beach(in(the(summer.(
To(hear(Bright(Oh((Soar)(a(concert at(Molaskey’s(Pub,(recorded( 32822012(check(out( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jJEvDwcBDY
10.1920’s%Berlin%Project If(traveling(back(in(time(is(on(your(bucket(list,(you(will(not(want(to miss(the 1920’s(Berlin(Project(in(sl!(Details(about(this(project(can(be found(at(http://1920sberlin.com/ .((The(exhibit/(role play is(a collaborative(project(between(the(Berlin(sim(community(and(the TLA(SL(Library(group.(( Background(can(be(accessed(in(these(videos: http://youtu.be/0DbXmQxIEtI and http://youtu.be/hLZJ1ESWiwY
There is(so(much(history(related(to(this(period(of(time(to(experience (e.g.,(Treaty(of(Versailles,(The(Great(Depression(in(Central(Europe). So,(what(are(you(waiting(for?(The(only(thing(required(is(that(you dress(in(1920’s(attire.(If(you(do(not(have(any(clothes(from(this vintage,(no(problem,(there(are(free(outfits(to(be(had(at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/1920s%20Berlin/236/233/ 751
According(to(the(notecard(when(you(arrive,(“authenticity(and( realism(are(very(important.”(They(explain,(“ We(try(to(recreate(a( feeling,(almost(a(journey(back(in(time.(That’s(why(we(ask(you(to( dress(in(style(and(to(act(the(part.(We(want(EVERYONE(who(visits(to( feel(as(if(they(are(really(back(in(time,(really(visiting(the(1920s,(so,( please(don't(ruin(this(experience(for(others(by(ignoring(the(rules. You(can(learn(more(about(Berlin(at( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1920s_Berlin
To(begin(my(adventure,(I(found(an(outfit(and(boarded(the(train(to( Berlin.(The(first(place(I(found(was(a(cute(little(diner(where(I(had( lunch.
Then(I(was(off(to(find(my(favorite(spot(from(our(rl(summer(vacation( to(Berlin(2012,(and(that(was(the(Brandenburg(Gate!(I(couldn’t( believe(my(eyes(when(I(saw(it!(What(a(thrill(to(stand(in(the(same( place(next(to(the(Brandenburg(Gate(in(sl(that(we(stood(in(rl(just(a( few(short(weeks(ago!(
Build It & They Will Come By Andrew Wheelock (RL), Spiff Whitfield (SL)
An!old!saying!of!mine!is... in times!of!trouble!and!strife,!“seek!comfort!in! the!arts.”!!!
The!state!of!education!in!New!York!State!where!I!teach!has!brought! trouble!and!strife.! Without!going!through!the!grim!details!let!me!just! suffice!to!say...!we!have!been!enduring!a!period!of!rapid!change!that!is! uninspired!and!seemingly!built!not!on!proven!educational!values!but!on! the!thirst!of!Federal!Race(to(the(Top(Dollars.! These!rapid!fire!“reforms”! and!standardized!testing!initiatives!have!created!a!sense!of!unease!and! stress!that!has!teachers!seeking!a!comfort!zone!in!low!level!tech!tools! and!paper/pencil!scribbles!and!bubble!form!learning.!
And!so!I!turn!to!the!arts,!and!my!friends!and!colleagues,!for!inspiration! and!for!hope!that!these!dark!days!of!acronyms!will!one!day!pass!and!we! will again!get!back!to!the!empowering!value!of!public!education.!
My!hope!is!lined!with!the!notion!that!we!live!in!an!incredible!climate!for! educators!! We!have!access!to!an!amazing!array!of!technology!tools!that! can!bring!our!students!instant!access!to!people!and!ideas!from!all!over! the!world.! When!I!began!my!teaching!career!in!1994!the!best!hope!a! student!could!have!of!publishing!their!work!was!outside!the!hallway!for! Open!House.! Now!their!work,!from!music,!to!writing,!to!art,!can!be! shared!around!the!world,!without!a!publishing!company.!
Recent!new!pedagogies!such!as,!“The!Flipped!Classroom”,!and! “Gamification!of!Learning”!are!offering!new!promise!and!intrigue]!if,
that!is, teachers!dare!to!try!them.
Which!brings!me!back!to!the!arts.! The!quintessential!movie,!Field(of( Dreams with!Kevin!Costner!was!a!simple!tale!about!a!hardscrabble! farmer!who!is!coaxed!into!building!a!baseball!field!in!the!middle!of!his! Iowa!cornfield!by!a!ghostly!voice!that!says,!“Build!it,!and!they!will! come”.! He!builds!it!and!the!ghosts!of!baseball’s!glorious!past!come! through!the!cornfields!to!play.! The!film!is!corny,!but!highlights!our! traditions,!values,!and!anchors!to!the!past.
Which!brings!me!to!MOOCs, (Massive!Open!Online!Courses).! At!first! blush,!I!thought...!here!we!go!again,!ANOTHER!Acronym!in! education.! Can!we!please!stop!with!the!acronyms?! Yet,!once!I!was! introduced!to!the!concept!through!Kae!Novak!and!Tanya!Martin,!I!was! intrigued.! A!light!was!starting!to!dawn!on!me.! All!these!powerful!social! networking!tools!I!have!come to!rely!on!combined!with!the!virtual! environment!possibilities!I!have!always!dreamed!of!could!come! together!in!a!learning!system!that!was!open!and!empowering!
So!using!the!Virtual!Environment!grid!that!I!was!able!to!create!through! the!support!of!my work,!The(Western(New(York(Regional(Information( Center((WNYRIC)!along!with!their!hosted!Moodle(Online(Learning( System,!I!had!all!the!components!of!a!great!MOOC!experience!for! teachers!based!around!the!powerful!book,!Diary(of(a(Young(Girl,(Anne( Frank.!
So the!format!goes!something!like!this:
1. Teachers!are!given!access!to!our!Moodle!Course!and!access!to!the Secret(Annex!virtual!recreation!via!Adobe!Connect.
2. Through!the!Moodle!there!are!various!directions!on!how!to!connect with!the!other!participants!using!Flickr,!Diigo,!and!Twitter.! This!gives us!various!communication!modes!to!work!from.
3. In!the!virtual!environment,!there!are!10!common!core based assignments!to!work!with,!based on Anne’s!Diary!and!World!War!II Holocaust.
4. We!have!weekly!office!hours!scheduled!for!participants!to!stop!by, ask!questions,!share!resources,!or!just!explore!the!Annex!to!learn!and relate.
5. We!have!a!final!date!where!we!will!have!a!share!time!and!provide
teachers!with!Badges!for!their!website!for!completing!the!assignments! and!postings.
While!our!first!group!has!been!small,!less!than!10!members,!the!concept! of!the!MOOC!format!has!been!really!amazing!and!inspiring!for!me!as!an! educator!that!has!been!battered!by!a!year!of!heavy!handed!reform! initiatives.! The!notion!of!bringing!people!from!all!over!the!world!to! learn!at!their!own!pace!with!guidance!and!support!not!from!a!top!down! structure!but!a!circular!one!where!everyone’s!voice!is!respected!and! honored is!exciting!and!refreshing.! It!provides!such!a!unique! opportunity!to!gather!minds!and produce!a!result!that!works!along!a! whole!variety!of!learners!and!their!unique!talents!and!needs.
So!I!encourage!you...!as!an!innovative!educator,!build!a!MOOC....!and!they! will!come! The!learning!will!come,!it!will!blossom,!and!in!that!you!will! be!inspired!and!have!your!class!of!teachers!or!students!build!an!ark!of! learning!to!weather!the!storms!of!reform!in!the!fast!paced!21st! Century.
Educators#Connect#Virtually#
Submitted#by#T.#Martin#and#C.#Luchs
ISTE’s!special!Interest!Group!for!Virtual!Environments!(SIGVE)! continues!to!expand!communication!and!collaboration!among!and! between!members,!as!well!as!with!those!who!have!not!yet!been!bitten! by!the!Virtual!Environment!bug.!!SIGVE!embarked!on!the!2012]2013! school!year!by!joining!the!Connected!Educator!movement.!!
SIGVE!hosted!a!multi dimensional!“Connected!Educator!Hour”!in!August!
to!provide!information!regarding!ongoing!activities!to!educators! interested!in!using!virtual!environments!for!teaching!and!learning.!! Educators!from!around!the!country!gathered!in!the!virtual! environments!of World!of!Warcraft!and!Second!Life!in!a!collaborative! effort!to!share!and!deliver!an!experience!to!fellow!educators.!!
This!is!not!the!only!connected!educator!hour!SIGVE!has!planned;!in!fact,! A!Scary!Sim!Crawl!is!planned!for!October!23,!culminating!in!a!60 second! Scary!Machinima!Fest.!!All!SIGVE!events,!as!well!as!those!planned!by! fellow!Virtual!Digizens!are!posted!on!the!Massive!Open!Online!Calendar.!
The!August!tour!began!at! SIGVE!headquarters!on!Second!Life and! presented!viewers!with!five!additional!destinations;! Virtual!Pioneers,! Second!Life!Educators!of!Escambia!County,! Virginia!Society!for! Technology!in!Education,!World!of!Warcraft! G.A.M.E., and! Games!MOOC! at! Front!Range!in!Second!Life.! Participants!had!several!options!for! attending.!!They!could!visit!each!of!the!worlds!with!their!Avatar,!keep! the!Avatar!in!one!location!and!watch!the!streamed!Google!Hangout! session!live!on! YouTube!(http://bit.ly/sigveconnected),!or!watch!the! recorded!session!at!a!later!time.!
The!August!Connected!Hour!was!a!varied!representation!of!what! educators!are!doing!around!the!country!with!virtual!environments!and! education.!Peggy!Sheehy!describing!her!experiences!using World!of! Warcraft! with!her!students!as!well!as!showing!some!key!locations! within!the!game.!The!teachers!of!the!Cognitive!Dissonance!Guild showed! up!and!hammed!it!up!a!bit!for!the!camera;!however,!the!discussion!was! a!serious!account!of!the!positive!impact!the!use!of!the!game!has!had!on! students.!
The!second!stop!of!the!tour!was! Front!Range,!Colorado's!Front!Range! Community!College's!sim!in!Second!Life.! Kae!Novak!(Que!Jinn!in!SL)!and! Vasili!Giannoutsos!(Bluebarker!in!SL) provided!a!tour!of!the!evolving! sim!along!with!information!regarding!the!educational!games!related! activities!planned!for!the!year.! Front!Range!is!the!“headquarters”!for!in world!activity!related!to!the!ongoing Games!MOOC.!
Marie!Booz,!(Mandie!Mimulus!in!SL)!of! Virginia!Society!for!Technology!
In!Education!(VSTE)! provided! a!look!at!the!historical!and!geographic! features! of!the!virtual!location!along!with!descriptions!of!how!these! areas!are!used!for!professional!development.!!
After!VSTE,!the!Second!Life!Educators!of!Escambia!County!(SLEEC)!from! Escambia!County!in!the!Florida!Panhandle!delivered!an!entirely! different! landscape taking!the!tour!through!swampland!and!palm! beaches.!!Lori!Weedo!(Lori!Galli!in!SL)!and!Lauren!Thurman!(Laural! McCallen!in!SL)!explained!how!SLEEC!uses!their!island!for!professional! development!as!well!as!for!science!instruction!for!middle!and!high! school!students.!
Mary!O’Brien!(Serena!Offcourse!in!SL) dressed! in! historic!attire,!invited! guests!to!the! Virtual!Pioneers headquarters!in!Second!Life.! Located! adjacent!to!the!SIGVE! Island in!Second!Life,!Virtual!Pioneers!holds!bi weekly!virtual!field!trips!related!to!history,!geography!and!culture!with! alternate!weeks!for!Meet!and!Greet!with!Spiff!Whitfield.
The!tour!culminated!at!the!new!ISTE/SIGVE!location!on!Second! Life.! Andrew!Wheelock!(Spiff!Whitfield!in!SL)!provided!a!tour!of!the! new!location!including!the!blogger!hut,!50’s!Diner,!fire]pit!area,! auditorium!and!conference!room.!!He!described!the!regularly!scheduled! events!that!take!place!including!Office!hours,!Show!and!Tell,!SIGVE! Speaker!Series,!social!events,!machinima!nights!and!more.!
Adjacent!properties!are!owned!and!operated!by!educators!who! contribute!time!and!use!of!property!to!enhance!this!innovative!and! growing!interest!in!immersive!environments.!!
Come!join!us!as!we!collaborate!and!try!new!ways!of!teaching!and! learning.
Everyone#Is#Invited!
Please!join!ISTE!SIGVE!wiki!at!http://sigve.iste.wikispaces.net/ Check!the!SIGVE!Calendar!at!http://sigve.weebly.com/calendar.html
Please!join!us!at!SIGVE!Headquarters!in!SL!at! http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EduIsland!9/25/81/22
Hope!To!See!You!There!!
ISTE#SL#Tours#2.0## Sunday#Sept#9,#2012
By!Cyrus!Hush!(SL),!Matt!Poole!(RL)
The!Palo!Verde!Biological!Station,!located!in!the!scenic!Costa!Rican!sims! group!is!a!extremely!educational!build!that!demonstrates!the!beauty,! fragility!and!biological!diversity!of!wetlands,!and!will!leave!you aching! to!visit!Costa!Rica!!!The!thing!to!do!here!is!to!take!the!guided!boat!tour,! which!accommodates!four!avatars!at!a!time!and!several!tours!can!be! running!at!once.
The!automated!and!narrated!jungle!boat!tour!takes!about!ten!minutes,! and!will!deposit!you!at!the!gift!shop!when!concluded.!!If!you!have!any! interest!in!purchasing!a!scripted!jaguar!for!your!living!room,!now’s!your! chance.!!
The!real!life!Palo!Verde!Biological!Research!Station,!located!in!Palo! Verde!National!Park,!in!the!Guanacaste!Province of!Costa!Rica,!is!a! research!station!operated!by!the!OTS!in!Costa!Rica.!!
It!is!one!of the!foremost!sites!for!ecological research!on!tropical!dry! forests,!which!are!some!of!the!most!endangered!types!of!tropical! ecosystems!in!the!world.!!Although!they!may!get!a!lot!of!rain,!tropical! dry!forests!have!a!hard!dry!season!during!the!year,!which!makes!them! very!different!biomes!than!tropical!rain!forests.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Verde_Biological_Station!]!cite_note Janzen]0
The!Organization!for!Tropical!Studies!is!a!consortium!of!63!institutions! from!around!the!world!that!studies!tropical!ecosystems!and!the!effects! of!industrialization,!deforestation!and!habitat!destruction.!!
Matt!Poole
DRUM#CIRCLE#FUN Occupy%Poetic%Drum%Circle%
9am%SLT%Sunday,%October%14,%2012
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etopia!Island/152/184/22
Make!Live!Music!@!Drum!Circle!!
FREE!Occupy!BOOK!!http://tiny.cc/1cswlw
MEET!THE!AUTHOR!!!JL!Morin!(RL)!gave!away!copy!of!her!free!book!“Trading! Dreams”!for!Kindle!at!this!event.!!After!the!event!you!can!purchase!“Trading!Dreams”! at!Amazon http://www.amazon.com
Host:!Carl!Solutionary!(RL)!Carlicann!Resident!(SL)!!
A!calendar!of!future!Occupy!Virtual!Worlds!events:!http://tiny.cc/pab6lw
Drum!Circle!Magazine:!!http://drumcirclemagazine.com/poetry?start=11
Carl(Solutionary(reports(“FYI…(our(viral(marketing(campaign(for(JL(Morin’s(“Trading(Dreams”(was(very( successful…(We(got(5994(book(downloads(in(5(days… with(ony(3(SL(events…(and(the(event(advertising….( Second(Life(is(a(very(fertile(platform(for(Viral(Marketing.(As(you(know,(the(book(“Trading(Dreams”(is(#1(in( Political(Fiction(on(http://www.amazon.com Listening&to&poetry,&playing&drums,&and&enjoying&the&moment!& Drumming&Circle&
Lightning#Productions: An#Interview#With#Coz#Okelly By#Roxie#Neiro
Roxie: How!did!you!get!involved!with!virtual!environments?!What! brought!you!to!second!life?!!!!!!
COZ: I(started(in(Second(Life(after(reading(about(SL(in(the(newspaper.( Having been(a(computer(enthusiast(and(involved(in(gaming,(SL(sounded( like(an(interesting(environment.(Of(course,(once(I(touched(it,(I(couldn't(let( go,(much(like(touching(a(high(voltage(live(wire.
Roxie: [laughing]!How!did!you!get! started!with!Lightning!Productions! and!doing!tribute!concerts!in!sl?!!!!!!
COZ: Getting(started(with(tribute( bands(was(just(good(luck. I(had(a( friend(who(pulled(me(into(Lightning( Productions((LP).(The(friend(had(a(friend(in(another(Tribute(Band(group( and(there(was(ego(conflict(in(that(group.(I(helped(develop(the(name(for(LP,( then(LP(needed(some(stages(built(and(it(grew(from(there.
Roxie: What!goes!into!a!typical!production?!(i.e.,!How!many!people!are! working!with!you!behind!the!scenes?!What!is!the!setup!time?)!!!!!
COZ: Tribute(bands(in(SL(are(a(fairly(common(occurrence,(although(DJ's( are(even(more(frequently(seen(and(heard.(Tribute(bands(are(of(course(very( different(from(DJ's(in(as(much(as(the(presentation(concert(brings(the( drama(of(live(action(to(the(music.(LP(consists(of(about(twenty(citizens(and( some(alts.(Building(a(stage(for(a(particular(band(may(involve(30(to(40( hours(of(build(time(including(special(texture(for(objects(and(backgrounds.( I(handle(the(Posters,(Tee(Shirts,(Notices,(Stages(and(Music(myself(with( band(members(contributing(any(ideas(to(me(to(help(develop(the(show.
Be#Sure#To#Catch#Lightning# Productions
Pearl&Jam Saturday, October(27, 6pm SLT
The$Gallery
EDD IE#VEDDER#– vocals' Plato
BOOM$GASPAR$] Keys%] MT
JEFF$AMENT$– bass$guitar$] Zonker
STONE&GOSSARD&– rhythm&guitar&] Shiva
MIKE%McCREADY%– lead%guitar% Kat
MATT$CAMERON$– drums&] Thor
NEIL%YOUNG% Vocals/Guitar- Mic
PEARL&JAM&DANCER& Rhonda
PEARL&JAM&DANCER%] Luce
PEARL&JAM&HOST&– Penny
Roxie: How!do!you!decide!on! the!groups!and!the!songs?!!!!!!
COZ: The(band(group(is(picked( and(agreed(to(by(the(owner(or( event(manager(of(the(SIM.( Usually(the(selected(band(will( fit(the(lifestyle(of(the(SIM(and(will(celebrate(a(special(event(or(scheduled( event(at(the(SIM.(Selection(of(the(songs(is(generally(made(by(me,(but( certainly(any(request(for(particular(songs(or(periods(can(be(suggested(by( the(SIM(or(one(of(our(band(members.
Roxie: How!are!band!members!picked!and!are!there!new!band! members!for!each!tribute!band?!!!!!
COZ: Our(bands(members(are(usually(referred(to(LP(by(staff(members(but( in(some(cases(loyal(fans(of(the(group(have(been(asked(to(join(the(staff.(In( some(cases(someone(has(seen(a(show,(found(it(interesting(and(approaches( us(about(joining(the(staff.(We(have(original(members( from 5(years(ago( that(are(still(active(and(that include(citizens(from(Finland,(the(UK(and(the( US(2(Eastern,(central,(mountain(and(Pacific(time zones.(Members(can(be( used(in(any(band(and(their(availability(at(a(particular(time(is(ta ken(into( account(as(well(as(the type(of(instruments(they(have(available.( Instruments(that(are(rezzed(are(provided(with(the(stage,(like(drums(and( keyboards.(The(band(member(provides(worn(items like(guitars(and(horns.(( Roxie: How!do!you!coordinate!and!choreograph!the!shows?!
COZ: Since(most(of(our(band(members(are(experien ced(the(choreography( is(simple.(LP(provides(the(band(citizen(with(a(concert(play(list, the(name(of( their(role,(instrument,(and(location(on(the(stage.(The(member(then( changes(their(Avatar(to(look(as( closely(as(possible(to(the(assigned( band(member.(In(some(cases(a( complex(production(like(Xanadu( and(The(Rocky(Horror(Midnight( Picture(Show(took(several rehearsals(to(make(sure(our(
interaction(with(avi's(and(music(was(good.
Roxie: What!skills!did!you!need!to!learn!to!produce!these!shows?!
COZ: Several(things(are(important(but(building(and(texture(skills(are(most( important(because(without(those(I'd(be(using(someone’s stage(without(the( customization(for(a(particular(band.(Of(course,(knowing(how(to(use( lightning,(particles,(animations,(scripts(and(other(stage(effects(becomes( important.(
Roxie: What!is!your!favorite!concert(s)!and!why?!
COZ: We(have(about(100(tribute(bands(from(ABBA(to(ZZ(Top(so(picking(a( favorite(is(tough(but(because(it(was(my(first(major(production(and(still(one( of(the(most(fun,(I(would(have(to(say(Pink(Floyd(–(The(Wall.(The(Wall(itself( consists(of(about(60(prims(covered(with(my(brick(texture(made(from(a( picture(of(the(back(of(my(brick(BBQ(then(tinted(white(in(paint(shop(that( makes(for(a(unique(wall.(During(the(concert(taking(some(of(the(wall(pieces( and(dropping(them(on(fans(and(the(band(during(the(concert(is(great(fun.( We(do(hand out(hard(hats(so(no(serious(damage(is(done(to(any(attending( fan.(Dropping(the(rest(of(the(wall(at(the(end(with(fans(shouting(“tear(down( the(wall”(is(always(a(tense(moment(for(me(since(lag(can(play(havoc(with( timing.
Roxie: [Laughing]!I!can!only!imagine!!!What!fun!!Where!are!your! favorite!venues!in!sl!for!performing!and!why?!!!!!
COZ: We(have(the(best(clients(in(SL,(no(doubt(about(it.(We(are(asked(back( month(after(month,(year(after(year.(W e(just(had(the(5th year(anniversary( show(at(Dark(Side(Clubhouse. We(do(a(show(at(Mango(Theater(every( month,(have(ABBA(every(month(at(Eden(Celebration,(a(show(at(Rinkland( every(month(and(our(annual(show(for(the(VWBPE.(We(have(many(one( time(shows(as(well(as(the(occasional(birthdays,(grand(openings, and( anniversary’s.
Roxie: Yes,!Like!the!BIG!VEJ!1st Anniversary!a!couple!of!months!ago!with! Jimmy!Buffet.!That!was!lots!of!fun!!What!obstacles!have!you!had!to!deal! with!as!you!produce!these!shows?!!!!!!
COZ: The(biggest(obstacles(are(time,(prim(and(space(availability(at(the( venue(for(stages.(But,(the(availability(of(players(is(key(to(putting(on(a( great(concert.(
Roxie: What!has!been!your!greatest!obstacle!in!producing!the!concerts?!
COZ: Just(being(available(for(6(to(12(shows(a(month(on(weekends(is(my( biggest(obstacle.(The(only(show(we(were(ever(asked(to(do(but(could(not( was(The(Pipettes(because(we(could(not(find(quality(live(recordings.
