MUVEing Education

Using SecondLife® for Teaching and Training

© 2009 AdvancED

Your Host

• Paval Shostakovichaka

• David Hurst dhurst@advanc-ed.org

© 2009 AdvancED

Objectives

• MUVEs: Definitions History Concepts

• Teaching/Learning in SL

• Other MUVE opportunities

© 2009 AdvancED

What is a MUVE?• Multi-User Virtual Environment

• SecondLife® (SL) is one example www.secondlife.com

© 2009 AdvancED

The Evolution of MUVE

• Dungeons and Dragons

• World of WarCraft• More than 200 virtual worlds are

in development 1

• Use of SL grows daily• The SL Education environment2

© 2009 AdvancED

Changing Our Thinking3

Past Tools for Learning Promising Power Tools for Learning

Textbooks and worksheets Primary sources and student created materials

Linear text Hypertext and multimedia

Models and materials Virtual creatures and simulations

Direct observations Tools for remote observations

Educational films broadcast reality Virtual worlds interact with reality

Teacher delivers lectures Many "expert" voices in classroom

Student reports to teacher on learning

Student generated lessons for others

© 2009 AdvancED

Best Suits• Semi-Static Displays

Historical renderings Geographic exploration Practical application

• Cultural Environments Language acquisition and practice Cultural Awareness

• Instruction 3D environment Interactivity

© 2009 AdvancED

Historical Renderings8

© 2009 AdvancED

Geographic Exploration9

© 2009 AdvancED

Practical Application10

© 2009 AdvancED

A New Definition for Pen Pal11

© 2009 AdvancED

3D Environment11

© 2009 AdvancED

Interactivity11

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Other Options4

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Other Options

• ActiveWorlds5

• JASON Project6

© 2009 AdvancED

Reasons to Embrace SL• “Non-issues” in SL

Distance Physics Breathing

• Equity Ensured Race, creed, color

(or species) Thin or fat, “pretty” or

“ugly” Disabilities are a choice

• Interactivity All virtual All real A combination (Machinima)

© 2009 AdvancED

Reasons to Resist the Change

• Bandwidth

• Learning Curve

• Adults and teens• Separating virtual from reality7

• Not knowing what we don’t know

© 2009 AdvancED

The AdvancED SL Office13

© 2009 AdvancED

SL Education Faire

© 2009 AdvancED

Bibliography1. http://venturebeat.com/2009/01/26/more-than-200-kids-virtual-worlds-

in-development

2. http://secondlifegrid.net/slfe/education-use-virtual-world#pilot

3. http://it.pedf.cuni.cz/~bobr/MUVE/muveen.htm

4. http://muve.gse.harvard.edu/rivercityproject/index.html

5. http://www.activeworlds.com/

6. http://www.jason.org/public/home.aspx

7. The Matrix. © 2001, Warner Brothers

Slurls

8. Texas Capitol Building, Antiquity Texas (153, 192, 44)

9. Exploratorium, Exploratorium (132, 163, 251)

10.CDC Island, CDC Island (190, 86, 21)

11.PARIS *-._, Les Champs Elys, Les Champs Elysees (248, 153, 23)

12.F/Xual Education Services, Koru (43, 219, 22)

13.Chicago Public Schools Dept of L, Chicago Public Schools (34, 202, 23)