CT 2008 - 2nd life in Higher Ed

2^nd Life in Higher Ed Talk

Pedagogy First

Technology Second

Students First

University Second

Chickering and Gamson 7 Principles for Good Practice in Higher Ed

1. Encourages contact between students and faculty
2. Look these up!!!!!!! Google them

Powerpoint is up on blog.

Lifestyle, engagement, motivation Divide

Cell Phone survey difference in age. 18 year old sees cell phone differently than older folks. It is their lifeline to social connectivity.

Creepy Treehouse – one group creating a product thinking that is what the group likes, instead of allowing the real deal and integrating that.

-Identify problems or opportunities First then match technologies with opportunities.

What problem do you have that these technologies will solve. If not, don’t use them.

Faculty and students sense technologies that won’t solve their problems. Need to explain them better but also give them technologies that suit their needs.

Shirky book, “Here Comes Everybody”. 2008 READ THIS! Why social networking works.

The Promise, the Tool, the Bargain (process)

What’s the SL Promise?

-Increased sense of presence

-Community Bonding

-More engaging and immersive learning (when used correctly)

-Great example of teaching discrimination and diversity. The Koolaid avatars got kicked out of the 2^nd life bar due to their looks.

The Tool (Aspects)

-Stigmergy – ablility to send a message to someone who comes after you. Any of you can change the environment. Can create content and change the space. Absolutely critical to using 2^nd life at its best.

-Customizable Avatars

-Global Community

-Multi-modal communication (text chat and voice – one to one, group, area)

The Learning Curve

-Install and learn to get around

-Customize your Avatar

-Learn to build stuff

-Learn to script to make interactive stuff

It is not easy. Need to justify why you are learning it. Keep promise real and strong enough to justify learning curve.

The Bargain

-Students suspend self-limitations

-Best, justified use of the tools. Better technologies for just 5-6 people to chat then use something else. Only use if it can do it better. Example – not for 2^nd grade math but great for graduate architecture

-Necessary expertise to serve as guide, advisor, AND instructor.

-it is an “event” based world

In evaluating 2^nd life….

1. Attend an event
2. Make some friends

SL is used for mainly two reasons

1. The escapist (exciting life in virtual world)
2. Extend themselves (me everywhere and online)

Blog is ubernoggin.com

Also sl-educationblog.org