Bring it on! Yes, I am sure SL can become addictive –
perhaps more so for some people than others.(Maybe it
is something that would happen in the beginning and then the novelty would wear
off.) My 21 year old daughter is ‘addicted’
to facebook! Having not been in Teen Grid I cannot say
how it works. But this again is
something that fascinates me – the psychology of immersive virtual
worlds. I find SL to be incredibly
powerful and I think that’s why it works so well and how I think learning
can be that much more effective in such an environment. There is an interesting book out at the
moment and one of the people profiled said that having gained confidence in SL,
she became more confident in real life and spent less time on her computer (Narrated
Slideshow by author: http://tinyurl.com/2rmu7a
I’m not so sure that it will replace
VLEs – not just yet anyway. There is some
development happening integrating Moodle with SL (SLoodle: www.sloodle.com)
which is attempting to combine the best of SL with the best of Moodle – a perfect combination! It’s still in
the early stages but an excellent concept.
Regards
Jane Edwards
e-Learning Advisor (ACL)
http://www.rsc-wm.ac.uk/?/Events%20and%20Training/CONF180607/
Join Second Life JISC Mail List:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/SECONDLIFE
Email: [log in to unmask]
Direct Line: 01902 518983
Fax: 01902 824345
-----Original
Message-----
From: Virtual Learning
Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Richard Standen
Sent: 19 June 2007 10:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] Second Life
Concerns
Hi All
I wish to play Devil's
Advocate here a little more!
I wasn't aware of Teen
Grid - but to be honest, I'm sure there are all kinds of filtering and
protection devices, and yes - I'm sure they're safe environments.
My concern is around the
concept of 'immersion'.
WebCT, Bb, Moodle and the
others are tools deployed at particular times. Students login and logout
as and when.
Second Life and other
immersive environments (Teen Grid?) are designed to 'absorb' you. They
are built as immersive tools that use many interactive aspects of gameplay etc
to create highly addictive virtual worlds. Whilst I am sure they are
excellent educationally, my concern is that my children will inadvertently
become 'addicts' of this kind of environment simply through their exposure to
it.
How many technologists
are simply viewing SL / Teen Grid as kind of VLE upgrades? Maybe that's
all they are - and we can gradually migrate to such environments over
time. However, my usage of SL so far indicates to me that they're more
than this - and I wonder how many technologists have considered this?
Many thanks
Richard
On 19/06/07, Edwards, Jane <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I'm glad Heather pointed
out the difference between Second Life and Teen
Grid as I got the feeling that Richard was not aware that there are two
separate worlds - the Teen Grid is very secure, so secure in fact that
my son is having trouble registering!
Of course, he could set up an account in the adult world without my
knowledge but it comes back to the same thing about children accessing
unfiltered internet - it is better to instil responsible use of the
internet with children, as with anything else, as part of
differentiating right from wrong.
From my knowledge and use of Second Life there seems to be a lot of
interest in the States in using these virtual worlds for teaching and
learning and we can learn a lot from their experiences as they are
already ahead of the game.
I am really excited about Second Life and its application in teaching
and learning, especially for those who are socially excluded for one
reason or another.
I agree with Heather when she says "if no one looks at the tools how can
we ever work out if there is an educational use for it?"
Why not join the Second Life list and see what they have to say on the
matter? Peter Twining from the OU has a lot to say as he has been
involved in the Schome project (not school not home). From my
understanding of what has been going on with NAGTY children, the
learning experience has been fantastic.
Regards,
Jane Edwards
e-Learning Advisor (ACL)
RSC WM Online Conference 18 - 22 June
http://www.rsc-wm.ac.uk/?/Events%20and%20Training/CONF180607/
Join Second Life JISC Mail List:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/SECONDLIFE
Email: [log in to unmask]
Direct Line: 01902 518983
Mobile: 07976 828374
Fax: 01902 824345
http://www.rsc-wm.ac.uk/
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto: [log in to unmask]]
On
Behalf Of Heather Peake
Sent: 18 June 2007 12:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] Second Life Concerns
I think you are right to be concerned, but full integration I
Hi
I think you are right to be concerned, but full integration I suspect is
a long way off.
We are an FE college and instantly spotted that if we wished to deploy
it we have a major issue in that some of our learners would only be
allowed in the childrens second life whilst others could only enter the
adults and what happens to those who change age range mid way through is
anyones guess.
However, if no one looks at the tools how can we ever work out if there
is an educational use for it? I gather there are a few stability issues
plus frequent patching issues, but again by the time we have found a
sound reason for using it those issues may have gone away.
I look forward to hearing or should that be reading a debate on it, but
I suspect it might be a while coming as many people I speak to have only
heard of it never entered it and it is difficult to discuss something
without looking first.
Regards
Heather Peake
VLE Development Co-ordinator
West Nottinghamshire College
Tel 01623 627191 ext 2292
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On
Behalf Of Richard Standen
Sent: 18 June 2007 11:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VLES] Second Life Concerns
Hi All
I've been in the elearning game a few years (via WebCT, Course Genie, Bb
and other stuff), but I'm also a parent of two young children.
I am committed to the (appropriate) use of technology to help people
learn.
I think VLEs and associated tools can help. To me, they are
additional
tools in a teacher's toolkit.
However, I think I have a problem with Second Life and other 'immersive'
environments. These have moved beyond being tools that are deployed
at
particular times and for particular purposes.
If my children are asked to access learning materials within Second
Life,
they are being asked to access an immersive virtual world. The
boundaries
around the learning materials are more blurred and the likelihood of
their
being able to 'wander off' into other, less salubrious areas, is high.
Who is policing these virtual worlds? A virtual world is, by its
very
nature, a community. I am not yet convinced it is a community I want
my
children being expected to become a part of. I choose the community
my
children live in - I should have the right to choose the community they
are educated in too.
I am only pointing out at that I *may* have a problem with Second Life
and
other immersive environments. I am an early adopter myself - I am
excited
by technology and the applications to which it can be put.
BUT - I don't believe there has been any kind of open debate about the
appropriateness of such environments for teaching/learning, and I am
concerned to see Second Life integrations with mainstream products like
Moodle appearing (and presumably being deployed?), without any
consideration for the immersive nature of this technology.
What do people think?
Many thanks
Richard
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