1. Knowledge & Innovation in Education: A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Noor Faridah
KM Conference 2010
16 Sept 2010

2. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Content
Background & Purpose of KM effort
KM Project Highlights
Project Survey Results
Lessons Learned : Challenges
Impact and Benefits
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

3. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Background
Cross disciplinary module offered to students across different disciplines in Temasek Polytechnic
Face-to-face discussions in-class can be challenging as some students are not comfortable to express themselves in front of others who are non-peers
Some students are also shy to speak to others face-to-face
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

4. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Purpose of KM Effort
Develop an interactive KM project using 3D virtual objects on Second Life using the learner-centred teaching methodology involving experiential learning, knowledge sharing and teamwork in a virtual environment
To reduce some of the barriers of face-to-face discussions currently faced by students reading the cross-disciplinary module
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

5. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Purpose of KM Effort
To engage and motivate student learning and innovatively bring the workplace to the classroom
To enable students and tutors to virtually meet, discuss and share knowledge online
To provide a more flexible, stimulating and independent learning environment which enhances the effectiveness of teaching and student learning
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

6. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
KM Project Highlights
Final year students from the Diploma in Interactive Media Informatics at Temasek Polytechnic managed Avatars on Second Life to build a multi-storey “TP EIR Hub” on Temasek Polytechnic Island
Project based on requirements of a real-life user group namely the subject leader of the cross-disciplinary module
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

7. KM Project Highlights :Initiation and Preparation for the Trip
briefing on how to get started on Second Life
visit the Orientation Island on Second Life
consultation of print and online resources
participation in the Second Life discussion forum
team was allocated a plot of empty land within Temasek Polytechnic Island and some Linden Dollars to build a multi-storey “TP EIR Hub” according to the specifications and requirements of the real-life users (Subject leader of a cross-disciplinary module named “Effective Internet Research (EIR)”
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

8. KM Project Highlights : Implementation Plan and Assessment Framework
10 weeks project duration
Assessment framework comprises :
project reports
reflective journals
project supervisor and evaluator assessments
presentations
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

9. KM Project Highlights : Project Survey
Project survey conducted at the end of the module
To get students’ feedback (quantitative and qualitative) on the effectiveness of the subject delivery and teaching methods
To find out about students’ experiences learning on:
creating 3D objects on Second Life
their learning processes which took place
application of skills and knowledge in achieving the learning objectives
reflections on lessons learnt
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

10. KM Project Highlights : Learning Objectives
To create a land space within Temasek Polytechnic Island on Second Life for students to independently and interactively access learning materials related to Internet research in a fun and interesting way
To allow students and tutors to virtually meet and discuss EIR materials using Second Life.
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

11. Virtual Journey Begins
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

12. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
TP EIR Hub on Temasek Polytechnic Island
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

13. Features available on Level 1 of TP EIR Hub
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

14. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Students viewing lecture slides at level 2 of TP EIR Hub
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

15. The sharing garden at level 3 of TP EIR Hub
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

16. Project Survey Results : End Users
48 students participated in this survey
82% of the students strongly agreed/agreed that learning EIR using 3D graphics and animation via Second Life is interesting and fun
89% of the students strongly agreed/agreed the E-learning games and activities on Second Life were useful and helped them learnt EIR conveniently and independently
89% of the students strongly agreed/agreed that they had learnt a lot in this subject
100% of the students strongly agreed/agreed that they are satisfied with the cross disciplinary module "Effective Internet Research"
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

17. Project Survey Results : End Users
“I find second life interesting as I can interact with my classmates through an online game.”
“Second life is interesting as it allows me to create Avatar and have discussions online.”
“I like Second Life as it is a new game that I am just introduced to.”
“The course is interesting as it allows me to understand and learn new skills.”
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

18. Project Survey Results : Student Developers
2 teams (2 students per team)
100% of students strongly agreed/agreed that they had enjoyed using Second Life in this Major Project module
100% of students strongly agreed/agreed that creating 3D objects on Second Life was interesting
100% of students strongly agreed/agreed that Second Life had motivated them to complete their Major Project well
100% of students strongly agreed/agreed that Second Life had engaged them to learn more and expand their research ideas about their Major Projects
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

19. Subject Feedback : Student Developers
100% of students strongly agreed/agreed that they had learnt helpful values of teamwork and independent learning skills in completing their Major Projects
75% of students strongly agreed/agreed that they had learnt a lot of new skills and knowledge about 3D on Second Life
100% of the students strongly agreed/agreed that generally Second Life is easy to use which includes the registration process and creation of Avatars, moving their Avatars and changing their appearances, teleporting to various destinations on Second Life
75% of the students strongly agreed/agreed that creating 3D objects on Second Life is challenging
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

20. Subject Feedback : Student Developers
“The most memorable experience is getting to learn new things where initially I thought that it is not possible.”
“I enjoyed designing the EIR hub with my partner. At the same time I get to explore Second Life world which I find interesting and amazing.”
“I experienced a deep sense of achievement when I get to see my ideas that have always been on paper or in my mind, really exist on Second Life.”
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

21. Lessons Learned : Challenge
Supervisor, facilitator and students had to learn how to use the new platform Second Life which is very time-consuming
We overcome this with briefings on how to get started on Second Life, visiting the Orientation Island on Second Life, consulted print and online resources
Challenge 2 :
Slow connection and low response time especially when multiple users are accessing it simultaneously
We overcome this by scheduling small group simultaneous discussion/sharing sessions and e-learning activities which can be completed over a longer duration
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

22. Lessons Learned : Challenge
Student developers had to learn a new skill to design and build 3D objects from scratch
We overcome this by participating in online forums on Second Life, reading resources, consulting trainers who have used Second Life in the polytechnic and knowledge-sharing amongst lecturers and students who have used Second Life.
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

23. Impact and Benefits : Student Developers
KM Project was successfully implemented and deployed by the real-life end users to conduct selected components of the cross-disciplinary module
Engaged students in experiential learning of interactive media informatics in a 3D virtual environment
Equipped students with new skill sets of creating 3D objects in a virtual world
Boosted students’ confidence level and sense of empowerment
Enhanced students’ motivation and ability to apply the skills and knowledge they had learnt in the Diploma, into the virtual environment
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

24. Impact and Benefits : End Users
Increase the level of engagement and motivation of students to learn the cross-disciplinary module (EIR) interactively
Students were able to learn EIR in a more fun and interesting way using Avatars
Reduce barriers of face-to-face discussions via the use of Avatars
students across all disciplines in the Polytechnic were more ready to engage in virtual discussions with their non-peers
shy students were more comfortable discussing with fellow Avatars
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

25. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Concluding Quotation
“Every minute was an interesting experience for me and my partner. Just to be able to meet up to do work together and being able to smile in the midst of circumstances that were not on our way, has indeed helped us to grow and emerge stronger by the end of the Major Project duration.”
Student Developers with their final report
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

26. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Impact and Benefits
Student Developers
Satisfied End Users
Both students and staff morale were
enhanced as students’ performed
relatively well overall
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

27. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Q & A
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life

28. A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life
Thank You !
A 3D Virtual Experience on Second Life