Roxie: What!has!been!your!greatest!accomplishment?!
COZ: The(greatest(accomplishment(is(the(dedicated(staff(group.(They are( what(make the(concerts(fun(and(easy(to(do.(“What(makes(a(rocker(whine( is(having(to(do(a(Hannah(Montana(concert,(smiling(all(the(way(to(the(end( and(actually(thanking(people.”((
Roxie: What!advise!do!you! have!for!educators!who!are! working!in!sl!–!things!you! know!now!that!you!wish!you! would!have!known!when!you! first!got!started,!tips!and! tricks,!etc?!!!!!!
COZ: WOW,!that's!a!tough!question!but!I!would!say,!create!two!avi's,! with!the!second!one!as!a!back!up!because!within!3!months!you!will!have! probably!screwed!up!so!badly!you'll!want!a!new!start.! I!know!I!did! My! original!avi!sleeps!with!fishes!but!his!account!is!active!just!in!case!the! world!changes!again.!
Roxie: You!are!right!–!I!think!many!of!us!have!several!alts!!!!What!can! we!look!forward!to!seeing!in!the!future!from!Lightning!Productions,! such!as!new,!upcoming!concerts?!!!!!!!!
COZ: We(have(new(tributes(almost(every(month(but(one(band(I(know(that( is(coming(up(is(Chicago,(including(some(of(the(music(from(the(movie( “Electra(Glide(in(Blue”(which(has(one(of(the(best(endings(of(any(movie(ever( made!
Roxie: Anything!else!you!would!like!to!share!about!your!work?! Websites,!url’s.,!links!for!readers.!!!!!
COZ: We(have(some(friends(postings(of(our(concerts.(We(do(not(have(an( active(website(for(fans,(just(staff.(It(would(be(nice(to(have(one(for(fans,( however(no(one(has(volunteered(and(I'm(already(busy.
Here's(latest(picture(of(me,(Coz,(asking,(does(anyone(know(what(time(it( really(is?(And(yes,(I(made(that(clock.(
Roxie: Thanks!again!for!doing!this!interview,!Coz.!Like!me,!I!am!sure! our!readers!will!be!amazed!at!how!much!goes!on!behind!the!scenes!for! one!of!Lightning!Productions’ concerts.!We!look!forward!to!seeing!the! Pearl!Jam!Concert!on!October!27th and!all!of!the!future!tribute!concerts! produced!by!Lightning!Productions!as!well! They!are!always!a!GREAT! time.!Thanks!again!
Mexican%High%School%Gets%Into%3D%Virtual%Worlds%
By!David!W.!Deeds (RL),!Deed!Davids!(SL)
As!of!August!2012,!I!began!my!stint!as!Technology!Integration! Coordinator!for!Colegios!Peterson!(Peterson!Schools,! http://peterson.edu.mx).!The!private!K]12!institution!has!over!2,000! students!at!four!different!campuses!(Cuajimalpa,!Lomas,!Pedregal!and! Tlalpan)!spread!across!Mexico!City.!I’m!also!the!Diploma!Program!(the! International!Baccalaureate!Organization!–!IBO,!http://www.ibo.org!–! term!for!high!school) and!the Information!Technology!in!a!Global! Society!(ITGS)!course!teacher!at!the!Cuajimalpa!campus.!In!addition,!I’m! running!a!10th grade!Computer!Workshop.!Yes,!I’m!rather!busy.!;)
We!have!two!overarching!goals.!Traditionally,!Peterson!Schools!have! juggled!several!sets!of!curriculum!standards,!e.g.,!the!Universidad! Nacional!Autonoma!de!Mexico’s!(UNAM,!http://www.unam.mx)!in! addition!to!the!IBO’s.!One!long]term!objective!is!to!transform!the! institution!into!a!100%!IBO!school.!Our!short]term!priority!is!to! implement!“21st century!learning,”!which!involves,!among!many!other! things,!integrating!technology!into!education!and!making!learning!more! student]centric.!
We’ve!had!a!1:1!program!in!effect!for!over!a!year.!All!9th 12th grade! students!and!teachers!at!the!Cuajimalpa!campus,!e.g.,!have!MacBooks.! Our!biggest!experiments!with!putting!students!in!charge!of!their!
learning!process!to!date!are!our!ITGS!and!Computer!Workshop!classes.! You!guessed!it…via!3D!virtual!worlds!!
ITGS!is!a!two year!course,!in!the!IBO’s!Group!3,!aka!the!Individuals!and! Societies!category,!so!it’s!not!a!technology!class!per!se.!Instead,!it! focuses!on!the!social,!ethical,!etc.,!issues!involved!with!computer!usage.!
I!like!to!say!that!it’s!more!about!the!meat!ware than!about!the! hardware/software,!although!it’s!certainly!geeky!enough,!since!the! study!of!IT!Systems!represents!one!of!the!three!“strands,”!or! components.!The!other!two?!Social!and!Ethical!Significance!and! Practical!Applications.!
Students!are!expected!to!examine!how!technology!is!being!used! in…yes…our!global!society.!They!also!must!create!a!product!or!service,! one!that!ideally!helps!others.!
What!makes!my!approach!so!revolutionary…well,!unusual,!at!least?!The! fact!that!our!classes!are!held!on!our!Second!Life!cybercampus!!
Why!have!students!sitting!in!a!classroom!reading!about!being!members! of!a!global!society!when!they!can!actually!BE!members!of!a!global! society?!My!ITGS!students!will!be!operating!via!our!Peterson!Schools! cybercampus!on!Teaching!6!(SLURL:! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching!6/180/132/23/ ).!They’ll! eventually!be!hosting!students!and!teachers!from!around!the!(real)!
world,!as!well!as!making!virtual!field!trips!to!meet!others.!If!you’d!like!to! participate,!as!visitors!or!hosts!or!both,!please!contact!me!via!e mail!in! Real!Life!(ddeeds@peterson.edu.mx)!or!IM!me in!Second!Life!(there!I’m! Deed!Davids).
We’re!up!for!just!about!anything.!Some!of!the!ideas!we’ve!come!up!with! so!far!include!language!exchanges!(our!students!can!teach!you!Spanish,! you!can!teach!them!another!lingo),!visits!to!the!virtual!versions!of! universities!our!kids!want!to!attend!when!they!graduate,!etc.!It!doesn’t! have!to!be!anything!specific,!however…our!students!could!get!together! just!for!the!fun!of!it!!
The!product/service creation!requirement!typically! involves…again…merely!studying…in!this!case!how!businesses!are!run.!
My!students!will!be!really!managing!their!own!company,!with!both!a! virtual and!real]life!component.!For!example,!in!the!past!I’ve!had! learners!selling!virtual!t]shirts!in!Second!Life,!while!simultaneously! offering!real life!versions!via!websites!like!CafePress!or!Zazzle.!The!big! concept…a!stroke!of!genius,!I!know…!is!to!make!the!product/service! purpose!to!train!other!students!as!well!as!teachers!how!to!use!Second! Life!in!education.!We’ll!start!with!our!Cuajimalpa!campus…then!we’ll! expand!to!the!other!Peterson!locations…!and!ultimately!take!on!the! entire!(real,!or!is!it!virtual?)!world!!
Their!first!project!entailed!creating!houses.!No!detailed! specifications…the!main!goal!was!to!simply!get!them!using!Second!Life’s! Computer]Aided!Design!tools.!Well,!it!was!also!their!first!attempt!at! project!management!using!the!IBO’s!Design!Cycle!(Investigate,!Design,! Plan,!Create!and!Evaluate)!as!a!guide.!Results!were!mixed…students!this! age!typically!don’t!like!to!stop!and!design!or!plan…they!prefer!to!simply! start!banging!on!keyboards…they’ll!get over!it…practice!makes!perfect!
Their!current!project!is!to!put!on!an!art/photo!exhibit.!Some!students! are!also!working!on!digital!music!productions!so!we’ll!also!be!streaming! audio!into!Second!Life!via!a!ShoutCast!server.!What!makes!this! endeavor!particularly!valuable!(not!to!mention!interesting!)!is!that!it’s! cross curricular,(i.e.,!subjects!in!addition!to!Technology!are!involved…as! well!as!other!students!and!teachers,!too).!The!students!are!in!charge!of! everything,!from!creating!and!choosing!the!art/photos!to!designing!and! building!the!galleries.
BTW,!if!you’d!like!a!Second!Life!cybercampus!for!your!school!but!you’re! afraid!it’ll!be!too!expensive,!lease!your!property!from!the!New!Media! Consortium!(NMC,!http://www.nmc.org)!like!we!do.!The!NMC!has!been! doing!a!great!job!of!keeping!Second!Life!affordable!for!educators!!And! you!can’t!beat!the!customer!service!!Contact!Carol!Pfeifer! (carol@nmc.org)!if!you’re!interested.
Second!Life!is!only!for!students!of!age!16!and!up,!so!for!our!10th grade! workshop!we!use!an!OpenSimulator!virtual!learning!environment!(we! don’t!use!the!word!“game”!)!instead.!We!lease!our!private!sim!from! Dreamland!Metaverse!(http://www.dreamlandmetaverse.com).!Again,! affordable!prices!and!great!customer!service!!
What!I!like!most!is!my!ability!to!manage!my!region!via!a!user]friendly! web!interface.!Contact!Snoopy!Pfeffer!(snoopy.pfeffer@yahoo.com)!if! you’re!interested.!
The!Computer!Workshop!only!lasts!a!semester.!It’s!one!of!our! “traditional!UNAM!courses,”!although!we’ve!modified!the!usual!topics!to! include…yes…virtual worlds.!
The!story!goes!that!once!the!learners!saw!what!the!11th graders!were! doing,!there!was!no!way!they!were!going!to!be!left!out!of!the!3D!fun.!My! official!version!is!that!I!had!planned!it!all!along.! ;)
The!class!so!far!is!paralleling!(is that!a!word?)!with!the!ITGS!class,!but! later!the!two!courses!will!diverge!so!that!the!Computer!Workshop!
students!can!do!more!programming!via!Alice!( http://www.alice.org )! versus!Linden!Scripting!Language.!
The!students!completed!a!house building!project!and!now!they’re!doing! an!art/photo!show!as!well.!Seems!like!half!these!kids!are!talented! musicians/singers!so!sound!is!likely!to!be!more!of!a!focus!for!this! course’s!efforts.
That’s!all!for!now.!I’ll!write!more!about what!we’re!doing!re:!virtual! education!later.! Adios!!!
No!Problem.!!!!Here!is!everything!you!wanted!to!know!.!.!.!
And!a!whole!lot!more!
Click on the website below to see the table of contents for the Hobo Kit. All the contents are on the web. The web page below is updated as new content is posted.
Hobo Kit NEW table of contents, Summary, 2 012 http://virtualoutworlding.blogspot.com/2012/08/kit-hobo -kit-new-table- ofcontents.html
The!Hobo!Kit!i s!a!collection!of!articles!with!answers!to!questions!frequently! asked!by!new!people!in!Second!Life!and!by!posts!in!the!forums.!Most!of!the! posts!in!the!Hobo!Kit!are!updated!frequently!and!will!often!have!content!later! than!the!date!of!the!post.!
For!all!the!answers!to!your!questions,!be!sure!to!check out!the!Hobo!Kit!!A! special!thanks!to!Selby!Evans!(rl)!aka,!Thinkerer!Melville!(sl).
ISTE%SIGVE%SPEAKER%SERIES:%About%Kitely OCTOBER%16,%2012
Co Founder!IIan!Tochner!presents!Kitely.!Spiff!and!Scott!Host!the! presentation.
About%Kitely Kitely(enables(you(to(get(your(own(virtual(world space for(training,( education,(collaboration(or(fun.(Log(in(with(Facebook,(Twitter(or(your( email(to(create(your(free(account(and(start(using(your(own(virtual(world( within(minutes.(((
Work(on(Kitely(began(in(2008,(with(the(vision(of(enabling(people(to(use( virtual(worlds(as(an(on demand(utility.(It(took(the(company(more(than( two(years(of(intensive(development(until(it(was(ready(to(start(its(public( beta(in(March(2011.(Kitely(is(now(the(leading(provider(of(affordable(high performance(OpenSim(hosting(solutions.(((
The(venture(was(named(IVC2online's(Company(of(the(Month(for(February( 2009,(while(it(was(still(in(its(infancy.(It(has(been(in(bootstrap(mode(ever( since(and(is(now(in(public(beta.(((
Kitely(is(the(biggest(commercial(provider(of(OpenSim(regions,(hosting( more(than(2,500(regions((as(of(October(2012).(Kitely(is(considered(to(have( the(most(user2friendly(administration(tools(in(the(entire(OpenSim(hosting( industry.((
Kitely(virtual(worlds(have(been(used(for(training,(education,(collaboration,( simulations,(art(exhibitions,(machinima(creation,(theatrical(performances,( role playing,(information(centers,(book(promotions,(3D(design,(and( entertainment(activities.(
(Taken!From!http://www.linkedin.com/company/kitely/virtual]worlds]on] demand]183188/product ,!October!16,!2012)
For(questions(contact:(ilan@kitely.com Website!http://www.kitely.com http://www.kitely.com/!]!!startviewers
Machinima’s!filmed!in!Kitely!at!!! http://www.kitely.com/!]!!search/q=karima+hoisan
In!Loving!Memory!of! Our!Dear!Friend, Don!Singleton The!following!is!from!the!March!2012!VEJ!article,!“Why!Are!You!Here?” Why%Are%You%Here?
“To learn, and then to teach, building and scripting, and to explore the use of Virtual World for communicating with others. I am disabled and homebound, yet through the use of Virtual Worlds I can teach people not just in the US but Europe, Australia, etc., ” Don told VEJ in March 2012.
What%Virtual%Worlds%do%you%work%or%play%in?
Second Life
Inworldz
Avination
What%is%your%avatar’s%name?
Second Life, DJ Earnshaw, 11/8/2007
Second Life, Professor Viper, 5/15/2009
Inworldz, DJ Earnshaw, 9/17/2010
Avination, DJ Earnshaw, 3/2/2011
Avination, Professor Viper, 10/9/2011
Watch Interview%with%Don%
Singleton%at%%%%%http://goo.gl/IPH6w
Are$we$having$ FUN,$yet?$$
If!not,!wait!until!you! devo ur!this!issue!of! VEJ!!I!love!this picture! of!the!“Dancing! Pandas”!in!WoW!–!and! there!are!so!many! more!great!photos!in! this!issue!of!VEJ.!As! editor!of!VEJ!I!have!had! the!opportunity!to!read!every!word!and!check!out!every!link!–!and!I!can’t!begin! to!tell!you!how!much!I!have!learned!from!this!issue.!This!is by!far!our!BEST!and! most!fun!issue!yet!!!Could!it!have!something!to!do!with!PLAY?!
In#This#Issue • Reflections!by!Lowly!High!Grand! Poobah!BJ!Gearbox
• Kids!Connecting!With!Games!
• VWBPE!2013!–!Save!The!Date
• Capturing!Our!Best!Fiero!Moments!
• VEJ!Readers!Choice!Favorite!Games
My!greatest!learning!from!this!issue!is!grounded!(or!should!I!say!heightened)!by! observing!and!learning!about!Fiero!Moments!.!.!.!a!term!I!didn’t!know!until!we! began!to!plan!this!issue!of!VEJ.!I!actually!used!it!with!administrators!at!our!New! Leader’s!Academy!for!the!Connecticut!Association!of!Schools a!couple!of!weeks! ago,!when!I!asked!principals!to!share!their!(rl)!Fiero!Moments.!My favorite!was! when!one!administrator!said!it!happened!when!her!son!was!able!to!read!his!first! book!to!her!!We!all!got!goose!bumps!!Be!sure!to!listen!to!how!Jane!McGonigal defines!Fiero,!and!then!make!your!own!Fiero!Moments!and!share!them!with!us! on!the!VEJ!flickr!page.
Be!sure!to!check!out!our!Reader’s!Choice!Favorite!Games,!the!interview!with!Kae! Novak,!aka,!Kavon!Zenovka!(sl),!the!amazing MachinEVO!videos,!joining!a!guild,! weekly!tweetchats,!and!much,!much!more!
My!favorite,!part!of!this!issue,!however,!is!being! On#Walkabout with!Cyrus!Hush.! The!Blake!Sea!is!amazing!!Riding!the!dolphin!was!fun.!Sitting!at!the!pool!bar!on! the!Galaxy,!SL’s!largest!cruise!ship!made!me!forget!the!rl!2013!blizzard!in! Connecticut!–!at!least!for!a!little!while.!Watching!the!planes!land!and!take!off!at! the!Hollywood!airport!made!me!want!to!go!find!an!sl!plane!to!fly.!!Exploring!all!of! the!little!doors!at!Bearskin!Neck!captivated!me!for!hours.!But,!I!had!the!most!fun! running!along!the!country!roads!absorbing!the!Scandinavian!culture!at!the! Norway!Fjord.!!As!Roxie!(sl)!was!running,!Rosie!(rl),!however,!was!wishing!she! could!map!this!course!at!IFIT!www.ifit.com and!run!right!along!with!Roxie!on!her! incline!trainer.!Now,!that!would!be!a!great!way!for!both!of!us!to!get!our!GAME! ON!–!simultaneously!in!rl!and!sl!!So!will!it!happen?!After!listening!to!Pathfinder! John!Lester!at!the!February!ISTE!SIGVE!Speaker!Series!–!it!is!probably!coming! sooner!than!we!think!–!either!with!our!google!goggles!or!something!even!more! powerful.!Speaking!for!both!of!us,!we!(Roxie!and!Rosie)!can’t!wait!
Whether!you!are!a!diehard!can’t!wait!for!the!next!Fiero!Moment!Gamer!or! someone!thinking!about!taking!the!plunge,!the!Gaming!Trailblazers!have!given! us!a!lot!to!chew!on!in!this!issue!!!Make!sure!that!you!take!the!time!to!visit!the! websites,!use!the!url’s!to!check!out!the!sl!hot!spots,!and!explore!the!numerous! resources!in!this!issue!of!VEJ!and!linked!to!VEJ.!There!is!sooooo!much!here!!A! HUGE!THANKS!to!all!of!our!contributors!
And,!most!of!all,!CONGRATULATIONS!to!ISTE!SIGVE!for!being!named!one!of!the! top!5!BEST!SOCIAL!NETWORKS!at!the!2012!Edublog!Awards.! CONGRATULATIONS!to!our!friends!and!colleagues!who!also!were!nominated! and/or!became!finalists!
Enjoy!and!VEJ!–!OUT!OF!THIS!WORLD! Keep!smiling!!
Rosie!Vojtek,!aka!Roxie!Neiro!!(sl)
• XP!with!Machinima!for!FX!in! Learning
• Language!Learning!Through! Machinima!Play!
• One!Billion!Rising!SL
• Minecraft,!Math!Mage,!and!Mobile
• #gamemooc:!Game!Based! Tweetchat
• Calling!All!Visioneers!
• Fairy!Tales!Do!Come!True!
• Creating!Texture!Packs!
• SIGVE!Speaker!Series
• G.A.M.E.!ON!!An!Interview!with! Kavon!Zenovka!(sl)
• Introduction!to!a!WoW!Guild
• Peterson!Schools!Get!Serious!About! Playing!Games
• Second!Life!Physics!Lab
• Lights,!Camera,!Nominations:! SIGVE!at!the!Eddies
• Educational!Games!for!Social!and! Environmental!Causes
• Virtual!Pioneers!2012!.!.!.!It!Was!A! Very!Good!Year
• Learning!With!Friends!In!Second! Life
• Achieving!Fiero!Moments!in!Virtual! Collegial!Communities
• Walkabout!–!The!Blake!Sea!
• Inevitable!Betrayal:!An!Educator’s! Guild
• A!Digital!Game!Based!Learning! MOOC
• The!Games!M.O.O.C.!Now!&!Then
To!Read!VEJ!online!visit:! http://www.virtualeducationjournal.com/ For!more!information!about!ISTE!SIGVE!or! to!join!the!fun,!visit:! http://sigve.iste.wikispaces.net/ Follow!us!on!Twitter!@VEJournal!or! #VEJournal!
BJ#Gearbox#(sl),#Bob#Vojtek#(rl)
The!cover!story!on!the!March!2013!issue!of!Atlantic!Monthly!is!titled! "The!Robot!Will!See!You!Now."! In!it,!Jonathan!Cohn!explains,!"IBM's! Watson the!same!machine!that!beat!Ken!Jennings!at!Jeopardy is!now! churning!through!case!histories!at!Memorial!SloankKettering,!learning! to!make!diagnoses!and!treatment!recommendations.!This!is!one!in!a! series!of!developments!suggesting!that!technology!may!be!about!to! disrupt!health!care!in!the!same!way!it!has!disrupted!so!many!other! industries.!Are!doctors!necessary?!Just!how!far!might!the!automation!of! medicine!go?"
I!admit!that!this!is!my!bias,!however!our!insatiable!drive!to!implement! STEM!education!is!missing!a!critical!element,!maybe!two.!One!that!I! have!been!ranting!about!since!I!heard!the!term...!That!is,!it!is missing!the! letter,!"A,"!for!the!Arts!–!creating!STEAM.
If!we!blindly pursue!STEM,!without!the!arts!and!the!creativity!and! innovation!inherent!in!the!arts,!we!have!a!strong!tendency!to!do!the! “easy”!version!of!STEM.!Meaning,!that!we concentrate!on!only the! knowledge!and!skills!that!are!rote,!easily!memorized, and fall!within!the! realm!of!tasks!that!IBM's!Watson!excels doing.!
The!second!element,!one!that!I!can't!append!the!acronym!easily!to! accommodate,!is!gaming,!which!is!the!focus!of!this!issue!of!VEJ.!I!can't! simply!add!a!"G"!to!STEAM!creating!STEAMG!–!that!doesn't!work! So,! the!point!isn't!creating!the!perfect!acronym,!the!point!is,!that!the! benefits!gained!by!game!play!are!missing.
Gamers!say!that!there!are!significant!benefits!to!playing!games.!As!you! read!the!articles!in!this!issue of!VEJ, consider!the underlying!elements! that!can!inform!teaching!and!learning,!guide!participants,!draw!them!in! to!an!immersive!experience,!and teach!skills!not!easily!replicated!in!the! traditional!classroom.
As!we!continue!to!describe!the!knowledge,!skills,!and!abilities!of!the!21st century!worker!(that!would!be!us!for!the!last!13!years)!I!hear!parallel! voices…!those!of!business!and!industry!and!what!they!consider!to!be! necessary!abilities!for!employees!of!the!future!and!the!descriptions!of! the!learning!that!takes!place!in!online!gaming.! For example,!employers of!the!future!are!going!to!need!people to be!able!to!work as a!high! performing!team!rather!than!a!group!of!individuals!working!on!a!task.! Gaming!offers!that!!Plus!the!online!team!of!gamers!could!as!easily!be! sitting!around!a!large!table!in!Second!Life!as!they!could!be!dispersed! across!the!globe.!Where!can!you!replicate!that!in!the!typical!classroom! today?!
