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![](3D"slide0001_background.gif")
My Se=
cond
Life:
Using= a Virtual World to Enhance Communication in an Internet-Based Class
Using= a Virtual World to Enhance Communication in an Internet-Based Class
Mike
Phillips (aka Roche Darwin)
Natural
Sciences, Illinois Valley Community College
Geography-Geology,
Illinois State University
=
Bill
Shields (aka Zeppo Romano)
Geography-Geology,
Illinois State University
![](3D"master06_background.gif")
The
On-line Class:
Another Venue
Another Venue
FGoal: equivalent to traditional
courses
=
Fstudent experiences
=
Fstudent outcomes
=
FConcern: communication
<=
/span>
=
Fengaging the students
=
Fproviding motivation
=
Fensuring comprehension
FAccess to materials
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Fposted on web site
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Flinks to primary resources
![3D"bb_disc=](3D"slide0008_image004.gif")
<=
![endif]>
<=
/v:shape>![3D"bb_content"](3D"slide0008_image006.gif")
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Flinks to current events
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Flinks to engaging materials
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FAsyc=
hronous
discussions
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Fthoughtful & reflective
=
Fless stressful
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Feasy to follow
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>Fconveniently graded
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FQuick
feedback to students
<=
![endif]>Benefits of
Going On-Line
Concerns w=
ith
Going On-Line
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FLoose
schedule
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FComm=
unication
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FDiff=
icult
to “read” the class
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FDiff=
icult
to provide experiences
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0;visibility:hidd=
en'>F
FStudents become disengaged
Engaging
Students
FBlended classes
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>=
Fpart on-line & part
face-to-face
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0;visibility:hidden'>F
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>F=
Virtual world - 2nd Life
=
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>F=
completely on-line
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>F=
“face-to-face”
opportunities
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>F=
anytime is compromised
<=
span
style=3D'color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>F=
anyplace preserved=
Second Lif=
e
FVirtual world
FReal-time interaction
FClassroom setting
FDisplay area
FVirtual experiences
F
Fwww.secondlife.com
FCreate inviting spaces
<=
/span>
FClassroom
=
FOffice
<=
/v:shape>![3D"inside_powell_hall"](3D"slide0014_image008.gif")
<=
/v:shape>![3D"office_shack"](3D"slide0014_image010.gif")
![3D"post=](3D"slide0014_image012.gif")
=
FDisplay
FRequired orientation
F2nd Life
<=
/div>
FCourse introduction
=
Keys to
Success
Bene=
fits
of 2nd Life:
Classroom=
Classroom=
FA “Place” to meet=
3;
FReal-time interaction
=
FPresentation
=
FOpen Q & A=
![3D"inside_powell_hall"](3D"slide0011_image013.gif")
Bene=
fits
of 2nd Life:
Display Areas
Display Areas
FGeology in “3-D”
<=
/div>
FStudent work
![3D"strike_dip"](3D"slide0012_image015.gif")
![3D"poster_long"](3D"slide0012_image016.gif")
![=3Dposters](3D"slide0012_image018.gif")
<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#1F0769;mso-color-index:0'>FNOAA
Island: tsunami
![3Dtsunami1](3D"slide0013_image020.gif")
![3D"tsunami_u1"](3D"slide0013_image022.gif")
![3D"tsunami_u2"](3D"slide0013_image024.gif")
Benefits of 2nd Life:
Virtual Experiences
Virtual Experiences
![=3Dtsunami8](3D"slide0013_image026.gif")
![=3Dtsunami9](3D"slide0013_image028.gif")
![3Dtsunami10](3D"slide0013_image030.gif")
![3Dtsunami11](3D"slide0013_image032.gif")
![3Dtsunami12](3D"slide0013_image034.gif")
![3Dtsunami13](3D"slide0013_image036.gif")
Student
Reaction
FPositive response on
evaluations
F=
Enhanced understanding
<=
/span>
F=
High attendance
<=
/span>
F=
Creative avatars
Bottom Lin=
e
![3D"bb_content"](3D"slide0017_image037.gif")
This is important
![3Dtsunami12](3D"slide0017_image038.gif")
This is engagi=
ng
What to
do…
FGo to secondlife.com
=
Fcreate an account
Fdownload the program
=
FGo to 2nd Life
Finstall the program
<=
/span>
Flog on
=
F=
complete the orientation
program
Fexplore…
![](3D"master18_background.gif")
=
Thank you!=
=
Visit us in Second Life at
Illi= nois State University’s Geo Island!
Illi= nois State University’s Geo Island!
Mike Phillips (aka Roche Darwin)
<=
/b>
Natural Sciences, Illinois Valley
Community College
Geography-Geology, Illinois State
University
Bill Shields (aka Zeppo Romano)
Geography-Geology, Illinois State
University
=
;
Click to edit Master text styles
Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level
=
;
=
249;#›
1<=
/span>
Good
Afternoon. I am Mike Phillip=
s and
today, I will describe some of the experiences Bill Shields and I have had
teaching on-line, including some of the challenges we have encountered and=
how
we have addressed some of those challenges though the use of the virtual
world, Second Life.
2<=
/span>
As more classes move on-line, faculty need to ensure=
that
student experiences and outcomes are
equivalent to traditional courses.
