the 2 nd international conference on chinese language pedagogy august 15, 2009 sachiko kamioka
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The 2 nd International Conference on Chinese Language Pedagogy August 15, 2009 Sachiko Kamioka Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) University of Oregon. What is Second Life?. Free 3D virtual world. What is Second Life?. Avatar. Is Second Life a Game?. Yes and No. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The 2nd International Conference on Chinese Language Pedagogy
August 15, 2009
Sachiko KamiokaCenter for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS)
University of Oregon
What is Second Life?
Free 3D virtual world
What is Second Life?
Avatar
Is Second Life a Game?
Yes and No
Is Second Life a Game?
Yes ---- Interface
Is Second Life a Game?
No --- Creativity
Is Second Life a Game?
No --- Ownership
Second Life for Language LearningOpportunity for exposure to and acquisition of authentic language and culture
But is SL Safe?
Teen Second Life for users between the ages of 13-17
But is SL Safe?
Adult Second Life• Harassment• Mature content• Moral and ethical concerns• Requires caution, careful preparation, and
principled interaction
MyChina Village ProjectDiffusion of Innovation grant by National Security Education Program (NSEP)
Partners: • Avant Assessment • Centric
Background• Lack of students with sufficient Chinese skills for Oregon Chinese K-16 Flagship program• Study abroad is costly
Traditional paradigm
ClassroomInstructions
Oversea Experience
A Third Paradigm
Oversea Experience
ClassroomInstructions
MyChina Village
Pedagogically-equipped virtual world
Authentic socio-cultural context
Challenges and Adjustment• Limitation of Teen Second Life• Monthly events to a summer camp
• August 3, 2009 ~ August 28, 2009 • 2 hours everyday • 16 facilitators from Soochow University’s Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Program• 8 college-level intermediate learners selected from 35 applications• 1 camp counselor
MyChina Village Virtual Chinese Immersion Camp
Why a Month-long Camp?• participant commitment• participants’ involvement and ownership
in developing MyChina Village• experiment with users
Camp OverviewWhole group activities:
Environmental Studies theme
Individual activities: Learner performs quests with their assigned facilitator to achieve their own goals
Lessons LearnedTime and human resourcesTechnology
Things to be LearnedDo virtual worlds provide authentic socio-cultural
context?Is it worth it?
How Can I Benefit from MyChina Village?
• Join us at open house on Fridays 6 pm – 7 pm PDT during the camp • Findings will become available on CASLS Web site http://casls.uoregon.edu