When!I!think!about!embracing!gaming!as!a!legitimate!exercise!in! learning,!I!wonder!how!long!it!may!take…!and!why. I!harken!back!to!old! phrases!describing!the!inclusion!of!other!technologies!for!the!classroom.! One!often!quoted!statement,!“It!took!20!years!to!get!the!overhead! projector!out!of!the!bowling!alleys!and!into!the!classroom.”!I!came! across!other!zinger!phrases!that!may!or!may!not!have!equal!validity.!
Such!as,!“there!hasn't!been!a!significant!change!in!how!we!teach!since! 1455.”!!A!reference!to!that!Gutenberg!thing,!I!presume.
As!a!final!anecdote,!I!had!a!student!in!one!of!my!classes!that,!as!a!junior! in!high!school,!seldom!if!ever,!completed!homework.!I!just!couldn’t!seem! to!find!a “hook”!to!get!him!interested.!
Then,!he!was!absent!for!three!days.!Even!though!he!seldom!participated! in!class,!he!was rarely!absent.!When!he!returned,!I!asked!him,! “How!are! you!doing?”!
He!replied,!“I’m!feeling!better,!I!just!had!to!rest.”!
“Oh?”!I!said.!
“Yeah,!Civilization [new!version!of!the!game]!came!out,!and!I!played!for! 26!hours!straight.”
So!when!a!student,!not!engaged!in!school!can!spend!26!hours!straight! advancing!through!a!game,!what!is!it!that!the!game!developers know that!we!don’t?!What!do!we,!as!educators!need!to!learn? How!can! teachers!engage students!in!the same!way!that!game!developers engage! students?!Can!it!be!as!simple!as!bringing!the!games!into!the!classrooms?! Or,!is!there!more?
Read!through!this!issue!of!VEJ!and!help!us!have!a!dialogue!about!how! we!can!leverage!games!in!education.!Join!us!at!ISTE!SIGVE!Office!Hours! every!Tuesday!night!at!5:00!pm!slt!at!ISTE!Headquarters to!continue! this!discussion. Hope!to!see!you!there!
Kids!Connecting!with!Games!and!Virtual!Environments By!GridJumper!(SL),!Tanya!Martin!(RL)
Using!Google!Hangout,!Second!LIfe,!YouTube,!and!a!sampling!of!five! kid!friendly!games,!educators!met!in!Second!Life!at!the!SIGVE!Diner as! well!as!on!the!GameMooc!YouTube channel!to!watch!the!live!stream (recorded!on!December!11,!2012)!and!to!chat!and!forward!questions! to!the!presenters,!six!boys!and!girls!aged!8!to!17.!
Each!child!selected!an!online!game!and!took!turns!showing!and! explaining!the!game!selected.! The!digital!literacy!the!youngsters! displayed!was!a!demonstration!of!what!they!have!been!taught!and! have!learned!independently.! Parents!were!present,!but!the!hour!was! for!the!children!to!tell!their!story!and!they!did!so!eloquently,!without! a!script,!and!with!enthusiasm.!
Connected Hour attendees in the SIGVE Diner at ISTE-SIGVE Island on Second Life watching, listening and discussing as the Kids presented some of their favorite games.
Educators!asked!questions!and!the!children!had!no!problem! answering!and!continuing!with!the!demonstration.! Each!child!had! one!remote!practice!session!to!ensure!that!the!technology!was! working!on!each!home!computer.!The!ease!in!simultaneously!using! the!game!of!choice!and!Google!Hangout!as!well!as!audio!technology! (headphones!or!speakers)!was!evident.! Parents!were!present,!but!for! the!most!part!silent!and!we!later!learned!that!they!were!learning! about!their!children!and!about!the!games!that!other!children!played.!
I’ll!discuss!what!happened!behind!the!scenes,!as!you!can!see!the! unedited!version!of!the!broadcast!for!yourself!on!the!Game!MOOC! YouTube channel.!!
The!youngsters!in!the!broadcast!represented:!4!families,!both! genders,!5!age!groups,!3!states,!and!2!time!zones.!!They!did!not!know! each other,!with!exception!of!two!sets!of!siblings.!!Each!child!selected! the!game!they!wanted!to!share,!with!some!changes!to!a!second!choice! because!of!technical!issues!with!the!first.!!Each!child!expressed! excitement!in!sharing!with!no!request!of!“what!do!I!get!for!doing! this?”!!
During!the!event!each!child!patiently!waited!and!internal!chat! reflected!the!fact!that!either!the!kids!and/or!their!parents!were!being! attentive!to!the!speaker.!!After!the!event!I!received!feedback!mostly! from!the!parents.!!Parents!reported!that!their!children!had!fun!and! expressed!positive!thoughts!about!the!event.!!The!kids!all!had!some! sort!of!comment!about!the!other!presentations;!!“I!play!that!game!too,! I’m!on!level!___”,!“I!want!to!try!that”,!“He!sure!is!smart.” Parents!noted! not!only!on!the!content!but!the!manner!in!which!the!kids!presented. They!commented!on!public!speaking!and!the!varying!abilities!of!the! children!to!be!articulate.!Each!parent!expressed!that!they!learned! something!about!their!children.!!The!overwhelming!idea!expressed! was!that!it!was!fun!!
This!broadcast!made!it!clear!that!the!child!viewpoint!is!an!important! one.! They!will!tell!you!what!they!like!and!why!as!well!as!what!they! don’t!like!and!why!not.! Only!one!of!the!games!First!in!Math,!was!a! game!used!as!an!extension!to!school.!The!rest!of!the!games!Club! Penguin,!Poptropica,!Wizard!101,!and!Kerbal!Space!Program are!
games!these!children!access!at!home!for!fun.! As!you!listen!to!the! enthusiasm!in!the!child!voices!it!becomes!obvious!that!learning!while! playing!is!fun.!
[ISTE’s#SIGVE#(third#Connected#Hour#was#conducted#in#December#and# was#co hosted#by#G.A.M.E.#(Gamers#Advancing#Meaningful# Education).# You#can#view#the#entire#unedited#broadcast#on# Youtube.# Connected#Educator#Team:#Tanya#Martin,#Kae#Novak,#Andrew# Wheelock,#Chris#Luchs#and#Vasili#Giannoutsos]#
As noted by Anderson (1933), “we perceive life as drama, and our major issues involve the definition of personal roles and the fabrication of stories that give purpose and shape to social existence. Public happenings have the quality of scenes created for public consumption”.
This year’s theme, “Beyond the Stage”, challenges educators to look at education as performance art. A tapestry of who we are, those we connect with, and education as a social narrative that defines our ability to create knowledge through innovation. The virtual frontier provides new tools and techniques to redefine not just those traditional narratives for a new age, but to change the relationship between the stage and the audience.
There are many stories we want to hear about. Diversification in use of technologies; the psychology of presence and how it impacts on learning; engagement of students as both a creative part of the learning process and consumer. There are a thousand and one stories. Bring them all –share them all – beyond the stage.
Call for proposals coming soon –watch this space for more details.
What is Fiero? Gaming expert, Jane McGonigal, shouts enthusiastically waving her hands and jumping up and down screaming FIERO to describe a Fiero Moment in a 10 second YouTube clip.
When Kae Novak was presenting at a Teaching with Technology conference, she asked this same question.
One of the instructors who speaks Italian, stood up from her seat and raised her arm fist clinched and said, “Pride!”
Yes, fiero is Italian for pride.
At this point you may have images of when a soccer team scores a goal or a football team makes a touchdown, but it is more than winning.
Kae Novak describes Fiero as, “It is that sense of accomplishment you receive when you have overcome an obstacle, solved a puzzle, or finished a challenge.” For example, listen to Kae Novak discuss “Fun, Flow and Fiero.”
So it may be building a house in Minecraft or even taking out your first spaceship in EVE Online.
We!asked!our!readers!to!share!with!us!their!Fiero!moments.!Here!are!some!of!our! favorites!!ENJOY!
Trish$Cloud$
Our!readers!told!us!over!and!over!that!they!didn’t!have!pictures!of!their! greatest!Fiero!moments!because!they!were!either!too!excited!in!the! moment,!the!moment!happened!so!quickly,!or!they!just!didn’t!think! about!taking!a!picture!until!it!was!too!late.!There!is!no!way!to!go!back! and!get!the!picture!once!the!moment!is!gone.!
So,!here!are!some!of!the!great!Fiero!moments!that!are!somewhere!lost! in!virtual!space!but!live!on!in!the!player’s!minds!.!.!.!and!if!a!picture! paints!1,000!words,!these!few!words!may!help!you!paint!your!own! picture!of!the!moments!that!keep!gamers!craving!more!
" The$first$time$the$machines$"clicked"$in$Glitch33all$the$sudden$I understood$the$order$in$which$things$had$to$be$created$and ended$up$building$a$second story$onto$my$house$that$night.$:) By$Aevalle.
" When$we$downed$deathwing$in$the$Cognitive$Dissonance$10 man$raid.$After$weeks$of$coordination$and$strategy,$our perseverance$paid$off$and$we$defeated$the$world$breaker.$$By Zarrasia
" Teaching$French$FL$on$Second$Life. By$Edith$Paillat
" When$I$earned$the$ability$to$fly.$$It$made$everything$easier. Getting$there$required$many$quests$and$gold.$By$Anonymous
" Fun$fiero$moment$in$Felwood$battling$imps$and$used$a rainbow$to$burn$them.$I$felt$like$I$was$in$an$episode$of$My$Little Pony! By$Trish$Cloud
G.A.M.E.#ON!# An#Interview#With Kavon#Zenovka#(SL),#Kae#Novak#(RL)
By#Roxie#Neiro#(sl),#Rosie#Vojtek#(rl)#
I#am#very#excited#to#be#interviewing#Kae#Novak#for#this#issue#of#VEJ.#Any# inworld#educator#who#is#a#member#of#ISTE#SIGVE,#has#participated#or# worked#on#VWBPE,#plays#in#World#of#Warcraft,#or# participated#in#the#GAMES#MOOC#has#met#her# avatar,#Kavon#Zenovka.#She#has#relentlessly# helped#many of#us#learn#and#grow#in#virtual# environments.#I#can’t#begin#to#tell#you#how#much#I# have#learned#from#her#and#how#much#I#admire# her#work,#her#passion#for#teaching#and#learning,# her#enthusiasm#for#virtual#worlds,#and#her# dedication#as#an#educator.#I#hope#you#enjoy#this# interview#as#much#as#I#have#enjoyed#talking#with,# working#with,#and#playing#with#Kavon#Zenovka#(SL),#Kae#Novak#(RL).#
Roxie: Kavon,#please#introduce#yourself#to#our#readers.#Tell#us#who#you#are# and#what#you#do#in#real#life#(rl) and#virtual#environments.
Kavon: I’m$Kae$Novak(rl),$an$instructional$designer$for$online$learning$at$a$ community$college$in$Colorado.$$In$virtual$environments,$I$manage$Front$ Range$in$Second$Life$and$play$around$on$Center4EduPunx$on$JoykadiaGrid.$I$ am$the$High$Grand$Poobah$or$Chair Elect$for$ISTE$SIGVE$and$collaborate$ with$an$exceptional$group$of$educators$there.$$In$addition$to$these$sandbox$ virtual$worlds,$I'm$a$guild$officer$for$two$World$of$Warcraft$guilds.$These$ guilds$are$the$all purpose$educator’s$guild$Cognitive$Dissonance$on$the$ Alliance$side$and$Inevitable$Betrayal$on$the$Horde$side.
Roxie: How#did#you#get#started#in#virtual#worlds/environments?#What#was# it#that#kept#you#going#back?
Kavon: I$had$attended$a$presentation$by$Lyr$Lobo$(Cynthia$Calongne)$at$the$ eKLearning$Consortium$of$Colorado.$Lyr$presented$on$Second$Life$and$ several$projects$that$she$was$pursuing$in$games$and$simulations.$After$the$ presentation,$I$joined$SL$and$started$visiting$the$New$Media$Consortium$ (NMC)$islands$and$other$educator$builds.$After$about$6$months,$I$requested$ that$my$college$look$at$Second$Life$for$online$learning$and$the$college$ purchased$Front$Range$Island to$start$doing$simulations$for$online$classes.
Front!Range!Island Kavon:!I$keep$coming$back$to$virtual$worlds$due$to$the$deeper$learning$that$ I$observed.$What$I’ve$seen$is$that$immersive$games$and$virtual$ environments$offer a$richness$and$deeper$learning$not$seen$in$a traditional$ text$based$LMS$even$if$you$are$supplementing$it$with$podcast$and$videos.$ In$ fact,$it’s$even$better$than$a$F2F$classroom$because$it$sometimes$allows$you$ to$do$what$isn’t$possible$in$real$life.$Some$examples$from$Second$Life$ include$visiting$and exploring$Dante’s$Inferno$or$flying$up$to$look$at$the$ ceiling$of$the$Sistine$Chapel.$We$call$that$NPIRL$or$Not$Possible$in$Real$Life.
Roxie:!How#did#you#get#started#playing#virtual#games?#
Kavon: I$really$wasn’t$into$video$games$in$high$school.$I$played roll$the$dice$ Dungeons$and$Dragons$(D&D).$Until$MMORPGs$(Massive$Multi player$ Online$Role Playing$Games),$video$games$did$not$have$much$appeal$for$me$ due$to$their$limited$social$offerings.$My$first$MMORPG$was$World$of$ Warcraft,$which$I$selected$after$reading$Edward$Castronova's$books$on$ virtual$economies.
Roxie: What#are#your#favorite#virtual#games#and#why?
Kavon: World$of$Warcraft$is.$Not$that$another$MMORPG$couldn’t$take$its$ place.$It$was$the$first$virtual$game$that$provided$the$immersiveness$and$ social$aspects$that$I$loved$from$D&D.$For$me,$right$now,$it$has$an$ interesting$economy,$challenging$end$game$content,$and$I’m$involved$in$a$ community$of$educators$there$who$not$only$play$but$also$collaborate$ outside$the$game.
Roxie: In#this#issue#we#have#captured#some#of#our#reader’s#favorite#Fiero# moments.#Please#explain#briefly#what#a#Fiero#moment#means#to#you#and# give#us#an#example#of#one#of#your#favorite#Fiero#moments.
Kavon: Fiero.$Well,$it’s$a$term$we$use$a$lot$when$teaching$about$games$ based$learning.$Nicole$Lazzaro$is$the$earliest$person$I$have$seen$using$it$to$ describe$the$satisfaction$and$enjoyment$of$hard$fun.$Fiero$is$the$moment$ where$a$player$/$learner$successfully$overcomes$challenges.$In$games,$this$is$ overcoming$the$monster$or$finishing$the$quest.$In$the$classroom,$this$is$ mastery$of$difficult$concepts$and$resolving$problems.$It$is$that$moment$that$ you$see$in$soccer$games,$when$the$player$scores$and$they$continue$to$run$ around$with$their$arms$up.
Kavon:!Actually$in$the$guild$I$play$in,$we$have$ an$expression,$“Don’t$steal$my$ fiero!”$It$means$K$don’t$make$it$easy$for$me,$I$want$to$learn$how$to$do$it.$For$ a$lot$of$gamers,$the$die$and$do$over$part$is$how$we$learn.$My$favorite$fiero$ moments$happen$when$I$am$playing$with$members$of$my$guild$and$it$is$ so$ difficult$that$all$of$our$characters$die.$This$is$called$a$wipe.$
Wipe Roxie [laughing]:#Kind#of#like#the#song,#“wipe out?”#
Kavon: Then$we$stop,$research$anything$we$can$find$on$the$Internet,$talk,$ strategize$and$try$it$again.$And$then$the$same$thing$happens$again,$but$ we’ve$made$a$bit$of$progress.$So$we$strategize$more$and$we$change$up$ what$we’re$doing$and$then$we$finish$the$dungeon$or$overcome$the$last$ monster$or$challenge$in$the$raid.$That’s$the$fiero.$$It’s$not$easy,$it’s$not$ nerfed,$and$it has to$at$some$point$feel$nearly$impossible.$
Roxie: Whatever#“it”#is#sounds#like,#in#the#moment,#it#is#a#major,#perhaps# life#changing#[#at#least#for#the#player(s),#accomplishment! So,#can#you# establish#a#sense#of#community while#playing#the#game,#even#in#a#virtual# world?#If#so,#How?
Kavon: Absolutely,$in$fact$many$of$the$MMORPGs$require$a$community$to$ play$end$game$content.$It’s$not$that$different$from$any$community$that$ meets$regularly.$MMORPGs$like$World$of$Warcraft$require$players$to$ collaborate$with$others$to$quickly$navigate$the$game.$In$fact,$there$is$a$ whole$series$of$built$in$rewards$in$WoW$to$promote$and$maintain$
collaboration$in$the$form$of$faster$leveling$in$a$group,$access$to$better$gear$ (dungeons$that$required$5$players),$and$team$oriented$achievements.$
I$see$that$virtual$environments$like$MMORPGs$and$other$virtual$worlds$have$ become$the$third$place$for$many$people.$It$is$not$home$and$it$is$not$work;$ however,$it$is$a$place$to$gather$with$your$friends,$socialize$and$engage$in$ immersive$entertainment$and$hard$fun.$
Roxie: I#like#that#–#a#“third#place”#–#kind#of#reminds#me#of#the#television# series,#“Cheers”# “Where#Everyone#Knows#Your#Name!”##So,#like#“Cheers”,# do#you#make#friends#while#playing#virtual#games?#Or,#is#it#always#“us/me”# against#“them/enemy”?
Kavon: For$me,$it’s$rarely$us$or$them.$$In$the$games$I$play,$I$am$usually$ competing$against$myself.$Most$of$the$guild$groups$I’m$in$focus$on$beating$ our$last$attempt$whether$that$was$a$win$or$lose.$There$is$a$continuous$focus$ on$efficiency$and$effectiveness$in$gaming.$Most$players$are$looking$at$ several$areas$of$improvement$consistently.$They$usually$focus$on$their$game$ play$to$see$how$they$can$improve$individually$or$they$are$looking$at$group$ play.$In$group$play,$players$are$looking$at$what$value$do$they$bring$to$the$
group$and$what$can$they$do$to$ensure/assist$in$the$overall$success$of$the$ team.$
Roxie: How#do#you#balance#competition#with#collaboration?#Or,#is#it#all# about#the#winning#and#getting#to#the#next#level?
Kavon: Actually$in$games$like$World$of$Warcraft,$the$designers$take$care$of$ this$for$us.$WoW$requires$collaborative$groups$of$10$to$25$individuals$to$ work$together$to$be$successful$and$gather$the$best$gear$in$the$game.$Teams$ are$competitive$and$there$have$been$cross$faction$tensions;$however$most$ of$the$competitive$focus$is$on$how$fast$does$a$group$clear$a$dungeon.$$This$ is$especially$true$with$the$new$Challenge$Mode$Dungeons that$WoW$ introduced$with$Mists$of$Pandaria.$With$Challenge$Mode$Dungeons,$groups$ of$five$players$have$their$gear$normalized$so$everyone$running$the$ Challenge$Mode$is on$equal$footings.$This$removes$any$advantages$from$ gear$and$is$truly$an$evaluation$of$mastery$of$game$mechanics$and$strategy.$
Roxie: Are#all#the#virtual#games#violent?#If#so,#how#do#educators#deal#with# violence#with#their#students?#
Kavon: Some$video$games$contain$violence.$However,$there$are$options$for$ educators$that$wish$to$use$games$and$remove$as$much$violence$as$they$can.$ Educators$can$focus$on$a$specific$area$of$a$game$where$there$is$minimal$ violence.$An$example$would$be$focusing$on$the$economy$or$business$aspects$ of$a$game$and$not$requiring$students$to$participate$in$fighting$or$normal$ gameplay$violence.$
Kavon:!Overall,$I$think$the$most$important$thing$is$for$the$educator$to$ provide$the$context$of$the$game$in$the$educational$setting.$Students$look$to$ the$educator$for$guidance$on$what$is$allowed$and$not$allowed$in$class.$ Many$games$offer$non violent$opportunities$to$play$and$be$successful$in$ games.$Students$could$select$healing$roles$or$focus$on$the$crafting$side$of$ the$game$and$purchase$materials$off$the$auction$house.$The$key$is$that$the$ educator$needs$to$play$the$game$and$identify$the$various$options$when$it$ comes$to$gameplay.$
Roxie: What#are#some#of#the#best#practices#that#teachers#are#using#with# students#while#engaging#them#in#virtual#games?#
Kavon: The$big$thing$is$that$educators$cannot$look$at$games$as$an$epack$ that$they$can$just$plug$into$their$class.$Game$based$learning$requires$a$ carefully$scaffolded$approach$that$ramps$students$up$from$simple$easy$to$ play$games$to$the$more$complex$end$game$content$that$generates$wicked$ problems$and$hard$fun.$
Roxie: I#love#that phrase, “wicked#problems#and#hard#fun!”#We#need#more# of#that#in#the#education#for#learners!
Kavon: The$educator$has$to$play$the$game$to$know$the$content$and$how$ they$see$it$fitting$into$their$core$competencies$and$learning$objectives.$One$ of$the$most$successful$implementations$I$have$been$part$of$had$students$ starting$off$with$games$like$Free$Rice$and$Budget$Hero$and$ending$with$ World$of$Warcraft$and$Second$Life.$The$key$was$that$we$slowly$immersed$ the$students$throughout$the$semester$using$planned$projects$and$ assignments$that$directed$students$through$to$the$more$complex$games$at$ the$end$of$the$semester.$$Each$activity$and$project$tied$back$to$core$ competencies$and$class$learning$objectives.$
Roxie: Are#there#any#significant#research#findings#about#the#benefits#of using#games#with#students#that#teachers#can#use#when#they#advocate#for# games#in#the#classroom?
Kavon: Absolutely,$I$would$suggest$they$look$up$Jim$Gee$and$Sasha$Barab$ from$Arizona$State$University$and$the$work$that$they$have$done.$Then$I$ would$also$suggest$Constance$Steinkuehler,$Kurt$Squire$and$David$ Williamson$Shaffer$from$the$University$of$Wisconsin.#
Roxie: Tell#us#about#the#GAMESMOOC.#What#is#it?#How#did#it#get#started?
Kavon:!The$Games$MOOC$is$a$synchronous$and$asynchronous$online$open$ course.$The site$has$had$a$total$of$144,$246$visits$as$of$today!$We$have$ 209,488$page$views.$The$Games$MOOC$is$on$an$asynchronous$LMS$–like$site$ http://gamesmooc.shivtr.com/
Kavon: This$is$actually$a$gaming$community$site$that$we$adapted$for$the$ course.$We$livestream$Google$Hangout$on$Air$as$a$quick$overview$each$ Monday$morning.$We$do$a$$#gamemooc$Tweetchat$each$Wednes day$ evening.$On$each$Thursday,$we$livestream$a$discussion$or$panel$of$guests$ through$Google$Hangout$on$Air$and$also$through$Second$Life.$If$there$is$any$ opportunity$to$livestream$a$games$based$learning$activity$being$done$by$ another$educational$group$during$the$time$of$the$MOOC,$we$do$it.
Kavon: We$have$had$sessions$in$World$of$Warcraft,$Minecraft,$Second$Life$ and$OpenSim.$Participants$had$the$choice$of$logging$into$those$and$playing$ with$us$or$watching$through$the$YouTube$livestream.
