1. Best Practices to Form Online Multi-Users Virtual Environments for Education in Developing Countries Poonsri Vate-U-Lan, Ed.D. College of Internet Distance Education Assumption University of Thailand, poonsri.vate@gmail.com The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

2. Agenda

3. Assistant Program Director, Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology Doctor of Education from RMIT, Australia International Visiting Scholar, Brock University, Canada Translator of Dont make me think! and Author of CourseBuilder for DreamWeaver Poonsri Vate-U-Lan, Ed.D.

4. Introduction and motivation! In 2008, the logins rate grew 23 % More than 250 institutes/museum active in SL and the numbers is unending increasing Majority or 7/10 of institutes in SL are physically located in North America Approximately 20 % of institutes in SL were universities from Northern Europe Second Life (SL) is a significant online communication tools. By the end of 2011, 80 % of active Internet users will join any kind of online 3D MUVE which similar to SL The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

5. ABAC: The First Thai University in SL Professor Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman, Chief Executive Officer at the College of Internet Distance Education, Assumption University invented the first Thai online 3D campus in SL at Charming Island. The online 3D campus of Assumption University was recommended to be a place for visiting at thaisecondlife.net The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

6. Interesting of Second Life! SL, a free client program that most institutes would like to use for vibrant education The feeling of reality when residents avatar or transform themselves into 3D model in virtual computer environments In-world experiences for residents of SL are communication and transportation Examples of Learning typologies include demonstration, experiential, diagnostic, role play The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

7. University in SL Universities that occupied land were branded with the institutions official logo 2/5 of institutes used notecard for common greetings and almost half of the institutes (45.1%) had sidewalks, pathways, road or other types of footpaths Almost half the institutes (46.5%) created Links direct to normal web sites of the universities which majorities were showcase institutes SL projects (75.5%), Home page of universities (63.8%) and solicit enrollment of new students (45.4 %) respectively (Watch Video)Watch Video The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

8. Some facts about SL Most educators see SL is just a game but SL manifests itself not a game since it lacks of pre-defined goals Explored 13,000 regions during 2008 a few regions have large populations 45 % of regions were empty 30 % of the regions are never visited during a six day period only 2 % of regions had more than 20 avatars visited. Characteristics of SL residents are similar to real humans preferring to participate in small groups of about 2-10 avatars, visiting the same places and meeting the same avatars. Remarkably, 90 % of time spend in-world was for socializing rather than transporting The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

9. Profiles of participants 23 participants, 17 females and six males. More than half the participants (56.5%) were younger than 30. 52.2% of participants never experienced using online 3D MUVE 30.4% of participants have less than six months experience using online 3D MUVE 17.3 % of participants had had less than 12 months experience. The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

10. Research Finding: before and after The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

11. Barriers of SL The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

12. To Form 3D Online MUVE for Education HITS Model Human Students Teachers Facilitators Instruction Media Pedagogy Courseware Technology Network Wireless Open source Social Finance Cultures Language

13. Best practices: Human Good: students, faculties and support teams commit themselves to adopting online 3D MUVE Better: students, faculties and support teams aim to practice online 3D MUVE Best: students, faculties and support teams are involved in and invent online 3D MUVE projects The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand Human Students Teachers Facilitators

14. Best practices: Instruction Good: Providing a list of required instructional features that include clear learning objectives and computer technology literacy Better: Preparing instructions that make user- friendly the potential of online 3D MUVE Best: Reviewing instructions that make user- friendly the potential of online 3D MUVE The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand Instruction Media Pedagogy Courseware

15. Best practices:Technology Good: Users have both adequate computer hardware and network connection Better: Institutions provide adequate computer hardware and network connection Best: Linden Lab reduce the high demand for resources which make Second Life needing less bandwidth, easier to function and clearer interface design The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand Technology Network Wireless Open source

16. Best practices: Social Good: SL support multi-lingual functionality, especially the languages of developing countries such as Thai, Burmese Cambodia and so on. Non- English users of MUVE community should develop manuals in their own languages Better: SL support security concepts of sharable content systems to reduce investment in education Best: Linden Lab and all stakeholders develop policies regarding law, finance and ethics that support education The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand Social Finance Cultures Language

17. Conclusion The SL can be used to enlarge the potential of eLearning in many ways This research has found that graduate students were very interested in joining SL for educational purposes This paper has proposed the drafting of best practice guidelines to form online 3D MUVE for developing countries Further research in this field is urgently needed The Sixth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, 17-18 December, 2009, Thailand

18. Questions and Discussion Thank you for your attention!

19. References of Images http://www.bautforum.com/attachments/off-topic- babbling/4466d1168305043-anyone-here-tried-second-life- avatar.jpg http://mpop99.com/mypopspace/pages/blog_images/secondlif e_main_485.jpg http://popsci.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/13/ bu_markey_avatar_bx103.jpg http://askehbl.wordpress.com/2007/07/