Lesley Blicker, Office of the Chancellor Zala Fashant, Office of the Chancellor MnSCU Second Life Islands Project

Purpose of this Session Not an intro to SL, however:  Will provide some limited pedagogical context for focusing on it as an instructional technology for faculty (part of next gen tech efforts)  Will demo the MnSCU islands later in the session

The World in 3D – Predictions through 2013  Continued exploration in immersive virtual worlds as learning environments  Growth in number of products which have 3D “engines” built in (e.g., Second Life, Lively, 3B, EON Reality)  More 3D modeling, robotics, holographic software used in education  Transportable, personalized avatars (cross platform)  3D learning objects  Marriage of social networking and 3D interaction  7-8 years – primary Web interface begins morphing to 3D; 2D lives alongside 3D or in it for a while © Lesley Blicker

Source: SL Certificate Program, led by Karl Kapp, Learning Times LLC, 2008

Source: “Virtual Worlds – Real Opportunities.” Gartner IT Symposium, April 22, 2007.

Source: SL Certificate Program, led by Karl Kapp, Learning Times LLC, 2008

Some Instructional Purposes in Using Second Life  Guided and self-guided tours (facts)  Scavenger hunt (facts)  Group forum (facts, concepts)  Conceptual orienteering (concepts)  Role play (rules, procedures)  Critical incident (problem-solving)  Co-creation (problem solving, producing things)  Breakout sessions (concepts, rules, problem solving) Source: SL Certificate Program, led by Karl Kapp, Learning Times LLC, 2008

Instructor led or self-guided tours

Scavenger hunt: New England Folk Art Museum in SL

Group forum

Conceptual engineering (tsunami, control variables to see impact)

Role play, critical incident

Co-creating in SL

Breakout groups Source: SL Certificate Program, led by Karl Kapp, Learning Times LLC, 2008

Instructional Analysis: Choosing When/For What to Use SL  What are the teaching objectives?  What is best taught in a 3D environment?  Why choose a 3D tool over another one?  What tasks are most effectively taught in a 3D world?

Segue MnSCU SL Islands Project to

Second Life MnSCU Island Timeline Late 2006; initial plot purchased - called MnSCU Island A dozen or more buildings and class spaces built - mostly organic and unmanaged; meant to be experimental Steering team formed to develop policies and sort through island “chaos” 4 new spaces conceptualized and designed; managerial oversight in place Preparing for Fall 2009 “Go Live” milestone. CTL provides training opportunities Jenni Swenson via RFP grant, develops MnSCU Isld Best Practices Pavillion

MnSCU Second Life Islands Steering Committee Formed to:  Assess current use of the island  Assess future requirements for space and use  Create policies and guidelines for use  Create process for approval of projects and orderly development on the island (zoning practices)

Business Requirements: 4 Spaces  Student sandbox  Faculty sandbox (former island to become this)  Teaching island  MnSITE SL island (MnSCU collaborative projects, OOC staff use, CTL or HR training or conferences

New Policies and Design Elements Established by Committee  MnSCU islands - not to be used for campus- specific activities (i.e., student services) or to house anything with campus branding (in which case campuses need to purchase their own SL island  Sandbox - open for experimentation and building things, but building permissions need to be approved by committee

 Anything built in sandbox – if meet guidelines could be moved to teaching or MnSITE SL islands  20 pre-built classrooms and several common spaces available to be reserved right in SL (i.e., auditorium, faculty lounge  Pre-builds can be used for faculty office hours New Policies and Design Elements Established by Committee

 Non-sandbox islands will have reception areas, info on requesting building permissions and/or reserving spaces  St. Paul College contracted to provide Island Administration New Policies and Design Elements Established by Committee

 Publicize “Islands” project and procedures for use  Assess our system processes for requests, approvals  Track and document demand and usage  Faculty involvement in fleshing out Best Practices Pavillion  Promote sharing and collaboration via list serv, conferences, web or in-world sessions  Provide training opportunities to learn SL FY 2010 Project Objectives

 More in-world conferences  Development of “smart cart” or SL smart classrooms (how to use multiple technologies in SL such as Power Points or a webcam to connect with guest speaker) Future Objectives (Budget Dependent)

MnSITE SL Teaching Island Student Sandbox Faculty Sandbox Let’s Have a Look At the MnSCU Islands!

Thanks for Attending! Zala Fashant Program Coordinator Center for Teaching and Learning Office of the Chancellor Lesley Blicker Director of IMS Learning and Next Generation Technology Academic Innovations Office of the Chancellor