Kavon: The$first$version$of$it$was$A$Virtual$World,$Education$and$Games$ Tour$at$P2PU http://bit.ly/127rxTb A$number$of$educators$who$had$been$ organized$virtual$worlds$conferences$felt$that$a$once$a$year$event,$while$ great$outreach,$left$educators$isolated$until$the$next$year.$So$we$decided$to$ do$something$about$it.$
Kavon: This$MOOC$was$four$weeks$with$a$different$educator$leading$each$ week.$Stasia$Weston$started$us$out$the$first$week$with$a$Virtual$World$ Tours.$The$second$week,$Tanya$Martin$worked$with$us$on$Machinima.$$I$had$ MMORGPs$for$the$third$week and$Chris$Luchs$did$the$fourth$week$which$ was$called$“The$Bleeding$Edge.”
Kavon:!After$that$it$snowballed.$First$along$with$Tanya$Martin,$Vasili$ Giannoutos,$we$created$a$two$week$Machinima$course$on$P2PU$ http://bit.ly/VbjlNc to$get$people$ready$for$the$ISTE$Machinima$contest$and$ then$an$ARG$Academy$http://bit.ly/VbjtMA where$Joseph$Doan,$Jerry$ Buchko$and$Catherine$Flippen$joined$us$in$facilitating$it.
Kavon:!So$when$the$Colorado$Community$College$System$had$an$Immersive$ Learning$and$Game$Based$Learning$faculty$grant$challenge,$I$was$able$to$ use$what$I$learned$there$and$with$help$from$Chris$Luchs$and$Kate$Hagerty$ apply$for$a$grant$to$do$three$versions$of$a$Games$Based$Learning$MOOC.$
Roxie: What#projects#and#events#have#you#and#members#of#the# GAMESMOOC#accomplished#or#held?##
Kavon: We$were$accepted$and$are$now$listed$in$the$US$Department$of$ Education’s$Connected$Educators$Project’s$Community$Directory$ http://connectededucators.org/community/games based learning mooc/ Participants$in$the$Games$MOOC,$spun$off$G.A.M.E.$which$is$network$hub$ for$Gamers$Advancing$Meaningful$Education.$G.A.M.E.$currently$produces$a$ monthly$webinar hosted$by$Laurence$Cocco,$Director,$Office$of$Educational$ Technology,$New$Jersey$Department$of$Education.$This$webinar$is$“It$Takes$ A$Guild$–$A$Guild$of$Educators.”$
http://g.a.m.e.shivtr.com/pages/guildofeducators
Kavon: We$are$very$proud$of$two$games$based$learning$grants$written$by$ our$participants$that$were$just$funded$for$this$year.$Sherry$Jones,$who$won$ the$“Cataclysmic”$award$in$the$Games$MOOC$was$funded$for$Rhetoric$and$ Composition:$The$Persuasive$Power$of$Video$Games$as$Paratexts.$Chris$ Luchs$and$Kate$Hagerty$won$a$grant$to$do$a$game$based$learning$ Hackathon$for$introductory$computer$science$classes.$
Roxie: FANTATIC!#CONGRATULATIONS!#So#many#accomplishments!#I#hope# our#readers#will#check#out#the#websites#and#resources#that#you#are#sending# their#way#during#this#interview.#Your#webinars#and#Google#hangouts#are# very#informative#–#EXCELLENT#JOB#and#KUDOS#to#everyone#working#with# you!#I#have#heard#you#talking#about#creating#badges#for#learners#to# demonstrate#their#knowledge#and#skills.#What#badges#have#members# earned#and#what#did#they#have#to#accomplish#to#earn#a#badge?
Kavon: Games$MOOC$participants$have$earned$two$badges.$We$have$a$ “Brave$Beginner”$badge$for$people$new$to$games.$$Also,$ out$of$Connected$ Educator$Month$last$August,$we$designed$a$“Networked$Educator”$badge.$$ With$the$Networked$Educator$badge,$we$based$it$off$Dr.$Lisa$Dawley’$Social$ Network$Knowledge$Construction$matrix.$$Badge$earners$had$to$show$that$ they$curated$content$and$that$they$contributed,$created ,$and$led$the$ dissemination$of$information$on$games$based$learning.
Roxie: What#have#you#and#others#learned#from#being#a#part#of#the# GAMESMOOC?#
Kavon: For$us,$M$stands$for$modest$compared$to$some$of$the$large$Stanford$ and$MIT$MOOCs.$A$business$professor$out$of$U$of$Penn$taught$an$80,000$ person$Gamification$MOOC$through$Coursera,$we$have$had$400$ participants.$It’s$really$about$the$interaction$between$an$online$community$ of$learners.$This$may$say$it$best.$“Coursera$gamification12$is$totally$LMS.$ OTOH$#gamemooc$has$morphed$into$a$wonderfully$supportive$guild$of$ educators.”$This$tweet$came$from$a$librarian$who$took$our$Games$MOOC$ and$also$took$the$Coursera$Gamification$MOOC.$
Roxie: You#are#right.#That#quote#sums#it#up#perfectly#–#and#nothing#says#it# better#than#word#of#mouth,#or#should#I#say#word#of#tweets,#to#spread#the#
word!#So,#if#someone#wants#to#participate#in#the#GAMESMOOC,#how#do# they#join?
Kavon: Well,$the$third$iteration$is$starting$on$Monday$March$18,$2013.$$The$ topic$of$this$iteration$is$Apps,$AR$(Augmented$Reality)$and$ARGs$(Alternate$ Reality$Games).$It’s$very$easy; all$you$need$to$do$is$to$go$to$ http://bit.ly/gamesmooc and$signup.$$For$our$summer$MOOC,$we$will$be$ doing$immersive$environments,$which$will$focus$on$MMORPGs$and$virtual$ worlds.
Roxie: I#just#signed#up#–#and#hope#that#many#of#our#readers#will#do#so#as# well.#As#you#know,#I#can’t#always#get#fully#engaged# because#of#my#rl#work,# but#I#love#to#lurk#and#watch#what#all#of#you#are learning#–#and#that#has# always#been#OK.#I#noticed#when#I#signed#up#that#you#may#have#a#summer# conference#on#game#based#learning.#That#should#be#very#exciting#and# something#to#look#forward#to.#So,#what#is#the#future#of#Gaming?##
Kavon: I$really$don’t$look$at$it$as$the$future$of$gaming.$$Instead$I$look$at$as$ the$future$of$education.$I$think$education$especially$online$ed ucation$will$ need$to$be$as$immersive$and$engaging$as$games$are.
Roxie: If#someone#has#never#played#a#virtual#game,#where#and#how#can# they#get#started?#What#is#the#best#game#for#beginners?#
Kavon: If$they$have$never$played$any$type$of$online$game,$I$like to$start$ people$with$Free$Rice.$It’s$easy$to$play,$educational$and$it$is$engaging.$If$ someone$is$looking$to$play$an$immersive$game,$like$an$MMORPG$then$I$ would$suggest$that$they$look$for$at$the$network$of$educators$who$game.$I’d$ tell$them$to$start$by$just asking$a$question$in$the$SIGVE$listserv.$$For$SIGVE$ weekly$Connected$Educator,$we$send$out$a$listing$of$events$being$done$in$or$ about$virtual$worlds$and$games.$Also$at$the$bottom$of$the$listserv,$we$send$ out$the$sites$for$all$the$organizations$doing$outreach$and$professional$ development.$
Kavon: I’d$also$tell$them$to$take$a$look$at$the$“It$Takes$A$Guild”$playlist$ http://bit.ly/WEOcmv on$YouTube.$$G.A.M.E.$(Gamers$Advancing$ Meaningful$Education)$http://g.a.m.e.shivtr.com/ has$been$doing$monthly$
recordings$of$teachers$who$have$brought$games$into$their$classroom.$Lastly,$ there$are$a$few$educator$gaming$guilds.$Cognitive$Dissonance$ http://bit.ly/12GtVQz is$a$large$all$purpose$guild$for$World$of$Warcraft.$$ Inevitable$Betrayal$http://g.a.m.e.shivtr.com/pages/ibguild does$what$we$ like$to$call$tourism$for$educators$in$World$of$Warcraft$and$has$developed$a$ number$of$introductory$videos$entitled$Inevitable$Instruction.$ http://bit.ly/inevitableinstruction
Roxie: Awesome!#There#is#so#much#to#learn#on#those#websites!#So,#for#you# personally,#what#online/virtual#activities#are#keeping#you#up#late#at#night?# What#projects#and#activities#are#you#working#on#now#and#in#the#future?
Kavon: Games,MOOC,III$–$Apps,$AR$and$ARGs$starting$from$March$18$–$ April$22.$$The$Games,MOOC,IV$–$Immersive$Environments$K$Summer$Date$ TBA.$ The$SIGVE,Machinima,Fest at$the$ISTE$annual$conference!$Monday,$ June$24$from$5:30$–$6:45$pm.$$We$will$be$having$our$annual$Machinima$ Fest!$We’ll$be$opening$up$the$Machinima$contest$portion$in$late$February$ and$will$be$doing$a$Machinima,Open Online,Course through$P2PU$at$the$ end$of$May$also!
Kavon:,Another$activity$is$the Connected,Educator,Event for$August$2013.$ That$is$currently$in$the$brainstorming$stage.$I$know$this$may$seem$like$an$ “interesting”$fusion$but$with$a$couple$of$innovative$ed ucational$leaders,$we$ have$been$talking$about$leadership,$assessment….$and games.$
Roxie: Is#there#anything#else#that#I#didn’t#ask#you#that#your#want#our# readers#to#know#about#games#in#education?#
Kavon: There$isn’t$an$easy$button$when$it$comes$to$games, not$the$games$ that$are$really$worth$it.$Gamification$is$a$marketing$term$to$incentivize$ activities.$Look$for$something$deeper$than$behaviorism$when$designing$your$ courses.$$I$do$subscribe$to$Jim$Gee’s$idea$of$chocolate$on$broccoli.$$We$see$ this$all$the$time$with$homework$managers$that$do$automatic$grading.$ While$it$frees$up$time$for$the$teacher,$are$the$students$learning$the$content$ or$just$becoming$experts$in$pattern$recognition?$
Take$a$look$at$meaningful$education$with$games.$For$great$overview$of$ gamification,$take$a$look$at$this$video$of$Dr.$Scott$Nicholson,$Director$of$ “Because$Play$Matters$Game$Lab”$at$Syracuse$University.$Then$look$at$ these$interviews$with$educators$on$Minecraft,$World$of$Warcraft, Portal and$MMORPGs.$These$are$videos$have$extraordinary$classroom$teachers$ who$use$games$for$teaching$and$learning.$
Roxie:!Thank#you#Kavon/Kae#for#all#of#these#wonderful#resources.#They#are# going#to#be#very#helpful#for#anyone#wanting#to#get#started#exploring#gaming# in#virtual#online#environments.#As#always,#you#have#given#us#so#much#to# think#about.#I#hope#that#our#readers#will#join#in#some#or#all#of#the#activities# that#you#listed#that#will#be starting#soon.#I#also#hope#that#everyone# attending#the#ISTE#2013#Conference#in#San#Antonio this#year#will#attend#the# Machinima#Fest#this#year!#It#has#become#an#annual#highli ght#of#the# conference!##Thanks#again#for#taking#the#time#to#talk#with#me#today#and# KEEP#UP#THE#GREAT#WORK!!!!!!
Introduction$to$a$WoW$Guild$ By$Izzy$Karu$
By!now,!in!this!issue!of!VEJ,!you!have!read!about!the!number!of! educators!playing!The!World!of!Warcraft.!Teachers!are!using!WoW! successfully!in!their!classrooms!to!help!students!learn.!So,!you!have! decided!to!get!an!account,!install!the!client,!create!a!character,!or!“toon”,! and!take the!plunge. There!you!are,!a!level!1!WoW!toon!dropped!off!in! the!starter!location! appropriate!for!your!selected! race. Now!what,!what!do!you! do?
If!only!you!were!in!a!guild!
A!guild!is!a!chartered!organization!in!WoW. Think!of!it!as!a!village.!In! the!village!you!have!the!village!elders!who!offer!the!wisdom!of! experience. You!also!have!gathers,!and!craftsmen!who!provide the! resources!you!need!to!progress!through!the!game.
But!more!importantly,!you!have!a!family!that!shares!in!your!struggles,! triumphs,!discoveries!and!growth,!both!as!a!character!and!person. So,!take!the!plunge,!join!a!guild,!and!let!the!fun!and!learning!begin!!
Hope!to!see!you!soon!in!WoW!
Peterson$Schools$Get$Serious$ About$Playing$Games$ Gamekbased!learning!refers!to!the!integration!of! gaming!mechanics!into!educational!experiences.
By#David#W.#Deeds,#Cuajimalpa#Campus
What!exactly!is!meant!by!“humanistic!education”?!Trying!to!arrive!at!a! consensus!regarding!a!definition!brings!to!mind!the!fable!about!the! blind!men!describing!an!elephant:!the!guy!holding!the!trunk!thinks!it’s! like!a!snake,!the!dude!with!his!arms!wrapped!around!a!leg!swears!it’s!a! tree,!etc. A!website!named,!appropriately!enough,!education.com,! succinctly!suggests!that!humanistic!education!simply!features!“learning! activities…[that]!are!oriented!toward!improving!self awareness!and! mutual!understanding!among!people.”!The!academic!world!has! borrowed!the!corporate!term!“soft!skills”!to!discuss!such!desirable! student!qualities,!which,!not!coincidentally,!correspond!with!the! International!Baccalaureate!Learner!Profile!attributes:!being!caring,! principled,!openkminded,!etc.
The!question!for!educators!has!always!been:!How!is!it!possible!to!instill! and!nurture!such!nebulous!characteristics!in!students!while!teaching! them!no nonsense!subjects!such!as!computer!programming?!
The!answer!is!now!known:!gamekbased!learning.!
According!to!the!2012#K 12#Horizon#Report,!an!annual!publication!of!the! New!Media!Consortium!that!predicts!adoption!of!educational! technologies,!game based!learning!will!be!mainstream!in!all!schools!by! as!early!as!2014.!Having!learners!engaged!in!gamekbased!learning!is!not! only!“beneficial![for!their]!cognitive!development,”!but!also!fosters “collaboration,!communication,!problem solving!and!critical!thinking.”!
Games!provide!an!“open ended,!challenged based”!social!aspect!to! learning!that!prepares!students!“for!their!continued!education!and!the! workforce,”!(i.e.,!for!21st century!survival!and!success).!“When! embedded!into!the!curriculum,![games]!offer!a!path!into!the!material! that!allows!students!to#learn#how#to#learn along!with!mastering!the!
subject!matter.”!The!evidence!is!indisputable:!playing!games!in!school!is! highly!effective!as!well!as!enjoyable.
As!everyone!knows,!students!love!to!play!games,!and!it’s!this!“fun! factor”!which!ironically!sums!up!the!biggest!objections!many!teachers,! administrators!and!parents!stubbornly!maintain!to!this!innovative! approach.!!Higher!education!institutions!have!been!utilizing, 3D!virtual! worlds,!for!example,!with!amazing!results!for!years.!But,!Kk12! organizational!dinosaurs!largely!remain!reluctant!to!accept!that! education!doesn’t!have!to!be!boring!and!painful!to!be!beneficial.!The! gamekbased!revolution!is!going!to!happen!with!or!without!these! misguided!skeptics,!however,!this!advancement!is!inevitable.!
Clark!Aldrich,!in!Learning#Online#with#Games,#Simulations#and#Virtual# Worlds,!states!that!game based!learning!represents!“a!permanent transformation!of!the!educational!landscape…due!in!part!to!interactive! environments’!ability!to!produce!better!traditional academic!results.”!
Please!note:!“better!traditional!academic!results.”
Petersons!Schools’!overarching!goal!of!providing!our!students!with!a! genuine “21st century!education”!will!ultimately!be!achieved!via!a!two pronged!strategy:!(1)!a!transformation!to!being!exclusively!an! International!Baccalaureate!institution; and!(2)!the!implementation!of!a! completely!student centric!approach!to!teaching,!which!necessarily! involves!the!adoption!of!game based!learning.!
So!far!it’s!been!primarily!the!Cuajimalpa!campus!that!has!been! experimenting!with,!e.g.,!3D!virtual!worlds,!but!soon!our!other!locations! will!be!joining!this!movement!as!training!and!other!preparation! progress.!
Currently,!Second!Life!and!OpenSimulator,!both!“immersive/virtual learning environments,”!are!being!used!as!integral!parts!of!the! Information!Technology!in!a!Global!Society!(ITGS)!and!Computer! Workshop!courses,!respectively.!Second!Life,!formally!known!as!a! “Massively!Multiplayer!Online!Game!(MMOG),”!was!introduced!by!the! Linden!Labs!company!in!2003!and!includes!thousands!of!educationk related!institutions.!The!platform!features!its!own!economy!and! currency,!with!average!quarterly!holdings!exceeding!US!$25!million.!
Second!Life!is!a!“public!grid”!(“grid”!just!means!a!lot!of!computers! connected!together)!restricted!to!users!16!and!older.!So,!for!all!other! students!it’s!necessary!to!maintain!an!OpenSimulator!environment,! which!offers!both!the!security!of!access!control!and!the!benefits!of!
interaction!with!others.!OpenSimulator!is!“open!source”!software!and!so! it’s!not!nearly!as!advanced!as!its!commercial!cousins,!but!organizations! such!as!Dreamland!Metaverse,!Peterson’s!host!company,!contend!it!will! ultimately!become!the!MMOG!of!choice!for!schools,!primarily!because!of! its!ability!to!create!and!maintain!a!completely!private!virtual!learning! environment.
Both!Second!Life!and!OpenSimulator!offer!sophisticated!Computer! Aided!Design!(CAD)!tools,!an!Integrated!Development!Environment! (IDE)!for!programming,!etc.!But!it’s!the!communal!characteristics!of!the! potential!work!that!matter!most:!students!not!only practice!project! management!on!a!local!scale,!but!they’ll!soon!also!be!communicating! and!collaborating!with!learners!around!the!(real,!or!is!it!virtual?)!world.!
Imagine!our!students!hosting!and!visiting!learners!from!other!schools,! other!countries,!even!continents.!Both!Second!Life!and!OpenSimulator! have!been!utilized!for!“cross curricular”!efforts,!meaning!that!recent! projects!involved!Art!and!Music!classes!as!well!as!Technology.!Soon!all! Peterson!campuses!will!be!using!one!or!both!of!these!platforms,!for! student!courses!as!well!as!teacher!professional!development.!
Peterson!Schools’!cybercampuses!are!open!and!available!to!all!our! teachers!and!students.!ITGS!learners!will!soon,!as!part!of!their!final! project,!be!training!people,!starting!at!the!Cuajimalpa!campus!and!then! extending!to!the!others.!“Others”!includes!everyone!around!the!globe!!
Unlike!Second!Life!and!OpenSimulator,!environments!in!which!the! primary!goal!is!to!create!a!virtual!world!from!the!cyberground!up,!Quest! Atlantis!offers!a!prebuilt!platform!via!which!students!focus!on! completing!missions!or!tasks!via!narrative!“toolkits.”!Quest!Atlantis!is! designed!to!engage!students!9 16!years!of!age!in!“transformational! play,”!meaning!that,!again,!they!are!learning!“hard!skills”!while!also! developing!their!abilities!regarding!communication,!collaboration,!etc.!
All!the!storylines!involve!social!action,!whether!it’s!solving!a!bullying! problem!or!saving!a!town!from!the!plague!!More!than!50,000!students! on!six!continents!have!completed!“quests”!over!the!past!four!years.!
Peterson!teachers!at!two!different!campuses!will!have!started!their! training!toward!becoming!qualified!Quest!Atlantis!teachers!by!the!time! this!journal has!been!published.!Quest!Atlantis!is!completely!free!and! it’s!hoped!that!all!Peterson!middle!school!teachers!and!students!will!use! it!soon.!Sometime!during!2013,!the!traditional!Quest!Atlantis!will!be! replaced!by!a!spectacular!3D!version!that!will!rival!most!commercial! games,!while!still!offering!all!the!usual!educational!benefits.!Atlantis! Remixed,!as!the!new!Quest!Atlantis!will!be!known,!will!focus!even!more! on!the!skills!needed!to!solve!problems,!both!real!and!surreal.
Second!Life/OpenSimulator!and!Quest!Atlantis!aren’t!considered!games! in!the!traditional!sense,!but!there’s!never!been!any!doubt!about! Minecraft!!With!more!than!eight!million!registered!users!worldwide,! Minecraft!is!one!of!the!most!popular!diversions!for!young!people!ever.! How!to!effectively!use!the!environment!for!education!remained!elusive! until!the!recent!introduction!of!MinecraftEdu,!a!“mod”!(modification,!or! version)!created!exclusively!for!schools by!programmers!working! directly!with!the!Minecraft!staff.!
MinecraftEdu!offers!all!the!benefits!(including!the!fun!)!while!allowing!a! teacher!to!maintain!control!via!an!intuitive!server!interface.!
MinecraftEdu!is!often!jokingly!referred!to!as!“Second!Life!Lite,”!because! it!offers!younger!students!the!ability!to!easily!create!elaborate! structures!while!focusing!on!the!design!versus!the!mechanics.!It’s!also! easier!to!“start!from!cyberscratch”!because!different!maps!(actually! called!“seeds”)!are!available!to!provide!different!environmental!factors,! such!as!a!mountainous!or!wintery!landscape.!Kids!as!young!as! kindergartners!can!create!their!own!virtual!environments,!then!take! their!teachers!(and!parents)!on!tours!of!their!creations.!
Peterson!Schools! has!a!campus wide! license!to!use! MinecraftEdu!so! there!will!be!no! software!costs! involved.!It’ll!just!be! a!matter!of!installing! the!program!on! different!local!area! network!servers!and! computer!lab!PCs.
10th Grade$Computer$Workshop:
How$successful$has$gameb based$learning$been$at$ Peterson$Schools$so$far?$
Some!student!quotations! should!provide!some! perspective:
“Many!people!think!that!games!are!useless.!They!certainly!don't! know!that!games!put!our! minds!in!action!every! second.!There!are!lots!of! things!to!learn!from!games.! Games!are!not!just!the! future!of!entertainment,! they're!also!the!future!of! learning.”
Joaquin!Berarducci
“As!technology!develops,!we!open!the!doors!to!a!new!dimension.! In!each!stage!of!our!development,!computer!games!make!our!lives! easier.!They!are!what!will!make!the!new!world!of!tomorrow.”
Melyssa!Montes
11th Grade$ITGS$Class:
“ITGS!is!my!favorite!class.!You! are!your!own!teacher,!you!are! responsible!for!your!own! learning!process,!and!that's! what!education!should!be!all! about. Students!have!the!right!
to!have!a!fun!class!once!in!a!while.!With!ITGS,!you!actually!learn! and!have!fun!at!the!same!time!”
Diego!Figueroa “Being!able!to!combine!what!happens!on!the!Internet!with!the! real!world!through!art,!and!that!way!create!a!learning! environment,!is!one!of!the!most!innovative!and!effective!methods! I've!seen,!because!it!connects!the!student!with!the!lesson!through! something!he's!interested!in.!This!is!education's!way!to!say! ‘Welcome!to!the!21st!century.’”
kk
Ilan!Eichner
Peterson!Schools is!just!getting!started!with!gamekbased!learning.!Our! progress!will!be!covered!via!the!website!and!other!venues,!so!stay! tuned.!More!coming!soon!!
