| Thursday, June 7, 2007 |
| MUVEs are on the move! |
In the field of instructional technology, it seems that many people have their "pet projects," something in which they pour much of their research, creative energies, and enthusiasm. WebQuests; digital storytelling; blogging, wikis, and other Web 2.0 technologies; digital video; online learning; and podcasting are examples. An avenue that holds much promise and numerous opportunities for research and innovation are MUVEs, the Second Life (SL) community being at the forefront.
 I watched Kathy Schrock (Kathy Dryburgh in SL) via SLCN (the Second Life Cable Network) present at the Best Practices in Education Conference that was held in Second Life a few weeks ago. (Here's a link to her presentation.) She spoke through chat; but in this archived version of her presentation, a commentator gave the play-by-play voice over narration. She presented some of the best places for teaching and learning she had visited while in Second Life, including NOAA, the Second Life Library, the Solar Eclipse Planetarium, and the Second Life Medical Library. She also discussed some of the educational organizations and meeting places that have been built to promote Second Life in education including SL headquarters for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Terra Incognita, the Elven Institute, the New Media Consortium (NMC), and the Center for Avatar Teaching, Educating, and Researching (CATER). All of the Second Life URLs (or SLURLs) for these and the rest of the places presented in her talk are available on her Web site. (You'll need to have joined Second Life to view these places.)
There is much being done in regards to exploring this three dimensional space for educational applications, and there are many opportunities for more research in the use of MUVEs, Second Life specifically, in education. As I think about what to make my focus of study, I am considering looking more deeply into this area and possibly its assistive properties or the possibilities it holds for individuals with exceptionalities. I also like the idea of holding virtual classes, professional development workshops, and conferences in such an environment.Labels: MUVE, SecondLife |
posted by SG @ 10:53 AM   |
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