in EducationVirtual Space, Real Learning

Kevin Jarrett (SL: KJ Hax)Part-Time FacultyWalden University

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0

Get a First Life

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21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 3 of 25

Agenda

• What Second Life is (and why it matters)

• A Tale of Four Sims:• Ramapo Islands (TG)• Schome Park II (TG)• Genome Island (MG)• ISTE Island (MG)

• Wrap-Up / Q&A

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 4 of 25

What is Second Life?

• “… an Internet-based virtual world … developed by Linden Lab … users, called "Residents", interact with each other through … avatars … a social network … Residents can explore, meet other Residents, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items and services ...”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 5 of 25

What is Second Life?

• “… an Internet-based virtual world … developed by Linden Lab … users, called "Residents", interact with each other through … avatars … a social network … Residents can explore, meet other Residents, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items and services ...”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 6 of 25

What is Second Life?

• Second Life is:– An environment, a platform, a blank slate– Two ‘grids’: one for Teens, one for Adults– 100% user directed and controlled– Best experienced with a modern, powerful PC– Economically linked to the real world (Linden

$)– One of many virtual worlds (For a full list,

see: http://tinyurl.com/296lcm) – Highly social– International– Free

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 7 of 25

What is Second Life?

• Second Life is NOT:– A game– A finished, complete, ready-to-use “thing”– Crowded– 100% ‘safe’ (like the web, there are ‘bad

places’)[“Teen Grid” projects ARE 100% safe!]

– Passive– Easy to use for people with poor

keyboarding skills!

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 8 of 25

What is Second Life?

• Two “Grids”– Main (Adult) 18+

• Corporations, Non-Profits, Institutions of Higher Ed• Entertainment Industry• Politicians• Regular people, too

– Teen (13-17)• Teen-only Area• Educator & Teen Private Islands [SCHOOLS HERE!]

– Background check ($50) required prior to entry– Clearance procedure: http://tslclear.blogspot.com/

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 9 of 25

What is Second Life?

• Kalning, Kristin (2007-Mar-12). If Second Life isn't a game, what is it? Retrieved May 8, 2007, from MSNBC.com Web site: http://tinyurl.com/yq26z7

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 10 of 25

What is Second Life?

Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://tinyurl.com/3893fk

You Are Here

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 11 of 25

What is Second Life?

Ohio University Second Life Campus

http://tinyurl.com/ywxze4

Introduction to Second Lifehttp://tinyurl.com/2bdckz

Ants in Second Life: a Simulation

http://tinyurl.com/2oope3

Global Kids Islands (Teen SL)http://tinyurl.com/38kec3

Global Kids Social Issue Machinima (Teen SL)

http://tinyurl.com/2jbgxc

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 12 of 25

• Why should you care?– Margolis, Dawn (2007, March). Puffle Kerfluffle.

Retrieved May 8, 2007, from WIRED.com Web site: http://tinyurl.com/ywj9de

– Slatalla, Michelle (2007-May-03). My Daughter, the Burger-Flipping Penguin. Retrieved May 8, 2007, from New York Times Online Web site: http://tinyurl.com/237wrl

– Athavaley, A. (2007, June 20). A Job Interview You Don't Have to Show Up For. Retrieved October 8, 2007, from the Wall Street Journal Online Web site: http://tinyurl.com/2z93rb

…why does Second Life MATTER?

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 13 of 25

• What gives SL educational potential?• Users can:

– Create objects with properties– Interact with various media in-world– Link out to information on the internet

• All within a globally-connected network of people.

Wesolowski, M. (2007, Nov. 20). Created by Camtasia Studio 3. Retrieved Nov. 27, 2007, from http://tinyurl.com/2pmh4v.

…why does Second Life MATTER?

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 14 of 25

…why does Second Life MATTER?

• Global Kids Island• Kids Connect• Eye4You Alliance• Ramapo Islands• The PacRimX Islands• The Ohio STEAM

island • MATRIX Learning

• Youtopia Island• LearnWay Island• Oz Island• Schome Park• BritishCouncil Isle• Accelerate Nation• YOUR SCHOOL HERE?

Teen Grid Projects as of May, 2007 (Source: Claudia Linden)

More information - http://tinyurl.com/2yav97

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 15 of 25

…why does Second Life MATTER?

• SL’s environment has a few advantages to traditional asynchronous distance learning

• Hardware and bandwidth requirements create a ‘digital divide’ (likely to exist for some time)

• Tools merging SL/2D web, including SLoodle: http://www.sloodle.com/ and now Drupal: http://tinyurl.com/2fvm9m

• Universities rapidly moving into SL: http://tinyurl.com/yctt5c

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 16 of 25

• SL is just one of many cutting-edge edtech topics, but:– It’s FREE to explore– It’s EARLY in the adoption curve– It’s ADDICTIVE (but in a good way)– It’s WORTH knowing more about– It’s NOT GOING AWAY!

• Not ready to take the leap? YouTube it:

…why does Second Life MATTER?

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=second+life&search=Search

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 17 of 25

Ramapo Islands Live Tour

For more information, contact Peggy Sheehy, Suffern Middle School

Project Blog: http://rampoislands.blogspot.com Consultancy: http://www.metaversedltd.com/

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 18 of 25

Schome Park II Live Tour

For more information, contact Peter Twining, The Open University

Project Site: http://www.schome.ac.uk/ Forum: http://schome.open.ac.uk/forum/ Wiki: http://schome.open.ac.uk/wikiworks/

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 19 of 25

Genome Island Live Tour

For more information, contact Mary Ann Clark, Texas Wesleyan Univ.

Information Page: http://department.txwes.edu/bio/mclark/ SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Genome/137/87/29

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 20 of 25

ISTE Island Live Tour

For more information, contact RavenPheonix Zenovka or Kyle Thorn (IM)

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/98/73/30Web: http://iste.org/secondlife

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 21 of 25

Wrap-up / Q&A

K12Online Conference Voicethread Presentation:http://tinyurl.com/36fby8

21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University | © Kevin Jarrett, Walden University, 2007 | Slide 22 of 25

Wrap-up / Q&A

Thank You!

Kevin Jarrettkjarrett@waldenu.edustoryofmysecondlife.c

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