[This#article#originally#appeared#in#Peterson#Schools#Magazine.#Reprinted# with#permission.#Peterson#Schools#is#a#private#K 12#institution#with#more# than#2,000#students#at#four#campuses#around#Mexico#City.#David#is#the# Technology#Integration#Specialist#for#the#organization.]
Virtual!Pioneers 2012.!.!.!It!Was!A!Very!Good!Year!! By!Spiff!Whitfield!(sl),!Andrew!Wheelock!(RL)
The!Virtual! Pioneers!have completed! another amazing!year! in!their!quest! to!provide anyone! interested!in!history!and!culture!a!way!to!explore!and!learn!in!Second! Life.! Our!group!has!gone!through!a!variety!of!cosmetic!changes!over!the! years,!but!we!have consistently!stayed!true!to!our!mission.
This!year!brought!change!on!several!fronts.! One!of!our!most!successful! upgrades!for!this!year!was!the!creation!of!a!more!dynamic!webpage!for! our!members!to!keep!track!of!our!events!and!happenings.! We!have! tried!several!variations!of!website,!but!the!Weebly!site!is!the!easiest!and! most!manageable.! Please!check!us!out!at! http://virtualpioneers.weebly.com for!all!of!our!news!and!updates.
Another!happy!change!for!this!year!was!our!new!location.! As!you!may! have!known,!we!moved!our!headquarters!from!the!University!of!Maine’s! Black!Bear!Island!to!Eduislands!9.! A!special!thanks!to!the!University!of! Maine!for!offering!us!their!space.! They!were!kind!and!gracious! hosts.! They!were!going!to!downsize!their!islands!and!we!would!have! been!homeless!were!it!not!for!Eduislands!offering!us!a!parcel!on! Eduislands!9.! Fleet!Goldenberg,!http://www.sambiglyon.org/!has!been! a!wonderful!supporter!and!promoter!of!our!efforts!and!uses.! His!work! with!Eduislands!has!been!one!of!true!collaboration!and!bonhamie.! We! are!so!grateful!for!his!quick!action!to!find!us!a!comfortable!location!with! adjoining!parcel of!ISTE’s!SIGVE space.! We!have!found!that!it!has! created!a!true!fellowship!of!likekminded educators!that!can!easily!work! from!one!region!to!another!to!share!and!collaborate.
With!our!new!website!for!sharing!and!an!educationally!viable!location,! we!went!about!our!business!of!arranging!tours,!having!presentations,! and!enjoying!some!light!hearted!discussion!for!our!bi weekly!Meet#and# Greet sections.!
See!below!for!our!year!in!review!of!locations!and!topics.! Please!visit! these!locations!to!see!and!learn!more.! Serena!Offcourse!has!been!an! amazing!scheduler!for!us!and!has!done!an!incredible!job!of!providing! tours!that!are!timely!and!unique.! Big!thanks!to!Serena!
January$29th
We!began!our!year!at!the!lovely!Victorian home!of!Virtual!Pioneer,! TwelfthNight!to!discuss!our!recent!conference,!what!worked!and!what! didn't!work!k!gathering!ideas!for!next!year.!We!put!on!our!best!Victorian! clothes!and!chatted!over!a!cup!of!tea.! Twelfth!has!been!a!wonderful! member!who!contributes!and!walks!the!walk!when!it!comes!to!virtual! environment!work!and!play.
February$12th !k!Nodaway
The!Nodaway!sim!celebrates!the!people,!places,!and!connections!of!one! family!and!community.! Using!photographs,!diaries,!and!local! newspaper!accounts,!this!sim!tells!the!story!of!this!family!in!a!small! Missouri!town!from!the!1890s!through the!1950s.!Ashbrook!Llewellyn! was!our!tour!guide!and!gave!us!a!thought!provoking!evening.
February$26th!!k!Peru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFnb5OSVbGo
Amparo!Delvalle!lead! us!on!a!tour!of!Machu! Picchu,!a!real life! reproduction!of!the! ancient!ruins!of!the! Inca!Citadel!of!Machu! Picchu,!a!rigorous! simulation!of!a!60%! real!Citadel,!built!as! part!of!the!University! San!martin!de!Porres! of!Perú.!We!learned!
about!the!history,!origin!and!use!of!one!of!the!world's!archaeological! wonders.
March$11th!!k!St!Patrick's Day!Tour
This!tour!led!us!to!the!beauty!and!wonder!of!Ireland!in!1712!! Located!in!the!Ocean!Realms!sims,!DUBLIN!and!IRELAND!offers!urban! and!country!locales!including!the!historic!Brazen!Head!pub,!the!Abbey! Ruins,!Dunseverick!Castle,!the!Standing!Stones,!and!a!Gypsy!Camp!! A!fun!tour!had!by!all.
March$25th!k!Empyreal!Dreams~The!Art!Anthology Virtual!Pioneer,!Cyrus!Hush,!gave!us!a!tour!of!Empyreal Dreams~The! Art!Anthology.! This!is!ultimately!going!to!be!twelve!builds! commemorating!famous!works!of!literature.! They!are!up!to!five...!Rime! of!the!Ancient!Mariner!(Coleridge),!The!Bluebell!(Bronte),!The!Raven! (Poe)!Les!Miserables!(Hugo)!and!the!newest!addition! Owl!and!the! Pussycat!(Lear).! Cyrus!is!a!first!class!tour!guide!and!didn’t!disappoint! with!this!tour!
May!6th!k!Principato!di! Melioria,!Villa!Vesuviana Lady!Sere!Timeless! invited!us!to!Principato! di!Melioria,!Villa! Vesuviana.!This!is!an! interpretation!of!
Palladio’s!Villa!Rotonda!that has!inspired!more!architecture!than!any! other!single!building!in! history.!We!visited!this! role play!of!a!fictional! Italian!Court!in!1780! south!of!Napoli.!
May$20th!!k!Afghanistan! Virtual!Museum
This!museum! provides!a! fully!interactive!and! immersive!experience!to! learn!more!about! the! history,!culture,!art!and!people!of!Afghanistan.!This!museum!is!rich! in!information,!images,!and!more.!
June$3rd k!Welcome!to!Greece
Mariposa!Melodee!lives!in!Greece!in!RL!and!in!SL.! She!shared!a!bit!of! her!country's!history,!culture,!and!beauty.!Starting!with!the!Acropolis,! then!to!Plaka,!and!then!to!Athens!k!we!visited!the!Presidential!House,! Monument!of!Unknown!Soldier,!Odeon!of!Herodes!Atticus,! and!a!Greek! Orthodox!Church.!We!ended!at!the!beautiful Aegean!Sea.
June$17th!k!Buona!Pesca!Archipelago
Cesta!Franizzi!led!us!on!a!tour!of!Buona!Pesca!Archipelago.!These! beautiful!Medieval!Realms!and!Role plays!are!surrounded!by!open! sailable!waters!covering!twenty seven!adjoining!regions.!
July$1st!k!Colorado!North
Join!Downy!(Downunder!Snoodle)!for!a!tour!of!this!Authentic!1869!Wild! West!Rolekplay!based!in!Western!Colorado.!We!visited!several!replica! builds!including!The!Mahany!House,!one!of!the!"five!oldest!buildings"!in! Georgetown,!Colorado,!built!during!the!silver!rush.!
July$15th !k!Victorian!Summer!Party!
(With some!modern!modifications..)
This!was!a!great gathering!where!we!had!some!fun!and!fellowship!all! wearing!Victorian!Era!Swimsuits.
July$29th!k!Flying!Tigers!in!SL
Jessii!WarrholkGiano,!Guarocuya!Giano!and!the!FLYING!TIGERS!(the! largest!aviation!group!in!SL)!provided!an!amazing!tour!of!their!sim.!This! venue!is!host!to!a!replica!of!the!WW2!Memorial!in!DC!and!The!History!of! Aviation!Aircraft!Museum.!Our!tour!included!a!WW2!themed!aerial! combat.!This!group!was!inspired!by!the!efforts!of!the!original!Flying! Tigers,!they!fly!to!honor!all!veterans!and!are!dedicated!to!pursuing! camaraderie,!goodwill,!cooperation!and!harmony!within!the!SL!aviation! community.!
August$12th!k!Adventure!in!
Dominica
TwelfthNight!again!guided!us! to!the!island!Antiquity!
Dominica.!Highlights of!the! tour!included:!The!Cabrits! Garrison,!Fort!Shirley!and!the! many!natural!highlights!of!this!
beautiful!island.! We!also!visited!The!Pirate's!Lair!k!Hideout!for!the! Pirates!of!Antiquity.! Dominica!has!a!long!legacy!of!piracy!over!the! years.! It!was!also!the!location!for!several!of!the!"Pirates!of!the! Caribbean"!films.!
August$26th!k!Second!Life!Photography!Tips!
Ansel!Artful!is!an!instructor!at!Builders!Brewery who!has!spent!many! hours!developing!his!excellent!understanding!of!photography!in!both!RL! and!SL.! In!this!introduction!he!shared!some!tips!to!improve!your!ability! to take!great!pictures!while!on!Virtual!Pioneer!Tours.!
September$9th!k!1920!Chicago
Starla!Moorlord!(starla.huntress)!was!our!host!for!this!sim!based!on!the! 1920's!in!the!City!of!Chicago.!This!Roaring!20's!style!sim!is!the!home!of! gangsters!and!dolls.! We!were!even!treated!to!a!Gangster!hit!job!! Oh!the! clean!fun!of!rolekplay!and!history!sims.!
September$23rd!k!Photohunt!at!Mont!Saint!Michel This!was!a!Self!Guided!Tour!and!Photohunt!at!Mont!Saint!Michel!k!a! rocky!tidal!island!in!Normandy,!France.!It!is!located!approximately!a! half!a!mile!off!the!country's!northwestern coast.! This!island!has!held! strategic!fortifications!since!ancient!times.!Since!the!8th!century!AD!it! has!been!the!seat!of!the!monastery!from!which!it!gets!its!name.!
November$4th!k!O'Hare's!Gap!5:30!pm!SLT
Willy!and!Meg!Sandalwood!shared!their!Rural Irish!Village!of!O'Hara's! Gap.!It!is!1939!and!the!war!between!the!Axis!powers!and!the!British!is! on.! Strategic!positions!were!needed!to!observe!British!shipping!and!the! Axis!powers!know!that!much!of!the!convoy!activity!to!and!from!England! must!pass!through!the!narrow!gap!between!North!Ireland!and!Scotland.! This!sleepy!little!Irish!Village!provides!a!good!staging!point!to!watch! this!activity.! The!Blarney!Castle!and!Blarney!Stone!could!be!seen!and! kissed!
November$18th!k!Tour!of!London!Village
Darkling!Leechfinger (leechfinger)!provided!for!us!a!tour!of!London! Village.!This!fun!filled!place!is!one!part!London,!and!one!part!English! fandom.!There!are some!famous!landmarks!such!as!the!Tower!Bridge,! London!Eye,!and!the!BT!Tower.!In!addition,!there!are!tributes!to!English! shows!Sherlock!Holmes!and!Doctor!Who.!
December$2nd!k!Ancient!Alexandria Cleopatra!VII!of!the!Ptolemies!(pharaohcleopatra,!was!our!guide! of Alexandria,!an!ancient!world!role!playing!sim,!set!around!35!BCE,!at! the!time!of!Cleopatra!and!Mark!Antony.! Alexandria,!Egypt!was!founded! by!Alexander!the!Great!in!331!BCE.! At!this!time,!Alexandria!was!the! most!beautiful,!wealthiest,!and!most!educated!city!on!the!planet.! Highlights!of!this!tour!included!the!Palace,!the!Market,!an!Arena,!a! Hippodrome,!a!Bedouin!camp,!a!Roman!Fortress,!and!a!temple.
December$9th!k!PRESENTATION
+++!The!Renaissance!Hunt!+++
Hunt!organizer,!Perryn!Peterson,!discussed!the!second!Renaissancek themed!GridkWide!hunt.!He!offered!some!"Hunt!Tips'!for!new!hunters! and!answered!questions.!This!exciting!SL!event!had!Renaissance!and! Medieval!gifts!to!find!hidden!in!over!100!participating!shops.!
December$16th!!kVP!Winter!Event!
+++Historical!Costume!Party+++
Our!last!event!brought!us!together!again!for!some!fun!mingling!skating,! and!snowball!throwing.! Good!clean!entertainment.
As!you!can!see,!the!Virtual!Pioneers!like!to!learn,!share,!and!collaborate! in!a!variety!of!settings.! 2013!is!underway!and!we!already!have!some! great!sims!planned,!like!a!return!to!Harlem!1920,!and!Medieval! Dee.! Please!look!for!us!inworld or!follow!our!Weebly!site.!
Spiff
Be!sure!to!check!out!our!flickr!group!site to!see!pictures!of!our!events!
Achieving Fiero Moments in Collegial Learning & Gaming Communities By Rosie O’Brien
Vojtek (rl), Roxie Neiro (sl) Bob Vojtek (rl), BJ Gearbox (sl) Motivation!is!a!funny!thing!–!what!motivates!one!person!or!group!of! people!may!not!work!for!the!next!person!or!group.!But!from!our! research!and!experiences!(Vojtek&!Vojtek,!2009,!Corwin!Press)!we have! learned!that!the!more!the!following!ten!strategies!are!embedded!within! the!culture!of!a!school or!classroom,!a!virtual!community!like!ISTE! SIGVE!in!Second!Life,!or!a!guild!in!WoW!for!example,!the!more!likely!the! group!is!going!to!be!able!to!work!together!collegially,!and!the!more! likely!they!will!be!to!achieve!what!we!call!optimal#performance and!what! the!gaming!community!calls!a!Fiero#Moment.!
We!define!optimal$performance as the#state#in#which#individuals#within# the#school#community#are#enthralled#in#complex,#job embedded# educational#work#and#learning#experiences#that#serve#a#greater#purpose,# have#a#clear#and#specific#focus,#provide#knowledge#and#feedback#about#the# results#of#educator#effort,#intrinsically#captivate#educator#attention,#are# balanced#between#the#challenge#of#the#activity#and#the#knowledge#and# skill#of#the#individual,#and#clearly#make#a#difference#in#helping#all#students# achieve#personalized#and#collective#learning#goals (Vojtek!&!Vojtek,!2009,! p.30).
Optimal!Performance!is!what!Csikszentmihalyi!calls!“Flow,”!what! Maslow!calls!“Self Actualization,”!what!runners!call,!“The!Zone,”!and! what!gamers!call!“Fiero!Moments.”!
So,!what!are!the!characteristics!that!must!be!met to!achieve!Optimal! Performance!or!a!Fiero!Moment?!We!list!them!as!the!following.!
The!People/Players:!
• Are actively!engaged/enthralled!in!complex,!job embedded!or
game embedded/immersed!learning!or!work.!
• Are engaged!in work!that!serves!a!greater!purpose!or!a!greater good!(e.g.,!working!collaboratively!in!WoW!to!survive!and!help each!other or!on!a!school!goal!to!ensure!students!achieve statewide!assessment!goals).
• Know and!can!articulate!the clear!and!specific!focus!and!goal.
• Are provided!with!specific!and!immediate!feedback!about!the results!of!their!efforts!and!actions.
• Are intrinsically!captivated!by!the!mission!and!work!they!are doing.
• Have!the!knowledge!and!skills!necessary!to!complete!the!task!or activity!and!the!knowledge!and!skills!they!possess!are!balanced against!the!complexity!of!the!task,!so!that!the!task/activity!is neither!too!difficult!nor!too!easy.
• Realize that!what!they!are!doing!is!making!a!difference!in!helping them!to!achieve!their!personal!or!collective!goals.
Game developers!“get!it!”!They!understand that!if!they!are!going!to! enthrall!and!captivate!their!players,!they!need!to!embed!the!above! characteristics!of!optimal!performance!into!their!games.!For!example,!as! players!acquire!the!knowledge!and!skills they!need!to!achieve!their! goals,!they!experience!success!–!a!Feiro!Moment,!and!thus!move!on!to! the!next!level.!!
We!do!not!do!this!enough!in!real!life!!Especially!in!the!classroom!when! we!are!teaching!our!students.!!Maybe!that!is!why!it!is!so!difficult!for!us,! as!educators,!to!build!and!sustain!the!momentum!(enthusiasm!and! enthrallment)!of!games; or!as!administrators,!to!build!a!collegial! learning!community!with!educators!that!is!able!to!achieve!the!optimal! levels!of!performance described!above;!or!as!learners,!experience!those! potential!real!life!Fiero!(ah ha,!got!it,!can!do)!moments in!the!classroom!!
But,!what!if!we!could?!
What!if!we!could!structure!these!Optimal!Performance/Fiero!Moment! principles!into!the!important!work!we!do,!everyday,!whether!it!be!in! the:!virtual!environments;!the!gaming!environments; the!work!we!do! with!teachers,!colleagues,!and!peers!as!a!collegial!learning!community;! or!by!engaging!students!in!the!daily!classroom!curricula?!
There!are!10!highly!effective,!essential!strategies!that!teachers!and! administrators!can!use!to!motivate!and!inspire!students,!teachers,!or! members!of!their!WoW!guild,!to!build!collegial!learning!communities and!help!them!achieve!optimal!performance.!It!doesn’t!matter!whether! you!use!these!in!your!classroom!with!students,!with!the!teachers!in!your! school,!with!your!colleagues!to!build!an!inworld!group,!or!with!your! guild!in!WoW.!!The!10!essential!strategies!are!the!same and!are!just!as! effective!in!all!of!these!environments.!The!more!you!are!able!to!embed! them!into!your culture!and!make!them!the!norm!(norm goes!without! saying!–!it!is!just!the!way!you!operate),!the!more!likely!you!are!to!create! those!Fiero!Moments!in!real!life!and!in!virtual!worlds!and!games.
The$10$strategies are (in!no!order,!except!for!number!one,!which!is!the! same!as!Maslow’s!survival!skills):!
1. Quality$of$Life!–!Everyone!within!the!group!must!have!their!basic life!skills!and!needs!met.!In!Second!Life!for!example,!until!an avatar!learns!how!to!move,!has!the!appropriate!dress, understands!the!culture,!etc.,!they!have!not!achieved!a!quality!of life!that!helps!them!sustain!their!involvement!in!the!virtual!world. Often!people!pop!into!second!life!and!quit!because they!do!not!feel comfortable!(achieve!the!quality!of!life)!that!sustains!their participation. This!is!why!ISTE!SIGVE!has!spent!so!much!time nurturing!newcomers.
2. Mission$–!People!need!to!know,!understand!and!be!able!to articulate!the!important!work!(i.e.,!goals,!actions,!and!desired results)!they!wish!to!achieve.!Mission!is!that!morally!compelling, important!work!that!the!individual!or!the!group!is!pursuing. Everything!that!the!person/group!is!doing!is!important!to furthering!that!mission.
3. Communication$–!There!must!be!a!shared!vocabulary!and!clearly established!definitions.!There!must!be!clarity!in!purpose!and channels!for!dialogue!among!members.!Information!must!be!open, honest,!and!transparent.!People!must be!on!the!same!page!with the!same!information.
4. Relationships$–!Relationship!matter!!People!need!people! We love!when!Barbara!Streisand!sings,!“People!who!need!people!are the!luckiest!people!in!the!world.”!Cultivate,!nurture,!and!build
those!relationships!!Together,!we!can!
5. Accountability$–!Make!sure!that!when!you!develop!the!goals, action!plans,!and!result indicators!that!everyone!of!the stakeholders!has!input!and!is!listened!to.!Take!time!to!build consensus!around!what!is!important!and!what!you!are!going!to!do about!it.! This creates!ownership!in!the!task.!Then,!and!most importantly,!make!sure!everyone!holds!themselves!and!each other in!the!group!responsible!and!accountable!for!accomplishing the!mission!and!goals.
6. Competence$and$Capacity$–!Not!only!do!individuals!need!to increase!their!own!knowledge!and!skills!(competences),!but!also, they!need!to!share!that!knowledge!and!skills!with!the!rest!of!the group!to!build!the!collective!capacity!of!ALL.
7. Autonomy$–!Make!sure!that!everyone!knows!and!understands the!clearly!identified!and!articulated boundaries!(including!rules) and!then!grants each!other the!freedom!and!authority!to!make informed!decisions.!As!in!games like!WoW,!sometimes!this!works, and!sometimes!it!doesn’t.!When!it!doesn’t,!people!need!to!be granted!the!ability!to!pick!themselves!up,!dust!themselves!off,!do some!research,!revise,!and!try!again.!This!is!what!it!takes!for successful!gamers!to!move!on!to!the!next!level.!This!is!what!it takes!for!successful!schools!to!improve.
8. Empowerment$–!Even!though!we!think!we!can,!in!games!and!in real life,!none of!us!can!do!it!all! It!is!important!that!we!delegate the!responsibility,!distribute!the!leadership,!grant!the!authority, and!allow!others to do!the!work.!Then we!get!out!of!the!way! Make!sure!people!have!the!competence!and!self confidence!they need,!and!then,!when!they!do, empower!them!to!do!the!work,!and watch!what!they!become!
9. Positive$Interdependence$–!None!of!us!are!as!smart!as!all!of!us. It!takes!all!of!us,!working!together,!to!achieve!our!goals.!We!are!a team!.!.!.!we!win!or!lose,!sink!or!swim,!and!we!are!all!in!this TOGETHER! To!survive,!to!be!successful,!we!need!each!other!!We are!a!community.!We!are!a!family.!We!are!a!guild.!We!are!one!!We must!make!sure!there!is!“UNITY”!in!the!“COMMUNITY.”
10. Results$–!Getting!results!means!achieving!the!individual!or groups’!morally!compelling!mission!and!goals.!Goals!must!be!kept realistic,!attainable,!and!measurable.!Be sure!to celebrate!the!little accomplishments along!the!way.!When!you!don’t get!the!results
you!were!looking!for,!step! back,!take!a!deep!breath,! investigate and!analyzing! what!happened!–!what!went! wrong,!and!then,!have the! courage!to!try!it!again.!And,! when!you!do!achieve!success (that!Fiero!Moment),! celebrate!!After celebrating,! pick!yourself!up,!dust! yourself!off,!and!move!on!to! the!next!level!(in!the!game!or! in!the!complexity!of!your! work)!and!in!the!words!of! Jerry!Garcia “Keep!on!Truckin’”
The!best!of!games!incorporate!the!above!10!strategies!for!building! collegial!communities!to!engage!and!enthrall their!players.!Educators! in!WoW!and!other!online!games!will!tell!you!that!these!are!all! elements!that!keep!them!coming!back,!day!after!day!(and!in!the!case! of!WoW)!night!after!night!to PLAY!
Like!game!developers,!our!job thus!becomes!embedding these! elements!into!the!work!we!do!in!virtual!environments,!social!media,! online!learning,!and!daily!classroom!facektokface!learning.!The!more! these 10!strategies are!embedded!within!our schools’!cultures!and! classrooms!every!single!day,!the!more!likely!educators!and!students! will!be!to!achieve!optimal!performance!–!those FIERO!Moments!!!