One key aspect of any successful
course is effective communication, and =
communication
in on-line courses is a mixed bag.
3<=
/span>
On-line courses can be of great benefit to students<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> because they are “any-time, any-place” CLICK
=
All course materials can be made easily accessible. =
CLICK
=
You can design your own web interface, or use a pack=
aged
program such as BlackBoard. CLICK
=
A well-designed course web site helps to ensure most
students read the class requirements, a=
nd
links to web-based resources can provide access
to engaging materials and dispense immediate feedback to students. CLIC=
K
Asynchronous discussions allow for thoughtful, refle=
ctive
discourse in an environment CLICK that
decreases student anxieties that inhibit face-to-face
group discussions. CLICK … CLI=
CK
On-line classes also allow students to access graded
material immediately and, hopefully, mo=
dify
their efforts more quickly.
4<=
/span>
Any time, any place does have a down side
Students can fall quickly behind when there are no
regularly scheduled class meetings.
=
;
Students can become frustrated when several days of
back-and-forth e-communications are req=
uired
to clarify and resolve confusion about the subject
material or course requirements.
Dialog between instructor and student often does not
benefit the class as a whole as it migh=
t in a
classroom setting. CLICK<=
span
style=3D'color:black'>
The underlying concern is that students can become
disengaged.
5<=
/span>
One way to=
help
engage students and encourage them to participate is to meet face-to-face.=
CLICK
While this=
may
seem to be a strange way to teach an on-line class, it can be beneficial to
students who are new to the on-line format. Unfortunately, the class becomes
place-bound and, to a lesser extent, time-bound. CLICK
The on-line
virtual world, 2nd Life, provides an opportunity to have a “face-to-=
face”
experience, while maintaining the benefits of a completely on-line class.<=
/div>
6<=
/span>
Second Lif=
e is a
virtual on-line world with real-time interaction.
Users must=
create
an account and down load a free program at secondlife.com
Users log =
in to
2nd Life from their personal computer and participate in class activities
wherever they are.
Users can
participate at no cost.
The Illino=
is State
University Geography-Geology Department has purchased “land” in
Second Life where we have constructed classrooms, offices, and display
space.
Others int=
erested
in geoscience education, such as NOAA, have developed virtual experiences<=
/div>
7<=
/span>
CLICK In order to engage students=
the
space has to be inviting and easy to navigate.
We have cr=
eated
CLICK classrooms, CLICK CLICK offices, CLICK CLICK and display areas CLICK CLICK
We require
students to create their account, complete the 2nd Life orientation, and
attend a class orientation in the weeks prior to the start of the
semester. This helps work ou=
t most
of the bugs such as activating the voice chat function.
=3D=3DIn t=
he worst
case scenario, voice chat does not work for a student due to their connect=
ion,
hardware or software. Most students are able to remedy this prior to the s=
tart
of class.
I start ea=
ch class
with a sound check. If someo=
ne
cannot hear me and we cannot remedy the situation, I will have a student
volunteer to transcribe for me.=3D=3D
8<=
/span>
We have cr=
eated a
class-room space with a projection board where slides may be displayed.=
3;
Bill Shiel=
ds began
by hosting evening pre-exam study sessions for his on-campus geology
courses. This allowed Bill to
provide real-time evening question and answer sessions before exams without
having to secure a room or travel to campus.
For the pa=
st two
summers, my on-line classes have been meeting weekly in Second Life. CLICK
This past =
summer,
we met in a one hour session on Monday to introduce the week’s topic=
and
in a half-hour session on Friday for questions and answers. Sessions were typically offered a=
t 1pm
and 9pm, based on student availability, but times were varied to allow all=
students
an opportunity to attend at least one session.
Interactio=
n in the
classroom takes place real-time and students have the opportunity to ask
questions and get answers immediately.&nb=
sp;
This interaction also helps more passive students who are able to
benefit from the discussion that takes place.
I teach us=
ing the
voice chat function, and the
students usually type their questions as they arise.
9<=
/span>
Bill has d=
eveloped
a collection CLICK of 3-dimensional displays with the help of several
geoscience educators he has met in Second Life. CLICK
Describing=
strike
and dip is one of those concepts that is difficult to explain, but relativ=
ely
easy to show in the field.
CLICK
We have cr=
eated an
area of display boards where students have the opportunity to post their w=
ork
and browse the work of other students. CLIC=
K
Students s=
ubmit
PowerPoint slides to me, I convert them to jpeg image files, import them, =
and
post them.
10=
Students a=
lso have
the opportunity to participate in virtual experiences.
I direct a=
nd
sometimes lead students to the virtual tsunami at NOAA’s island. CLICK THROUGH
11=
Student re=
sponse
has, overall, been positive.
Students l=
iving in
Japan and Utah as well as those on vacation were all able to participate in
the class regularly.
Last summe=
r, of 57
students in two class sections, only 4 did not attend a session in 2nd
Life. Average attendance was=
once
per week.
12=
CLICK This is important.
CLICK This is engaging.
13=
I encourag=
e anyone
who teaches to open an account in second-life.
From offic=
e hours
to study groups to class sessions to student displays to virtual experienc=
es,
the possibilities are boundless.
14=
' + ENDSHOW_MESG + '
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