Using OpenSimulator in

K-12 Schools

David W. Deeds

OpenSimulator Community Conference

November 9, 2014

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Welcome! I’m determined that this session won’t be Death by PowerPoint!

I’ll do a quick introduction and then present some questions to choose from.

Or you can ask your own. I’ll start with the questions from this morning’s OpenSimulator K-12 Power Panel in case you missed it.

Ready? Here we go!

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Introduction• Been using VWs since 2006, started

using OpenSimulator in 2009 with switch to K-12 international schools

• Have managed my own grid, plus used hosts: ReactionGrid, Dreamland Metaverse, Kitely (and VIBE)

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Introduction• Have taken 200+ kids inworld, K to 12

(tried Pre-K too)!• Georgia, China, Mexico and now I’m

the High School Technology Integration Coach for the American School of Guatemala

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Introduction• Published “OpenSimulator: School

Quick Start Guide” in 2011, one day I’ll get around to the Second Edition!

• Lots of outdated information, but still some good stuff: http://www.nmc.org/pdf/OpenSimulator-School-Quick-Start-Guide.pdf

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

OpenSimulator K-12 Power Panel Questions:

1.What makes an effective virtual world learning activity?

2.What makes young students excited to be in virtual worlds?

3.What are the advantages of having one’s own grid and how do you effectively manage it?

4.How do you get others to engage in virtual worlds teaching?

One or more of these?

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

5.How do I get virtual worlds started at my school?

6.What can you teach using virtual worlds? 7.Does this meet Common Core or other

standards?8.How do you assess virtual world

activities?9.Can virtual worlds be used for training

teachers?10.How does this compare to Games-

Based Learning or gamification?

One or more of these?

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

1.What makes an effective virtual world learning activity?

• “Skeleton” lesson plans: just enough structure to keep students focused on objectives

• Differentiation so that students can succeed on individual and/or team basis

• Connect, communicate and collaborate

• Task-based exercises and project management

• IB Design Cycle: Investigate, Design, Plan, Create and Evaluate (also Attitudes)

• Everything is project-based: No tests!

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

2.What makes young students excited to be in virtual worlds?

• Being in charge of own learning experience

• Programming with instant payoff/gratification

• Cross-curricular or interdisciplinary activities (connections with lessons in other subjects)

• Wide variety of tools put to practical use: graphics, sound, etc.

• Freedom to create, (virtually) without limits

• Ability to simulate impossible gadgets/gizmos

• Making machinima (3D cartoons/movies)

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

3.What are the advantages of having one’s own grid and how do you effectively manage it?

• Locally managed grid means free usage, ability to not worry about Internet connection

• Complete security, at cost of inability to hypergrid to other grids, interact with others

• Sells virtual world concept to nervous parents and administrators re: little munchkins

• Total control over parameters such as prim size

• Mainly a matter of managing OARs: saving and loading for different classes

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

4.How do you get others to engage in virtual worlds teaching?

• Best if IB (or IB-style) cross-curricular or interdisciplinary instruction is a goal

• Start with easiest sell: Art teacher for inworld gallery, Music teacher for inworld concert

• Usually after students start using it, word of mouth will get other teachers curious

• Conduct demos for teachers of other subjects according to their interests (e.g., Math)

• Request virtual field trips to education sims

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

5.How do I get virtual worlds started at my school?

• Best is to start with free local grid or cheapest possible host company, pay for it yourself

• Don’t try to explain too much in advance (better to seek forgiveness than permission)

• Could start with education-specific game like MinecraftEdu and let kids do the sales job

• Start with easiest sell, usually IT Teacher

• Another angle is to introduce it as the best way to teach programming (as part of STEM)

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

6.What can you teach using virtual worlds?

• Obvious: Computer-Aided Design (CAD), programming, project management

• Teamwork, communication, collaboration

• Self-reliance, being in charge of learning

• Good way to introduce student-centered learning as concept, also 3D printing

• Subjects: IT, Math, Science, Art, Music, Languages, even Literature

• Other tools: Graphics, 3D Modelers (e.g., Sketchup), Sound and Music Production

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

7.Does this meet Common Core or other standards?

• Honestly don’t know about Common Core, VIBE folks about to embark on that project

• Have created IT curriculum that met rigorous International Baccalaureate standards

• Middle Years Program (MYP) at first, with reliance on Design Cycle, extrapolated to Primary Years and Diploma Programs (PYP, DP)

• If World of Warcraft curriculum can meet Common Core standards, so can OpenSimulator

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

8.How do you assess virtual world activities?

• IB Way: Each phase of the Design Cycle (Investigate, Design, Plan, Create and Evaluate) has rubric scaled according to performance

• Again, no tests: everything is project based

• IB includes Attitudes, can adopt as rubric category: Teamwork, Collaboration, etc.

• Let students evaluate each other on performance, e.g., contributing to team effort

• Keep daily “plus or minus sheet” to track formative assessment, ends in summative

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

9.Can virtual worlds be used for training teachers?

• Absolutely! All skills students can learn are valuable to teachers too, tangible (e.g., programming) to intangible (e.g., collaboration)

• Great for getting teachers into cross-curricular or interdisciplinary instruction mode

• Also great for transitioning teachers from tests to projects, grades to rubrics

• Best way is to train teachers and students simultaneously, with this and/or games

• Show teachers that learning can be FUN!

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

10.How does this compare to Games-Based Learning or gamification?

• It is Games-Based Learning, just without the shootings and obvious levels (external XP)

• Goals and milestones are within the game but tied to class or other external objectives

• Easier to convince skeptical administrators and parents that this is a learning environment

• Is gamification in the sense that a lesson plan is tied to achieving goals and winning contests

• Team efforts compare well to all games

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

If you’d like an OpenSimulator grid for your school, you could do it yourself.

Or you could contact Dreamland Metaverse:snoopy.pfeffer@yahoo.com

Or Kitely: www.kitely.com

Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Thank you for (virtually) attending!

Questions/Comments?

ddeeds@cag.edu.gtdavidwdeeds@gmail.com

Follow my Scoop.it page:

http://www.scoop.it/t/3d-virtual-worlds-educational-technology