[For#more#information,#see# “Motivate!#Inspire!#Lead!#10# Strategies#for#Building#Collegial# Learning#Communities” by# RoseAnne#O’Brien#Vojtek#and# Robert#J.#Vojtek,#2009,#Corwin# Press].
Hello Everyone,
AsNanZingronesaysin herarticle , Maggie Larimore and Me, “It’sall aboutthepeople!” VEJ wouldn’tbeVEJwithout allofyou,ourreaders andcontributors. Therefore,weareexcited topresentthe2013 Reader’sChoiceAward Winners!
CONGRATULATIONStoalloftheVEJnomineesandReader’sChoiceAward Winners!WhatanightofcelebrationwehadattheISTEPreconferenceExtravaganzain SecondLife.Ifyoumissedtheawardsceremonyyoucanwatchitat http://www.livestream.com/sigve. Alsobesuretocheckoutthepictures@ http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigve/.Thankstoeveryonewhohasbeensharingtheir picturesofthefunevent.
EachissueofVEJgetsbetterandbetter.Weareespeciallyexcitedbythiscoverof VEJwiththe2013EdovatoroftheYear,KaeNovak,featured.Youcanfindtherestofthe 2013Reader’sChoiceAwardwinnersinsidethisissue.
Wearealsoexcitedbythequalityofarticles,from“TheHolodeck,”thefirstofa threepartseries,toaninterviewwithhighschoolstudent,KristenLeary,to“DigitalStorytellingThroughDocumentaries”andmuchmorein-between. Youcanfindinformation aboutVWBPE2013aswellasISTE2013.AndforallofourMinecraftandWorldof Warcraftfans,wehavesomegreatarticlesforyou,too.
DanaPaxson’sarticlewilltakeyoutothecuttingedgeofdigitalstory-telling possibilities. Besuretocheckouthismachinima,“SLJeddinLavalUndergroundCityTour” @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBHoBrAGpw . HeisrebuildinginKitelyasI writethis,soventureintotheworldofKitelyandcheckitout!
WhenISTEeducatorsthinkofdigitalstorytelling,theyimmediatelythinkof BernajeanPorter.Ihadawonderfultimemeetingupwithheravatar,BernajenaPinazzo (SL)tointerviewherandfindoutwhatexcitingthingssheisdoinginSecondLife.Inthis interviewsheclearlydefinesdigitalstorytellingandsharesnumerousresourceswithour readers–amustread!
So,grabyourfavoritedrink(virtualorreal),settledowninyourfavoritecornerof theworld/metaverse,andgetreadytoaVEJ!ThisissueissuretobeaBESTSELLER.Make suretoTWEET,blog,andspreadthenewsaroundtheworldandacrossthemetaversethat thislatestissueofVEJisHOTOFFTHEPRESSandonceagainwilltakeourreadersOUTOF THISWORLD!
BonAppetit,andasalways,KeepSmiling
Roxie
Neiro(sl),RosieVojtek(rl)
Vol. 3 Issue 1
Virtual Education Journal In This Issue 1. EPIC Leadership @ ISTE13 = Fiero Moments!
2. Are You Ready For A Third Life?
3. An Interview With Bernajena Pinazzo(aka) Bernajean Porter
4. The Book Transformed: What reading means Now
5. Getting to the New Underground City
6. Kitely Market: A New Place To Sell Your Content
7. Avatars Don’t Steal Souls
8. Book Review: Digital Storytelling In The Classroom
9. From The Traditional To The Technological: Digital Storytelling - Documentaries
10.A Discussion of Virtual Worlds In Education
11.Maggie Larimore and Me – A Tale of Immersive Professional Development and Play
12.Cloud Party: The Intersection of Virtual Worlds and Mainstream Social Networks
13.The Holodeck: Mixed Reality Teaching and Learning Environment
14.Getting Ready for Minecraft Open House with SIGVE and the Games MOOC
15.The Summer 2013 Games MOOC
16.A Student’s View of Virtual World Software: Interview with Kristin Leary
17.How The World of Warcraft Can Be Used To Teach & Learn Personal Finance
18.Kicking Off AvaCon Inc. 2013: Metaverse Cultural Series
19.Digital Storytelling: The Old Is New Again
20.Second Life: A Virtual Playground
21.Dress Up the VWBPE in 2013
22.What’s Happening to Virtual Worlds?
23.The Use of the 21st Century Program Uru To Raise Test Scores
24.Continuing The Story of Uru in Schools
25.Reflections of a Student
26.Creating “User Imagined Content” Through Virtual Environments
27.Virtual Worlds Burning
28.The Story of the VSTE Index of Educational Sims
29.Regarding Online Education
30.The Recipe of Storytelling: Step 1 of 3
31.An ISTE SIG For Assessment and Analytics?
32.Our First Learning and Teaching Experience with Second Life
33. CONGRATULATIONS! 2013 Reader’s Choice Award Winners!
To Read VEJ online visit: http://www.virtualeducationjournal.com/ For more information about ISTE SIGVE or to join the fun, visit: http://sigve.iste.wikispaces.net/ Follow us on Twitter @VEJournal or #VEJournal VEJ is published by Edovation
EPIC LEADERSHIP @ ISTE13 = Fiero Moments! By Roxie Neiro
AlthoughtherewillbemanyEPICmomentsatISTE13,thoseofusatthe Epic Leadership: Beyond the Hype of Gamefication sessionwillsaythatthisone willgodowninthehistory books.Notjustbecauselaterin theeveningJaneMcGonigal addressedarecord-breaking crowdatanISTEKeynoteand brokeanotherrecordfor massivelymulti-playerthumb wrestling,But,becausemost,if notallofusintheroom,were, shouldIsay...alittlestar struckwhen,aftersolvingthe mystery,thePaladin(aka)Jane McGonigal,enteredtheroomfor aspecialQ&Asession.
TherehadbeensomeFieromomentsearlier duringthesession.Forsomeofus,itwas meetingoursecondlifefriendsinreallife.For othersitwasbuildingthetalleststructureto holdamarshmallow. But,forme,itwas askingJaneMcGonigalforallofourVEJ readersifshewouldshowuswhataFiero momentlookslikeforherandtodescribeher greatestFieromoment.
Janegraciouslyallowedustorecordher describinghergreatestFieromoment.Hope youenjoyitasmuchaswedid!Thankyou Jane!
WatchJaneMcGonigalonFieroMomentson @livestream: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/2859027/event s/2202320
An Interview With Bernajena Pinazzo (SL), aka Bernajean Porter By Roxie Neiro (SL), Rosie Vojtek (RL)
ItisdifficulttohaveaconversationaboutDigitalStorytellingwithout someonementioningBernajeanPorterorBernajenaPinazzoandherwork withdigitalstorytelling.Onnumerousoccasions,I(RosieVojtek)havesatin theaudienceofherpackedsessionsatISTEconferenceslikeasponge,soaking upeverythingIcanfromBernajeantotakebacktotheteachersatmyschool. Likewise,RoxieNeirohasalsohadtheopportunitytolearnfromBernajena Pinazzoinsecondlife(SL).Itwassomuchfuntheothernightinterviewingher
andseeingsomeoftheSLbuildssheandothersarecreatingtotelltheir storiesinavirtualworld.
Ican’tbegintotellyouhowexcitedIamtohavebeenabletobringthis interviewwithBernajenaPinazzo/BernajeanPortertotheJune2013issueof VEJ. BernajeanPorter(RL)isadigitalstorytellingconsultantandauthorof “DigiTales: The Art of Telling Digital Stories”and“Evaluating DigitalProducts.” SheisalsoamemberoftheISTESpecialInterestGroupforDigitalStorytelling (ISTESIGDS).Iknowyouaregoingtoenjoythisinterviewalongwiththe numerousresourcesfromBernajean/Bernajenayoucansharewithyour colleaguesandusewithyourstudents.
Roxie: HiBernajena!Iamgoingtobeginbyaskingyoutointroduceyourself inreallife(rl),secondlife(sl),andanyothervirtualworldsyouare working/playingin,andanythingelseyouwouldlikeustoknowaboutyou.
Bernajena: In RL I am Bernajean Porter, digital educator - AKA writer, speech and debate coach, media maker, futurist, master of survival techniques when working with adolescents, professional speaker, teacher of teachers, long-term geekess, promoter of anything that increases joy, spirit and outrageous possibilities in all aspects of life for kids and adults and now. . . a digital storytelling guide and virtual educator. I am also known as Bernajena Pinazzo in Second Life. You can see some of my work, learn more, or contact me at the following:
www.DigiTales.us
http://digitales.us/resources/bjps-books-articles
http://i-imagine.wikispaces.com/
http://bernajean.wikispaces.com/
Bernajean@DigiTales.us (email)
Roxie: Howdidyougetinterestedindigitalstorytelling,andespeciallytheart oftellingdigitalstories,thus“DigiTales”?
Bernajena: Long, long ago and still today . . . I fell into the magic and possibilities of technology for creating learning spaces that unleash potential in our youth. So the journey began . . . working as Senior Technology Consultant for Colorado Department of Ed while learning what it takes to get schools change hardy and inspired to embrace technology effectively. While leading audits for technology’s impact on learning, it came time to design a set of tools for assessing media products as evidence of learning. Unfortunately, so many media products were superficial and lacked craftsmanship. My own experience with digital storytelling at the Center for Digital StoryTelling with Joe Lambert created a mindchanging, lifechanging awakening. Thus began “DigiTales: the Art of Digital StoryTelling.” My book became an avenue for teachers to have a personal artistic “writer’s workshop” in learning skills and processes to effectively guide their own students in media-making. What I didn’t realize until looking back was how the power of “story” had long been prominent in my own life since my early days on the family farm. A perfect harmony of passion and skills was born. [My first digital story – a cow story @ http://www.digitales.us/content/da-um-jeitinho ]
Roxie: Iloveit!WhataGREATexampleofapersonalnarrative.Howdoyou definedigitalstorytelling?
Bernajena: [See “The Art of Digital Storytelling” at http://goo.gl/xos8H ] Many techno enthusiasts use the term storytelling for ANY media product – but there is an art to storytelling that drives the impact and influence power. Digital storytelling blends the traditional oral storytelling with new mediums of images, sound, music and the digitized storytelling voice. The rigor of good storytelling uses the traditional StoryARC regardless of the medium used to express it. IF the story is missing – then no amount of tech tools will be able to make it shine. [See Story Arc image and more information about the definition of digital storytelling and the Take Six Elements at http://digitalstorytelling.iste.wikispaces.net/Definitions ]
Roxie: Iwouldliketomentionto,thatourreadersshouldcheckoutthe webinaroneffectivestorytellingthatispartofaseriesofwebinarsbeingdone byISTESIGDSathttp://iste.adobeconnect.com/p59ouobwj96/foragreat presentationonthistopic.
Roxie: Whataretheelementsofeffectivedigitalstorytelling?
Bernajena: While ALL modes of communication should be practiced and celebrated, digital storytelling has unique elements distinguishing it from other forms of multimedia stories that are used to unfold the traditional StoryARC. These elements are summarized as “Take Six: Elements of Good StoryTelling.” Using as many of these Take Six Elements as possible in any other digital stories certainly increases the quality of student work for all multimedia modes of communication. For example, “Showing- not Telling” is a quality long expected in good writing pieces and now teachers will find this same element will also create exceptionally good multimedia products as well. However, two specific elements are considered especially essential for good storytelling: Living in the Story and Unfolding Lessons Learned. If either of these two elements is missing, you are likely viewing a great multimedia product but not storytelling. Ironically I also find these same two elements the trickiest to coach in an author’s narrative. Understanding the unique differences between modes helps teachers to coach students in mastering many specific modes of communication.
Roxie: Asyouknow,inschoolstodayweareallaboutthenewcommoncore standardsandassessment.Howdoesdigitalstorytellingengagestudentsin theskillsneededtosuccessfullyachievethesenewCommonCoreStandards andeffectivelyapplytheskillsfromtheISTENETS?
Bernajena: All ISTE NETS along with 21st Century Skills are practiced in creating this singular digital storytelling product. The time engaged in creating these media products deliver a multitude of results even before they connect with specific content knowledge.
Roxie: Howdoteachersactivelyengagestudentsinauthenticandrigorous writingtasksthathelpthembecomeknowledgeproducersacrosscurricula andcultures?
Bernajena: It’s a process that begins with a story prompt and walks students through story-making steps. Good storytelling of any kind is about good writing, which involves about 40-50% of the project time. There are also steps for media making like writing that ensures that each stage produces excellent work before leaping into the technology tools. The StoryARC along with Take Six Elements are used to guide first storytelling narrative drafts as well as being a focused checklist for personal reflections, teacher conferences, and critical friend reviews. No hostile takeovers allowed – the student should be guided by their own intrinsic sense of storymaking NOT taking dictation from their teacher –this is how voice is lost – please the adult in charge.
Roxie: Whatarethecurrenttechnologiesthatbestsupportthecreationof digitalstorytelling?
Bernajena: They all do very creative styles are emerging! But as long as the StoryARC and Take Six Elements are engaged – any tool will serve! There are no such things as digital storytelling tools that work best . . . I do expect audio and images to dance together.
Roxie: Thatbeingsaid,whataresomeofyourfavoritedigitalresourcesand softwaretools?
Bernajena: There are tools for each of the storymaking process that can be engaged – citation makers, word processors, Internet, mind maps, story starters,
etc. for Preproduction, and Image-editors and Audio-editing for Production. Finally the creativity of the final tool used to ‘mix’ the media together is needed.
My new medium besides getting ready to build another 3D story world [in SL] is silent movies as an art form.
Roxie: Thatsoundslikealotoffun!
Bernajena: Yes,Ithinkso,too. Here are my ipad APPS for Storytelling – but they could equally be used for multimedia making as well. http://storykeepers.wikispaces.com/iPad+StoryTelling+APPS
Roxie: OnyourDigitaleswebsitehttp://www.digitales.us/storykeepersgalleryyoulistseveraldifferentstylesofdigitalstoriesinyourStoryKeepers Gallery.Wouldyoupleasedescribethecharacteristicsofsomeofthemand shareurlstosomeofyourfavoritedigitalstoriesfromeachofthesedifferent styles.
Bernajena: This is its own article – many of these styles are based on TYPES of Communication – aka the purpose of the communication. Digital Storytelling has many purposes so if it is PSA – then it needs to serve that purpose.
Roxie: [Laughing]IthinkIseeanotherarticleforournextissueofVEJonthe horizon!Ihopeyouwillwritethatarticleforussowecancontinuethis conversation.But,IamreallyinterestedintheI-imagineproject.Pleasetellus whattheI-imagineprojectisandhowyougotstartedwiththisproject?
Bernajena: “I-imagine: Taking My Place in the World” is applied storytelling based on research that engages students in identifying their gifts – awakening the dreamer and believer that their talents matter to the world. Students create a docudrama AS IF they are living 20 years in the future – shining their light for good in the world. The process honors and inspires students to own their path in reaching their BEST lives. [See “I-imagine Opens Up a World of Possibilities for Students” by Julie Jaeger and Bernajean Porter, LearningandLeadingwith Technology (June/July 2013) for article at http://digitales.us/resources/bjpsbooks-articles] My favorite part is asking students to have their older selves give advice to their younger self as wisdom in having a BEST life!
Roxie: OurreadersaregoingtowanttocheckouttheI-imaginearticleyou justmentionedalongwithhttp://digitales.us/storykeepers-gallery/i-imagine tolearnmoreaboutyoursuccessesaswellaslessonslearnedfromyourwork withteachersandstudents.Youhavealotofwonderfulresourcespostedthat youaresharingwitheducators,sothankyouforallofthem.Changingthe subjectalittlebit,mynextquestionis,haveyoucreateddigitalstoriesin secondlifeorothervirtualworldsorhelpedstudentscreateddigitalstories? Ifso,whatstrategiesortechniquesworkedwellwhenbuildingthe3Dworlds toillustratethestoriesbeingtold?
Bernajena: First of all, readers are going to want to check out the article, “Digital Storytelling in Second Life” that I wrote for ISTE’s May 2010 Learning& LeadingWithTechnology. The StoryARC and Take Six: Elements for Good Storytelling can guide ANY medium including 3D worlds to build successful interactive storytelling. No storyline – no storyboard – no playing in second life. I have noticed that many projects build a museum-like space based on a book –like Anne Frank’s hiding place. But that doesn’t create a storyARC or emotionally
engage an avatar. So a 3D storyworld [See “Digital Storytelling in Second Life” article] unfolds a storyline like a choose-your-own-adventure story exploring the experience from first person – the avatar. One of my favorite surprises was finally finding a purpose for dioramas – the kids used them to create 3D storyboards. The students conducted a methodical process of prototyping their design by observing what free-spirited avatars would do in their space– how the visitors would explore the build – and their emotional experience. Did they get the message – the lesson learned! [YoucanreadallofthearticlesBernajenais talkingaboutat http://digitales.us/resources/bjps-books-articles]
Ramapo Frost Theater was closed down and presently being reconstructed to open in one week. Here is a SLURL hosted by Seminole County Schools via Diane Lewis. This SLURL is landing spot sharing teleports for Ramapo, Fires of Genocide and MacBeth – the best of the best storyworlds in SL. @ http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Seminole%20Island%2010/84/96/24
Bernajena shows Roxie the Seminole Island Build.
Check this out! Visit Seminole Island 10 (127, 189, 28)
Roxie: Whatadvicedoyouhaveforpeoplewhoareusingstoryboardsto createMachinimastoriesorotherdigitalstories?
Bernajena: Use them – no storyboards – no technology time! All media even comic books need a storyline AND storyboard. Storyboards translate between words and media assigning the jobs of each media choices to have purpose in the story. [This is a whole article itself and a half-day workshop.]
Roxie: Ilovetalkingwithyou.Youhavesomuchknowledgetosharewithour readersandme! Icould talkwithyoufordaysand stillonlybegintoscratch thesurfacewithwhatyou know!Aswewalkaround andlookattheworldyou, DianeLewis,Peggy Sheehy,thestudentsand othershavecreate,Iamso amazedatthework!
Bernajena: Have you seen this before?
RoxieNeiro:No
Bernajena: In front is my storytelling palace ShaheraZade - behind is Storykeepers Gardens and Ramapo.
Roxie:Thisisverypretty!
Bernajena: Not quite done but almost - the floating student voices still need installed - there are five scenes to the story following the story ARC. [Note:At thetimeofthisinterviewBernajenaandotherswerestillworkingonthis build.Itisnowfinishedandreadyforviewers.]
BernajenaPinazzo: I'll let you read the signs -- also each of the gardens will feature video of student created projects for storytelling. I will follow you. We also have a student created video in each room - should get those installed tonight.
Bernajena: The entrance has Robert Frost real voice reading his poem the road not traveled. All images in halls are students in Ramapo.
Roxie:Thisissoooocool!
Bernajena: So there are five scenes: the hall; the bathroom; the café; and then the two choices at end. Every story has a lesson learned - per Pixlr - you don't create the middle until you have created the ending - that drives all the stuff you put in the middle it is the whole point!
Roxie:Wow!Ican'twaittocomebackandhearthevoiceswhenthisprojectis finished!
Bernajena: Get ready for goose bumps!
Roxie:Iwill!
Bernajena: The cafe has surveys - data on eating disorders
PLUS . . . a video of a girl working hard not to eat. We have had a few people with eating disorders that said kids really caught the story!
Roxie:Icanseewhy!AndIhaven'theardthewordsyet!Verymoving!
Bernajena: Thanks – The students have an opportunity to express something real and meaningful through Frost' poem. We have the students coming in after reconstruction to ensure we got the build sorted out THEIR way
Roxie:[Laughing]Iamsureitisveryimportantthatyougetitright!
Bernajena: Thisiswhere youneed visitorsneedto makeachoice. Theoutcomeis differentbased onwhatyou choose.
Roxie:Arethoseworking now?Idon'thearorsee anythingyet.
Bernajena: We have a few more links to add - along with placemats for surveys right. The voices and videos go in tonight or tomorrow. We have been reconstructing this. It got tossed to pieces when it was moved. The rebuild will let us bundle it all up with full perms to rez and be portable. Did you get to the grave yard YET?
Roxie:Yes.[Seepicture below.]
Bernajena: We're not happy with the swirling mistlooking for another one nowlost the original somewhere. The crypt will have the video for this scene.
Roxie:Itisstillcreepy!If nothingelse-itshouldgive anyonewhoseesitajoltof reality!
Roxie:[Lookingatpicturesinthebackstagearea above]Oh,look,someofmy favoritepeopleareonthewall!
Bernajena: Here is the youtube URL for their celebration video - great back story about Rebecca who does the voice over for the group. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUUJsp5ljgY So many builds are museums of story settings.
Roxie:Right. Thisissomuchmore!Ilovethevoiceofthestudentreadingon thevideo!
Bernajena:Yes-itismyFAV-thekidssaidthisduringanaudienceinterview ofthematISTEwhenwepresented-thekidswereinworld-andtheywere askedthisquestion-Iheldmybreathandthen...Iwassoproud!
Roxie:Howcouldyounotbe?
Bernajena:[blushing] Yes, really proud of the kids and proud that my scoring guides for media making could assess quality with a medium that wasn’t even invented yet. As you can tell, this project is dear to my heart because of the kids. Their focus is on creating a real story, not just a SL building fun time.
Roxie:Amazingwork!Iwouldencourageallofourreaderstovisitthisbuild andlivethestories.Asyousay,theywillgetgoosebumps! Itissoreal–the storytakesonalifeofitsown!Whatfutureplansdoyouhaveforworkingin SecondLife?
Bernajena: My plate is pretty full - I am presently designing five online global courses, American Bombay OnLine Academy, for International Teachers –culminating in a Certificate ~ “The Art of MultiMedia Communication and Digital StoryTelling.” Your many questions, which so many have, are introduced, practiced and applied with students during their learning journey. It is lots of fun to work with teachers from so many countries. The first course – is rigor –creativity by itself is NOT rigor. Big BFO – blinding flash of the obvious, eh? You can learn more about this project at http://www.asbacademy.org/courses_pl_courses.asp?name=8
Roxie: Soundslikeyouaregoingtobebusy!Whatagreatopportunity.
Bernajena: Yes. I also hope to make a big splash back into second life with story circles and mini workshops for people interested in digital storytelling using all mediums including second life so hope to see you in SL too sometime! Right now I am focusing on my storytelling palace is officially reopening this June - which will include the Ramapo Frost 3D StoryWorld created by Peggy Sheehy's middle school students sharing a post card with the NEW SLURL's for ShaheraZade and the launching spot for 3D StoryWorlds that includes Ramapo. There are also four StoryKeepers Gardens hosting student creating digital storytelling -- here is direct SLURL to both Ramapo and the four StoryKeepers gardens: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Seminole%20Island%209/5/119/23 (Seminole)
Roxie:Iwouldencourageeveryonetovisittheseareas!
Bernajena: Yes, I am so excited. I am also working with Diane Lewis [Seminole County]. Diane's District Ed Tech Facilitators will be creating another build this next fall and her kids are building them in their private sim as well. My project job is to ensure a strong storyline - collaborative skills for decision making PLUS
building diorama storyboards after that I have to get out of the way of their imaginations! HAH!
Roxie:[laughing]Thisisprobablythemostimportantpart–letthemagic happen!
Bernajena: You may find this interesting. Diane is also working on a MineCraft project with her students. Students are creating and presenting their projects soon. You can see how they blend the RL and VE in this Machinima trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKUcENbPDJ4&feature=youtu.be Diane has also been leading a k-5 curriculum online that merges online with immersive environments [Quest Atlantis / MineCraft]
Roxie: AfterwalkingaroundSeminoleIslandandseeingthestudentand teacherwork,Iamcurious,whatisitthateffectivestorytellersdototelltheir storiesinadigitalworld?Specifically,whatdotheypayattentiontosothe technologydoesnotoverwhelmthestoryinarazzle-dazzleway,butinsteadis usedinsubtlewaystoeffectivelycommunicateandenhancethestory?
Bernajena: Students who have created a strong storyline that touches their hearts – that expresses their own story have less desire to decorate their media product. They care that their media choices are unfolding their story rather than for technology fun.
Roxie: Howdoteachershelpstudents“findtheirvoice”andsharetheir stories?
Bernajena: It begins with a story prompt – and then conducting a writer’s workshop environment that invites students to find their own story – feel safe in being real – and are celebrated for their journey.
Roxie: Youaresoright!Itisveryimportanttohelpstudents,actuallyany writer,feelsafeandsupportedwhentheysharetheirwork. Iguessteachers needtobeawareofthatwhentheyevaluatestudentworkaswell.Whatdo yousuggest–whenteachersareevaluatingdigitalproducts,howshouldthey scorestudentwork?Whatisaqualitydigitalstoryorproduct?
Bernajena: Media Products need to be scored by their purpose or TYPE of Communication as well as Craftsmanship. [See scoring guides URL @ http://www.digitales.us/evaluating-projects/scoring-guides]
Bernajena opens her SecondLife StoryTelling Palace- SheheraZade
Roxie: Whataresomeofthebeststrategiesyouhavefoundforhelpingothers transformtheiruseoftechnologytoaddvalueandpurposetotheirwork–notsimplyadaptorretrofittheirworktoatechnologicalmode?
Bernajena: Having Driving Questions, demanding meaning making FIRST! No summary reports!
Roxie: For educatorswho wanttostart having studentscreate digitalstories, whattipsor tricksdoyou haveforthem? Thatis,the thingsyouknownowthatyouwishedyouwouldhaveknownwhenyoufirst gotstarted?
Bernajena: This I know --- teachers way underestimate the pre-production stage where the thinking and writing are deliberate in creating worthy content. No amount of bells and whistles can ever lift up superficial stories or storytelling! And if storyboards are skipped because of the hassle or student lack of interest – you will get a diminished product where the technology becomes the main character. Storytelling is an artistic expression that lets others FEEL and connect – thinking of digital storytelling as tech tools diminishes the message and loses the power of influence.
Roxie: Absolutely!Ihateto“sitandget”whensomeoneisusingPowerPoint forthatveryreason.Ittakessolongforthewordstoflyin–alltheanimation drivesmecrazy!Oftenthereissomuchglitzthataudienceslosetheirfocus andthemessageislost!Itisthesamewithdigitalstories.Whenyoulookout onthehorizon,whatdoyouthinkisthefutureofdigitalstorytelling?What changesdoyouseeonthehorizonbasedonnewtools,technologies,or techniques?
Bernajena: The mediums and opportunities to express ourselves are ever changing – but the basics of storytelling still create the power. Jason Ohler and I will be experimenting with a Choose-Your-Own StoryTelling Quest using Augmented Reality [QR Codes on Steroids] for ISTE 2014.
Roxie: Icantwait!!!!! Whathasbeenyourgreatestsuccesswithdigital storytelling?Thatonedefiningmomentorproject–somethingeitheryoudid orsomeoneelseproduced?
Bernajena: So many many stories – heart chakras open – a community spirit fills the room – as tears of humanity flow while each of us celebrates the applause moment of sharing our stories. I know my own moment of finding that my story and the title to my digital story turned out to be my mission statement on my business cards. Or, kids in New Orleans discover lessons learned from Katrina that bring tears to their parents and grandparents hearts soothing some the pain left in their lives from the hurricane - @ http://www.digitales.us/content/tears-change One student, who stubbornly wouldn’t write for two days – leaving a blank page. After our conference – his teacher made me go back because he wouldn’t quite writing and had five pages. They wanted me to tell him to stop, stop, stop.
Another storyteller wanted to honor her brother murdered in a fire. She found her lesson learned to be, “this is the last day I tell his sad story – he was more than this moment – from now on I will tell ONLY stories that celebrate his loving living life.”
I did a special birthday present for a friend turning 60 – the oldest of nine in his family. I had secretly interviewed his mother – build a story called mom loved me best. By the time his birthday arrived she had had a stroke and couldn’t really speak anymore. Her closing interview words “ David is my first born – and will always be my beloved” – every story created in my camps has power –unleashed in the world.
Something very uplifting happens when a person young or old finds a story that needs to be told. It nourishes the spirit – and celebrates the individual. Every one of my DigiTales’ Storytelling Camps leaves the entire group knowing the magic and inner happiness that emerges from their labor . . . they become StoryKeepers sending their digital stories far and wide to reach others they may never meet.
Roxie: Isthereanythingelseyouwouldlikeustoknoworthatyouwouldlike tosharewithourreaders?
Bernajena: Make multimedia products – but if you want to create storytelling –remember it is an art form – one that carries power beyond the digital tools to share our humanity!
Roxie:ThankyousomuchfortakingthetimetoshowmearoundSeminole Islandandtotalkwithmeabouttheimportantworkyouandothersaredoing invirtualenvironmentsandotherdigitalmediatohelpstudentstelltheir stories. Ialsowanttothankyouforpostingalloftheresourcesyou mentionedinthisinterviewonyourdigitaleswebsitesoreaderscaneasily findthemathttp://digitales.us/resources/bjps-books-articles. Ilook forwardtoseeingyouatISTE2013andfollowingyourworkinthecoming years.Mostofall,Iamlookingforwardtohavingyourwritearticlesonsome ofthetopicswebrieflytoucheduponinfutureeditionsofVEJ.Thanksagain, Bernajean/Bernajena!
IwouldalsoliketoencourageallofourreaderstocheckouttheISTESpecial InterestGroupforDigitalStorytelling(SIGDS)at http://digitalstorytelling.iste.wikispaces.net/ ,sessionsandactivities sponsoredbyISTESIGDSatISTE2013inSanAntonio.
RoxieandBJ(aka)RosieandBobVojtek,invitedmetotellmystoryfor the Virtual Education Journal. IsupposemyjourneyinVirtualWorldsis relativelytypical.Fouryearsago,afteraperiodofdwindlingresearchgrants anddwindlingeditorialwork,whileIheldafacultyappointmentina controversialresearchunitattheUniversityofVirginia,Ibegantolookfor onlineteachingjobs.Iwasmotivatedbythebeautyandgraceof Charlottesville,Virginia,thetownIwaslivingin.Ijustdidn’twanttoleaveit, andbecausethepickingsweresparseintheCharlottesvillearea,Idecidedto trymyhandatteachingonline.
IhaveaPhDinpsychologyfromtheUniversityofEdinburgh,andan MsEdinhighereducationwithateachingspecialtyinpsychologyfrom NorthernIllinoisUniversity,plusa20+yearcareerinsurveyresearchand publishing,soIdidn’tthinktherewouldbeaproblem.FirstIignoredthefact thattherewasagapofalmosttwentyyearsbetweenmyface-to-faceteaching daysandwhenIstartedthesearch.SecondIignoredthefactthattheonly timeIhadactuallybeeninvolvedwithonlineteachingwasanoddbut extremelyenjoyablesort-ofonlinecourseinthe1990s.Afruitlesssearchover many,manymonthsfinallynettedmeapivotalandoh-so-verykind-hearted emailfromasecretaryatCapellaUniversitywhocounseledmethatmylackof onlineteachingtrainingandrecentonlineteachingexperienceguaranteed thatmyCVgottossedinthefirstcullingforthejobsonoffer.
Sobasicallynobodygotpastthatlackofonlineexperiencetomy researchcredentials,ancientteachingtrainingandexperienceormyobvious
enthusiasmtolearnteachingwhateversystemmyprospectiveemployees mightbeusing.
Itwasaverykindlyphrasedwake-upcallanditenergizedmetoretrain. IstartedtobrowsearoundtheInternet,lookingforfreeorlowcostonline teachingeducation.InmysearchIhappenedtochanceupontheInternational SocietyforTechnologyinEducationanditsISTEEduverselectureseries. AlthoughI’dplayedCivilizationandSimCityforlotsofyears,theideaof makinganavatarandgettingsopersonallyintoaninteractivevirtualworld scaredtheheckoutofme.Evenmoreterrorizingwastheideaofhavingto findmywaytoavirtualauditoriumandactuallytalktootheravatars. Like lotsofNoobsIalsoworriedthatmyavatarwouldbestucksomewherewhenI wasoff-line,atestamenttomylackofexperiencewiththeenvironment.
SoIdecided,theheckwithit,andwatchedacoupleoftheEduverse lecturesasrecordings:theyarestillavailableontheISTEwebsite,bytheway, andwellworthwatching.Inspiredbythelectures,IgotbothanISTEand VSTEmembershipandattendedasmanyfreewebinarsaswereofferedfrom bothorganizations.ThemoreIreadandthemoreIsaw,though,itseemed thatmyreticencetotaketheSecondLifeplungewasgettinginthewayofan especiallyfruitfulresourceforPD,nottomentiondenyingmewhatlooked likeagreatcommunityofteachersfromwhomIcouldlearn.Finally,afterrewatchingtheISTESecondLifeintroductoryvideoforprobablythe30th time,I tookadeepbreath,leaptintoSecondLifeandbecamethat Girl Next Door in herreallysadpinkpolkadotdress.
Maggie Larimore 1.0
Yourememberher:Shewalkedlikeaduck, bangedintofurniture,andwhenshefinally managedtofindISTEislandandthe auditoriumwherethenextliveEduverse lecturewasbeingheld,shehoveredovera secondrowseatuntilsomebodymessaged hergrumpilyandsaid“Ohforheaven’ssake, rightclickonthechairandpick“sithere”
fromthemenu.Anddoitquickly,please.”Sigh…
AfteraweekofhoveringaroundISTEIsland,Iventuredouttothethen StarTrekMuseumIslandwhereImetanotheronlineteachinghopefulinfront oftheIntroVideosYouTubeviewer.(We’restillfriendsandonlineteaching palsbutinreallifenow.)Thatmomentwastransformative:myfriendTrixie gavemealandmarkforahairstoreandashoestore,andfromthereIgot braveenoughtousetheDestinationGuide.ThatledmetothewonderfulRed RockMesawhereIboughtmyNavahodress.AtripbacktotheStarTrek MuseumIslandnettedmeabeadnecklaceandtwobeadbracelets.Denoobificationonthehorizon!
HeadingbacktomysecondliveEduverselecture,IrealizedwhenIgot toISTEislandthatwhileIknewhowtofinda cornertoputonthenewstuff,Ididn’tactually knowhowtotakeofftheoldstuff.(Yes,I’m theonewhodroppedthepinkpolkadotskirt thatlitteredthewalkwaytotheISTEHQfora whileandI’mtheonewhoattendedatleast onelecturewithtwosetsofhaironmyhead.)
ItisfouryearslaternowandIcredit ISTEandVSTE,theirrespectivelectureseries andevents,andmostespeciallytheleadersandmembersoftheISTESocial committeesforexpandingmyonlinehorizonssignificantly.NotonlywasI honoredbyandeducatedthroughthewillingnessofseasonedK-20teachers totalkabouttheirinterests,theirtechniques,theirhopesandtheirdreams, butIwasalsogratefulforthespecificadviceIgotthathelpedmelandthe onlineeducationadministrationjobIheldformostofthelastthreeyears.
Therehavebeentwoothermainsourcesofmyfreeandlow-cost training.IalsolearnedalotfromDr.NellieDeutschthroughherMoodlefor TeacherstrainingcoursesontheIT4ALLsite(IntegratingTechnologyfor ActiveLifelongLearners,atwww.integrating-technology.org)aswellasher webinarsandthoseofotheronlineteachingmavenspresentedonthesocial
Maggie 2.0
media/teachersupportplatform,www.WizIQ.com.I’mactivenowinallthree andenjoyingtheopportunityformash-up.Nellie’sboundlessenthusiasmfor allkindsoftechnologyineducation,includingvirtualworlds,helpedmestay focusedonusingSLtoexpresswhatIwaslearning.Beingabletofilm webinarsonmysubjectmatterareaonwww.WizIQ.comandthenembedthe linksinurlgiversinSLinmylearningcenterhasbeenanaddedbonus. MeetingcolleaguesinIT4ALLoronWizIQwithwhomI’vebegunto collaborateonSLprojects,well,youcanseewherethisisgoing:averyhappy combinationofISTE,VSTE,SL,IT4ALLandWizIQhasgreatlyenrichedmy teaching/learninglife.
My husband and I giving our first talk at an Alliance Libraries event in Second Life in 2010
InSecondLife,withhelpfromsomefantasticpeople–ScottMerrick, AndyWheelock,ChrisCollinsandmostespeciallyMarieBooz,RosieandBob VojtekandahostofpeoplewhosereallifenamesIdon’tknowsuchasSerena Offcourse,ThunderIsippo,andBluHeron—Ihavegonefrommyclunky“Girl NextDoor”selftoawell-coifedandmaybetoowell-clothedlandlady, installationbuilder,manageroftheEducationVillageintheChilbo CommunityontheMainland,collaboratorintheVirtualPraxisConference
withPraxislady WittandEllie Brewster,andof course,anactive ISTEsocial committeemember.
Some of the fellas at last year’s ISTE Social, The Medieval Maypole and Market, on ISTE Island
OneofthethingsIfindthemostusefulandthemostenjoyableabout virtualworldsisthattheyaregreatplacestolearnbywatchinganddoing. MostofmyvirtualworldskillscamedirectlyfromISTEandVSTEactivities. MarieBooz’greatmake-and-takeVSTEactivitiesandBluHeron’sISTE buildingworkshopsgavemetheskillstoaccomplishmybigideas.Thosebig ideas,inturn,wereinspiredbyEsmeQunhua’sISTESundaymorningtours andCyrusHush’sExpeditionCentralweekendeveningtoursthatintroduced metogreatlibrary,universityandteachinginstallations.EverythingIsawjust madememoreeagertosetupsomethingofmyownformyfieldingeneral, andformycolleaguesandIandourinstitutions,inparticular.
Myhusbandand30-yearresearchpartner,CarlosAlvarado(aka RodolfoMirabellainSL),gotinvolvedforawhile he’salsoaPhDfrom Edinburgh,alsoanonlineeducator,alsoaresearcherandisstillattachedto theUniversityofVirginia.Carlosturnedouttobeagreatexplorer,dance partnerandlandscapeartist.Betweenuswebuiltagreathomesite,anature park,azoowithafreebiestore,aDinosaurPark,alibraryandalearning center.IaddedaPuertoRicancafétothatcollectionofstuffasapresentfor himayearorsoago.(He’sfromSanJuan,PuertoRicooriginally.)
Rodolfo and I in his Nature Park back when I didn’t know how to change the graphics
Morerecentlywe’vehadtodownsizeourtierinSecondLife,combining theDinoParkwiththeZooandit’sfreebiestore,squashingthelibraryintothe learningcenter,andlettingeverythingelsegoexceptthePuertoRicancafé andourlong-timetenantplots.Iamstillplayinganactiveroleinpreserving theamenitiesoftheChilboCommunitywherewe“live”inSecondLife. Throughthatcommitment,ImanagetheEducationResourceCenter,the libraryandsomeotherspotswithSLfriends,PraxisladyWittandthroughher, EllieBrewster,andamworkingonrebuildingChrisCollin’s(akaFleepTuque)
ConnectivismReadingRoomwithmyfellowIT4ALLMoodler,TelmeaStory (educatorGlenGatlininreallife).IhaveventuredouttoInworldz,BlueMars, ReactionGridandsomeOpenSimworlds,butIstickclosesttoSecondLife becausethat’swheremyfriendsare,andthat’swhereISTESIGVEis.Inthefall I’llbecombiningmyintereststohelpfacilitateaWizIQ/IT4ALLMOOCon virtualworldswithsomein-SLprojects.And,ofcourse,Ikeepmyhandin withtheISTESIGVEsocialcommitteeaswell.
OverthefouryearsthatI’vebeeninterestedinvirtualeducation,I’ve learnedthatvirtualworldsarestillthebestplacetosetuppassiveeducation
builds–themeparks,museums,simsthatrecreatehistoricalsiteslikeVSTE’s Jamestowninstallation.Buttheyarealsothebestplacetosetupactive educationalsiteslikeSecondLife’sInstitutodeEspañol.I’vebeentaking SpanishinworldsinceSeptemberof2009,inspiredbyanISTElectureon languagelearninginimmersiveworldswaybackthen.Ihavebeenblessedto haveworkedallthistimewithMarthaEugeniaLinoAcosta,akaEugenia Calderon.Istartedasapersontimidlylearninghowtostringenoughnouns, verbsandarticlestogethertospeakasinglesimplesentence.Aftervisiting roleplayingsims,SLMacchuPichu,writingessays,watchingclassicMexican movies,building“DayoftheDead”altars,attendinglectures,dances,andart galleryopeningsontheInstituto’ssim,nottomentionhoursuponhoursof inworldclasses,I’mgettingtowherefluencyisinsight.I’vehadanimmense amountoffunintheprocess.
The recent pajama party on the ISTE SIGVE HQ on Eduislands 9 that Serena Offcourse and Maggie Larimore hosted
Inthesefouryears,I’vebeeninspiredbyuniversitiesandschoolsand individualteacherswhocametoSecondLifewithaplan,thewayRuss Bronson(akaWilsonVoight,theowneroftheInstituto)andMarthadid.I’mso appreciativeofeducatorswhoseinworldeffortsproduceeducational
Maggie Larimore 3.0 in Eugenia Calderon’s Instituto de Español classroom
experiencesdifficulttoreproduceinreallife.Whereelsecanyousitina“real” space,learninginrealtimewithfolkswhoareattheircomputersinthesouth ofFrance,thePacificNorthwest,theMidwestUS,andsouthofMexicoCity?
Theconnectioninavirtualworldclassroomissovibrant,sofront-andcenterasanexperience,somuchmorepowerfulthananasynchronousLMS orevenanagreatwebinarwithatrulyinternationalaudience.
I’vealsolearnedthatjustconstructinganinspiringbuild,aperfect replicaorevenawildinterpretationofareallifeeducationalinstitutiondoes notasuccessfulimmersivevirtualenvironmentmake. You need the people!
Teachersandstudents!Learnersandfriends!Justasthefolksfromthe InstitutocameintoSecondLifewithapurpose,justastheISTEandVSTE contingentsknowexactlywhattheywanttoaccomplishwhetheritisin SecondLifeorUnityorReactionGridoraKitelyWorld,you’vegottohavea purposewhenyou’reinworldoryouwillfold.Thepurposecanbeassimple
aslearningfrompeoplewhoarejustlikeyou.Oritcanbeexpandingyourfree PDbyattendinganinworldlectureseries,enjoyingaregularmeet-upwith fellowtravelersfromyouronlineedtechclass,orholdingyourfirstinworld classinaninstallationyoubuilt.Orthepurposecanjustberelaxingwith colleagues,blowingoffsomeeducationalsteamatasockhopwithyour friends.
There’sanaxionI’veheardoverandoveragainfromISTE/VSTE,WizIQand IT4ALLpalsandmentors: if you pick a virtual world in which to teach or learn, do it because you’ve found the best technology to fit your particular goal. Sotrue!
Sothat’sthestoryofMaggieandme.I’mheadingbackinworldtoridemy Dino.Seeyouthere!
A Student’s View of Virtual World Software By Dae Miami (aka) William Schmachtenberg
AninterviewwithKristenLeary,agraduatingsenioratFranklinCounty HighSchoolinRockyMount,VA.
KristenhasusedUru,secondlife,andbuiltinUnity3d.Kristentookmy EarthScienceclassasaFreshman,andwasmyVPS(VoluntaryPublicService) studentasasenior.
DaeMiami(sl)=Dr.WilliamSchmachtenberg(rl)
MansFisherman(sl)=KristenLeary(rl).
Dae Miami: DidyoulikeusingUrusoftwareasaFreshman?
MansFisherman: Yes! Uru was a fun and great new way to learn the materials taught in class. It also allowed us to do some really cool stuff such as talking to students from Sweden in Skype and then we worked with Mrs. Hellberg, a teacher in Sweden, in Uru.
Dae Miami: DoyouthinkithelpedyoulearnEarthScience?
MansFisherman: Yes, it helped. We had Uru projected on an lcd projector and we were able to navigate around a virtual volcano with a wireless keyboard. We answered questions on a worksheet while we navigated in Uru both individually and as a class. It helped the students in the class to work together to answer questions. It was an interesting way to learn.
Dae Miami: DoyouthinkUnity3dcanbehelpfulforteachersandstudents?
MansFisherman: Of course!! It is fantastic software and super easy to use and create in!
Dae Miami: DidyoulikebuildinginUnity3d?
MansFisherman: Yes I loved it! In Uru it was very hard to texture an object and build, but when I started Unity I learned how to build in minutes. It was so simple. When I built my first world it took me a week (one and a half hours for 5 days)to create an underwater world with a submarine and GUI(pop up) questions. With the click of a button you can create anything from beautiful mountainstodeep-seatrenches.
Dae Miami: TellusmoreabouttheOceanographyworldyoubuilt,please.
MansFisherman: Unity is fantastic software to build in. I started out my world with just a flat plain and I used the terrain tool to create my sea floor features. I then used the particles to create cool effects such as smoke and flames for the volcano. All I had to do to get them is drag them into the scene and Boom they work. [NOTE: If you want to see Kristen’s ocean world, it is available at: http://www.evwllc.co/oceans/WebPlayer.html. ]
Dae Miami: Theyellow submarine inyour ocean worldwas verycool. Canyou tellushow youmade it?
MansFisherman: I used modeling software called 3ds max 7 to create my submarine. I started with primitive spheres and cones and manipulated them into the shape of a submarine. Honestly I only built the Submarine because I live The Beatles!! After I built it and hooked it all together I imported it into Unity. Then I created yellow texture using Paint and imported the texture into Unity. I put that color on my sub and boom Yellow Submarine! After that we animated it.
Dae Miami: Whatdoyoulikeaboutsecondlife?
MansFisherman: CLOTHING AND PETS!!!!! Next question. ;)
Dae Miami: Howdoyouthinkitcouldbeusedineducation?
MansFisherman: Second Life has a great advantage because you can build in world, and because of this you can be really creative. Also, Second Life has a huge community for collaboration and networking. Because of these creating an educational world would be easy and fun for students involved. I think it would best be used for college-aged students to collaborate online and possibly have online classes. If a world or sim were created where students could go to learn, like a virtual online school, students could learn in a whole new way and work together with other students to answer questions online in a school setting.
A Student’s View of Virtual World Software By Dae Miami (aka) William Schmachtenberg
AninterviewwithKristenLeary,agraduatingsenioratFranklinCounty HighSchoolinRockyMount,VA.
KristenhasusedUru,secondlife,andbuiltinUnity3d.Kristentookmy EarthScienceclassasaFreshman,andwasmyVPS(VoluntaryPublicService) studentasasenior.
DaeMiami(sl)=Dr.WilliamSchmachtenberg(rl)
MansFisherman(sl)=KristenLeary(rl).
Dae Miami: DidyoulikeusingUrusoftwareasaFreshman?
MansFisherman: Yes! Uru was a fun and great new way to learn the materials taught in class. It also allowed us to do some really cool stuff such as talking to students from Sweden in Skype and then we worked with Mrs. Hellberg, a teacher in Sweden, in Uru.
Dae Miami: DoyouthinkithelpedyoulearnEarthScience?
MansFisherman: Yes, it helped. We had Uru projected on an lcd projector and we were able to navigate around a virtual volcano with a wireless keyboard. We answered questions on a worksheet while we navigated in Uru both individually and as a class. It helped the students in the class to work together to answer questions. It was an interesting way to learn.
Dae Miami: DoyouthinkUnity3dcanbehelpfulforteachersandstudents?
MansFisherman: Of course!! It is fantastic software and super easy to use and create in!
Dae Miami: DidyoulikebuildinginUnity3d?
MansFisherman: Yes I loved it! In Uru it was very hard to texture an object and build, but when I started Unity I learned how to build in minutes. It was so simple. When I built my first world it took me a week (one and a half hours for 5 days)to create an underwater world with a submarine and GUI(pop up) questions. With the click of a button you can create anything from beautiful mountainstodeep-seatrenches.
Dae Miami: TellusmoreabouttheOceanographyworldyoubuilt,please.
MansFisherman: Unity is fantastic software to build in. I started out my world with just a flat plain and I used the terrain tool to create my sea floor features. I then used the particles to create cool effects such as smoke and flames for the volcano. All I had to do to get them is drag them into the scene and Boom they work. [NOTE: If you want to see Kristen’s ocean world, it is available at: http://www.evwllc.co/oceans/WebPlayer.html. ]
Dae Miami: Theyellow submarine inyour ocean worldwas verycool. Canyou tellushow youmade it?
MansFisherman: I used modeling software called 3ds max 7 to create my submarine. I started with primitive spheres and cones and manipulated them into the shape of a submarine. Honestly I only built the Submarine because I live The Beatles!! After I built it and hooked it all together I imported it into Unity. Then I created yellow texture using Paint and imported the texture into Unity. I put that color on my sub and boom Yellow Submarine! After that we animated it.
Dae Miami: Whatdoyoulikeaboutsecondlife?
MansFisherman: CLOTHING AND PETS!!!!! Next question. ;)
Dae Miami: Howdoyouthinkitcouldbeusedineducation?
MansFisherman: Second Life has a great advantage because you can build in world, and because of this you can be really creative. Also, Second Life has a huge community for collaboration and networking. Because of these creating an educational world would be easy and fun for students involved. I think it would best be used for college-aged students to collaborate online and possibly have online classes. If a world or sim were created where students could go to learn, like a virtual online school, students could learn in a whole new way and work together with other students to answer questions online in a school setting.
Kicking Off AvaCon Inc. 2013 Metaverse Cultural Series! ByRoxieNeiro
Thefirstinthe#MCS13seriestookplaceonMay11,2013,onthe SpotON3Dgrid.Thepresentation featureArmchairAuthor/hostAdele Wardwhointerviewedauthor, PatriciaAverbach,whosedebutnovel “PaintingBridges”wasreleased recently.Patriciaworkshoppedthis novelin+SecondLife,sovirtual worldshaveplayedanimportantpart inhersuccessasawriter.
Thiswasmyfirstvisitto SPOTON3DandIwasveryimpressed withtheTheater.Asyoucanseethere weremanypeoplewhoenjoyedthe presentation.Iwanttopersonally thankPatriciaAverbachforsending meacopyofherbook,“Painting Bridges.”Iwasoneofseveralpeople whoputmynameinthedrawingand wonabook! KudostoPatriciaonher debutnovel!Besuretocheckitout.
Also,besuretovisitSpotON3D.Youwillwanttomakesuretovisitthe TheaterintheItalianVillageontheSpotON3Dgrid at http://3Durl.com/map/spoton3d/Italian%20Village/48/33/26. Hereare twopicturesfromthefirstMetaverseCulturalSeriesevent.
TheMetaverseCulturalSeries2013isasetofeventsfeaturing performancesandlecturesthathighlightuniqueaspectsofmetaverseculture, takingplaceinmultiplevirtualworldspaces. Theseriesshowcases innovativeartists,thinkers,performers,andacademicswhoseworkisonthe forefrontofexploringwhatitmeanstowork,play,andliveintheemerging metaverse. Forinformationaboutfutureevents,visit http://www.avacon.org/blog/events/metaverse-cultural-series/.
Digital Storytelling: The Old is New Again By Sara Armstrong, PhD saarmst@telis.org
I will tell you something about stories, [he said] They aren’t just entertainment. Don’t be fooled. They are all we have, you see, all we have to fight off illness and death. You don’t have anything if you don’t have the stories…. --from “Ceremony” in Ceremony by
Leslie Marmon Silko
“Onceuponatime….”andanynumberofotherstorybeginningsmakeuswant tositandlistentostoriesofpeopleandcreatureswholearnlessonsorgoon questsordiscovertruthsinthelongagotime,oryesterday,today,or tomorrow.Asfarasweknow,wearetheprimarystorytellingcreatureson thisplanet.Indeed,wearehardwiredforstories.Storiesarehowwerelateto eachotherandmakemeaningofourworld.Storiesarehowwelearnand showourunderstanding.Storiesarehowwetalkwitheachotherandmake connectionswithnewacquaintancesandrenewbondswitholdfriendsand family.
Foratimenow,therehasbeeninterestinandexcitementabout“digital storytelling.”Earlyon,JoeLambertandDanaAtchleydevelopedseminal examples,which,asbecomesobviousintheCenterforDigitalStorytelling’s workshops,wherestoriesincludethestoryteller’svoiceoverastorymediated bythecomputer,aswellasimagesand/orvideo,musicand/orothersounds, transitions,andotherelements.Createdonacomputer,theendproductcan beshowntooneormany.Technologymakesitpossible.(Visit
http://www.storycenter.org formoreinformationand digitalstoryexamples.)
Anumberofyearsago,Ihad theprivilegeofmeetingEliza Jones,anAthabascanelderin theAlaskanvillageof Koyukuk.Elizaisa storyteller,andwetalked aboutwhatisgainedand whatislostbyadding technologytotraditionaloral storytelling.
Inaperson-to-person situation,thestorytellercan adjustherstorytothe audience,addorsubtract details,lengthenorshortenthetelling inshort,thestorytellerco-createsthe storywithheraudienceformaximumeffect.However,theaudienceisusually asomewhatsmallnumber,makingtheeventlimitedinscope.With technology videooraudiotapingthestoryandmakingitavailableviathe InternetoronCDorDVD,forexample manymorepeoplecanhearandlearn fromthestory,butitisimmutable.Ofcourse,anewversionemploying technologycouldimproveontheoriginal digitalstory,justasasubsequentperformance byastorytellercouldincorporateelementsof apreviousperson-to-persontelling.
Today’sstudentsare,forthemostpart,knowledgeableaboutandinterested intechnologytools.Wewanttoencouragetheuseofthesetoolsinthoughtful andmeaningfulways.Helpingstudentscreatedigitalstoriestoshowtheir learning whetherasafinalproductinproject-basedlearning,orasa creativeexpressioninthearts canenhanceteachingandlearningforallof us.Happily,therearemanypeoplewhohavethoughtaboutthisprocessand offerideas,information,andhelp.
Eliza Jones
Oneuniqueproject,KnightsofKnowledge http://knights-of-knowledge.com/poses interestingquestionsforprojectsthroughshort videosthatbeginastoryandaskaquestionto encouragestudentstodotheirownresearchand thinking.
RushtonHurley,whohascreatedandmade availableavideolibrarybyandforstudentsand teacherswww.nextvista.orgsuggeststhatwe startwithhavingstudentsviewawiderangeof videosproducedbyothersbeforetheybegin creatingtheirown. Thediscussionsthatcameoutofthisviewingexperience areinvaluable.
AttheMYHEROwebsitewww.myhero.com childrenandadultsfromaroundtheworldhave beencontributingherostoriesintheformoftext, video,andartforover15years.Atthesite,high schoolteacherJerrilynJacobssharesherlesson: “FilmAnalysisUsingtheMYHEROFilmCollection: IdentifyingGenre,Techniques,andMessage,”in whichstudentsworkinsmallgroupstoviewfilms fromavarietyofgenresattheMYHEROsite, discusswhattheysee,andsharetheiropinions withtheclass.OtherresourcesincludeaseriesoflessonsbyWendyMillette, DirectorofMYHERO’sMediaArtsEducationProgram,thathighlightthe differencesbetweennarrativeshorts,experimentalshorts,documentary shorts,andanimatedshorts.
Wewanttobecareful,however,tomakesurewe’renotaskingstudentsto makedigitalstoriesjustbecausewecan.Asalways,themeaningfuland effectiveuseoftechnologytoolsdictateswhenandhowweusethem. Successfuldigitalstoriesincludeemotionalcontentandmakeclearwhythe storyisimportanttotheteller whytheyaremovedtotellthestoryinthis wayatthistime. FortheCenterforDigitalStorytellingfolks,thisincludesthe storyteller’sownvoice.Manystudents(andadults)don’tlikethesoundof theirownvoicewhentheyhearitrecordedandplayedback.JoeLambertsays,
“Getoverit.Yourvoiceisyoursaloneandshowsthatyouarealiveonthe planet.”
Most important - Thestoryitselfisthemostimportantelementofthedigital presentation.Wecantalkaboutstoriesinmanyways.Forexample,theyhave abeginning,middle,andend.However,importantstoriesaremorethanthat. StorytellerElizabethEllisrepeatsanexample.Shesays,“Icantellyou‘the queendiedandthekingdied’andit’sastorywithabeginning,middle,and end,butitdoesn’tmeanmuch.However,ifIsay,‘thequeendied,andtheking diedofabrokenheart’somethingquitedifferenthastakenplaceandisbeing communicated.”
JasonOhlerandBrettDillinghamclarifytheconceptinaslightlydifferentway.
Westillexpectabeginning,middle inwhichthingshappenandchanges occur andanending.However,thinkingintermsoftheproblemthatis presentedanditssolutionfocusesontheunfoldingofthestory.Thechallenge istogetthelistener/reader/viewertocareaboutthepaththenarratortook toconfronttheproblemandreachthesolution.
Whenweaskstudentstodevelopadigitalstoryaroundtheirlearning,the mostcompellingdigitalstoriesmakeanemotionalconnectionbetween storytellerandaudience.Itmaybethatthestorytellerrevealswhatwas importanttohimorherintermsofthesubjectarea,oran“aha”momentthat occurredduringtheresearchorsynthesisofunderstandingthecontent.
Obviously,thiskindofapproachgoesbeyondmasteringhowimagesare insertedintoastory,orwhattransitionsarechosen.
Topromotesuccessinattaining21st Centuryskillssuchascreativity, curiosity,communication,andevencollaboration,digitalstorymakinghasa placeinthecurriculum.Withtheadventofthecommoncorestandardsand theNextGenerationScienceStandards,beingabletoshowunderstandingand knowledgeinavarietyofwaysismoreimportantthanever.Andwhen studentsdelvedeeplyintosubjectmatterandmakeittheirown,theirability toretainunderstandingisenhanced.Beingabletotellagoodstoryabouttheir learningprovidesallkindsofbenefits.
Technologytoolsprovideusameansto“maketheoldnew”ininteresting ways,aslongaswedon’tlosesightofthepurposesforstorytelling,honorour ownvoice,andrespecttheaudience andthestory.
Additionalinformationcanbefoundat:
Websites:
CenterforDigitalStorytelling: http://www.storycenter.org
KnightsofKnowledge:http://knights-of-knowledge.com/
TheMYHEROProject:http://www.myhero.com;seealsoMediaArts Education:http://myhero.com/go/films/mediaarts.asp
NextVistaforLearning:http://www.nextvista.org/
Raven’sStory:ElizaJones:http://jukebox.uaf.edu/RavenStory/htm/ej.htm
Books:
Ellis,Elizabeth. From Plot to Narrative,ParkhurstBrothersPublishers,Inc., 2012.
Gottschall,Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human, HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2012.
Haven,Kendall. Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story, LibrariesUnlimited,2007.
Lambert,Joe. Digital Storytelling: Capturing Lives, Creating Community 4th edition,Routledge,2013.
Ohler,Jason. Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Learning, Literacy, and Creativity 2nd edition,CorwinPress,2013.
Silko,LeslieMarmon. Ceremony,PenguinBooks,2006.
Organizations:
ISTESpecialInterestGroup:DigitalStorytellingSIGDS, http://www.iste.org/connect/special-interest-groups/sigds or http://digitalstorytelling.iste.wikispaces.net/
NationalStorytellingNetwork,http://www.storynet.org
Besuretocheckouttheinteresting butterflyoffilmstripsfromRushton Hurley,“FlightsofCreativity”at www.nextvista.org.
Regarding Online Education By Matt Poole(RL),CyrusHush(SL)
Inrecentyears,thegrowthrateforonlinedegreeprogramshassoundly surpassedthatof“brick-and-mortar”institutions. Traditionaluniversities haveunderstandablyregardedthistrendwithacertainamountoftrepidation. Afewtraditionaleducatorshaveevendecriedtheonlineacademic environmentasbeingcoldandimpersonal;evensymptomaticofa“dumbing down”oftheeducationalsystem. Aficionadosmightbeinclinedtodefendthe onlineeducationalenvironmentbypointingouttheconvenienceand flexibilityofonlineclassesforworkingadults,aswellastheneedtomaximize educationalefficienciesinthefaceofongoingbudgetarycutbacks.
Bothsidesofthisdebatemaybemissingthelargerpoint,however. The suggestionthatonlineclasseshavetobequalitativelyinferiortotraditional classesinanywayissimplynottrue. Argumentsagainstthevalueofan onlineeducationmightincludeaccusationsthateducatorsandstudentsnever meetface-to-face,thattheintellectualdynamicsofclassroomdiscussionand debatearemissingandthatsubtlecuesofinterpersonalcommunication cannotbeexpressedinanonlineenvironment. Suchstatementsrelyon assumptions,however,andtheassumptionsmaynotbevalidormaynotbe validanymore. Indeed,giventhespeedatwhichtheWebisevolving,any limitationstoWeb-basedlearningthatmightstillexistcoulddisappear tomorrow.
Formanyeducators,assumptionsormisconceptionsaboutonline coursesprobablystemfrommemoriesofcorrespondencecourseswhereina studentreceivedapackageofreadingsandassignmentsthroughthemail. Oncecompleted,thestudentwouldmailitbacktoaninstructorforagrade. Whileconvenient,thismodelwasnotonlyimpersonalbutmadeitvery difficulttoreceivetimelyfeedbackonanassignment. However,ifagiven onlineclassisdestinedtobemerelyahigh-techvisionofthevenerable correspondencecourse,itisnotgoingtobebecauseofatechnological limitationbutratherbecauseofalimitationofvisiononthepartofeducators.
Onlineeducationis(andalwayshasbeen)goingthroughatransition. In manycasestheexpectationsoftraditionaleducatorsandthegeneralpublic arerootedinmemoriesofearliermodelsofdistanceeducation,orintheir owngeneralanxietiesabouttheonlineenvironment. However,these expectationsmaynotbesharedbytheirstudents,whomayhavedifferent experientialframeworksentirely. ModernMillennialshavehadthe opportunitytogrowupinanenvironmentofvideogames,video-chat,texting, email,socialnetworksandothertechnologies. Educatorsofanother generationmayhaveadoptedthesetechnologies,eitherreluctantlyor joyously,buttheymaynothavehadtheopportunitytolearnaschildrenhow tobeWebnatives. Tomanyofourstudents,however,theideaofonline collaborationseemsneithersterilenorimpersonalbutalreadyanecessary partoftheirlives.
AppleInc.recentlylaunchedanewseriesoftextbooksavailable throughtheiriTunesoutlet. Aswithmanyoftheirotherproducts,theytook aninnovativeapproach. Ratherthanfirstcreatingtheprintedtextandthen makingastaticdigitalcopy,Apple’sinnovationwastostartfromscratchand
toleveragethefullcapabilitiesofe-booktechnologyforeachtitle,delivering dynamicandinteractivemulti-mediaresourcesthatatraditionaltextbook,for allitstactilecharm,couldnotbeexpectedtomatch. Toachieveitsfullest potential,onlineeducationhastodevelopthesamewayandbebuiltfromthe grounduptomaximizethestudentexperiencewithmedia-richcontent, constant“check-ins”frominstructorsandmentors,andlotsofcollaborative, interactivegroupprojectstochallengethestudents’criticalthinkingskills.
Today,youcantakeavirtualtourofgreatmuseumswithGoogleArt Project. Youcandiveoutoftheskyandexploreanypointontheplanetwith GoogleEarth. Youcanhaveaface-to-faceconversationwithanyoneinthe worldusingSkypeandawebcam. Youcanhavelivelygroupmeetingsusing webinars. Youcannetworkwithfriendsandcolleaguesusingsocialnetworkingsites. Youcanenteravirtualworldasanavatarandsimulatea classroomenvironment,completewithanavatar-instructorandotheravatarstudents. Allofthisispossiblerightnow.
Muchlikeapieceofchalk,onlineeducationisjustatoolinthehandsof aneducator. Itcanbeusedeffectivelyorineffectively,appropriatelyor inappropriately. Itcanbeusedatthewrongtimesorforthewrongreasons. However,thechallengeandtheresponsibilityforachievinglearning objectiveslienotinthechalk,butinthehandwieldingit. Agivenonlineclass mightnotbeasgoodasagiventraditionalclass…oritmightbejustasgood… oritmightbefarsuperior. Thekeysforsuccessaredesign,implementation and,aswithallthings,effectivecommunication.
CONGRATULATIONS! 2013 Reader’s Choice Award Winners! By Roxie Neiro and BJ Gearbox (aka) Rosie Vojtek and Bob Vojtek
OnSundayJune16,2013wewereveryexcitedtoannouncethe2013 VEJReader’sChoiceAwardWinnersandunveilthecoverofthisissueofVEJat theISTESIGVEPre-ConferenceExtravaganzainSecondLife.Asyoucansee fromfewpicturesonthefollowingpagesandattheflickrwebsite http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigve/ –WHATAPARTY!
Ifyoumissedtheredcarpetandtheawardsshowyoucanwatchthe livestreamat http://www.livestream.com/sigve/video?clipId=pla_0647a1e0d87c-4cbf-9c55-00266068ae20
Roxie Neiro Interviews Dai Miami on the red carpet.
Aspecialthankstoallofourreadersandcontributors.Weappreciateall ofyou–yourhelpandsupportwithwritingarticles,yourwillingnesstoshare whatyouaredoingandwhatyouarelearninginvirtualenvironments–whetheritisinJokaydia,Kitely,Minecraft,SpotON3D,3rd Rock,Worldof Warcraft,SecondLife,andmanyotheropensims.
VEJwouldnotbeVEJ–outofthisworld,withoutallofyouhelpingto makeitthatway.Ahugethankstoallofourreaderswhonotonlyare devouringeverymorsel,butalsoaretweeting,posting,talking,andsharing
thearticlesandthejournalwithothers.Pleasekeepupthegreatworkand helpusspreadthejoyoflearningfoundineveryissueofVEJaroundtheworld andacrossthemetaverse!
Thispastyear,VEJhasgoneinternational!Ithasbeenfuntowatchthe statisticseachweektoseewhoisreadingVEJ.So,thankyouforreadingVEJ
Roxie Neiro Interviews Fleet Gold
andevenmore,thankyouforsharingtheimportantworkwearealldoingin virtualenvironments.
WewouldalsoliketothankBluebarkerLowtideandSerenaOffcourse fortransformingISTESIGVEintothisbeautifultheaterforthePre-conference Extravaganzaceremony.AbigthanksalsogoestoSerenaOffcoursefortaking pictures,SpiffWhitfieldforbeingourMasterofCeremoniestoday,andFront RangeforgraciouslyhostingtheLightningProductionsStevieNicksTribute BandConcertat4:00pmslttoday!Thankyouall!
SeveralweeksagoourVEJreadersnominatedtheirfavorites–from favoritesimtofavoriteplacetohang,tofavoriteplacestoshop–and everythingin-between.
Wetookthosenominationsandopenedupthevotingforoneweek.We cantellyouthatoneofthehottestcontestedcategorieswasthe“Favorite EducationalGamingGuild”–but,likealloftheVEJReader’sChoiceCategories,
everyonenominatedisawinner!Whatyoudoisimportant,andeveryoneof ournomineesandwinnersshouldcelebratetheiraccomplishments,their learning,andtheirachievements.
ThisalsomarksthefirstyearforVEJtohonoranindividualthat epitomizesthetraitsofateachingandlearningnottetheredtoaclassroom. AnEdovatorisaninnovativeandcreativeindividualwhoisthequintessential educatortransformingthefieldofeducationandmakingadifferenceinthe livesofthosetouchedbytheirwork.ThisfirstVEJEdovatoroftheYearisKae Novak.
Congratulationsagaintoournomineesandwinners.Maywepresentthe winners![drumroll]
The 2013 VEJ Reader’s Choice Award Winners FrontRange Favorite
EducationalSim Reader’sChoice Awards
Jokaydia FavoriteNew VirtualWorld Reader’sChoice Awards
Caledeonia–Steampunk FavoriteTheme Build
Reader’sChoice Awards
GamesMOOC
BestVirtual LearningActivity Reader’sChoice Awards
WoodsongZapatero FavoriteMusician Reader’sChoice Awards
InevitableInstructor Playlist
FavoriteMachinima Reader’sChoice Awards
WorldofWarcraft AuctionHouse FavoritePlaceTo Shop
Reader’sChoice Awards
#gamemooc CommunicationHub Reader’sChoice Awards
FrontRange FavoriteMuseumor EducationBuild Reader’sChoice Awards
http://gridjumper.net BestVirtualBlog Reader’sChoice Awards
“GameOn:Interview withKavonZenovka” FavoriteVEJArticle Reader’sChoice Awards
WorldofWarcraft
FavoriteOnline3D VirtualGame Reader’sChoice Awards
Shaomai’sHouseof FashionCouture
FavoriteSLFashion Designer Reader’sChoice Awards
KavonZenovka AvatarMentorof theYear Reader’sChoice Awards
GotGame?Let’s Play!
FavoriteVEJIssue Reader’sChoice Awards
WorldofWarcraft FavoriteVirtual World/Game Reader’sChoice Awards
CaledonKintyre BestArchitectural Design Reader’sChoice Awards
InevitableBetrayal Guild
FavoriteEducational GamingGuild Reader’sChoice Awards
WorldofWarcraft FavoriteVirtual WorldEnvironment Reader’sChoice Awards
InevitableBetrayal Guild
FavoritePlaceto “Hang” Reader’sChoice Awards
GamesMOOC EducationalEvent 2012 Reader’sChoice Awards
KaeNovak EdovatoroftheYear
