My Second Life: Using a Virtual World to Enhance Communication in an Internet-Based Class

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My Second LifeUsing 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

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The On-line Class Another Venue

• Goal equivalent to traditional courses
• student experiences
• student outcomes
• Concern communication
• engaging the students
• providing motivation
• ensuring comprehension

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Benefits of Going On-Line

• Access to materials
• posted on web site
• links to primary resources
• links to current events
• links to engaging materials
• Asychronous discussions
• thoughtful reflective
• less stressful
• easy to follow
• conveniently graded
• Quick feedback to students

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Concerns with Going On-Line

• Loose schedule
• Communication
• tends to be one-on-one
• misinterpretations
• back and forth can take days
• Difficult to read the class
• Difficult to provide experiences
• Students become disengaged

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Engaging Students

• Blended classes
• part on-line part face-to-face
• anytime-anyplace is compromised
• Virtual world - 2nd Life
• completely on-line
• face-to-face opportunities
• anytime is compromised
• anyplace preserved

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Second Life

• Virtual world
• Real-time interaction
• Classroom setting
• Display area
• Virtual experiences
• www.secondlife.com

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Keys to Success

• Create inviting spaces
• Classroom
• Office
• Display
• Required orientation
• 2nd Life
• Course introduction

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Benefits of 2nd Life Classroom

• A Place to meet
• Real-time interaction
• Presentation
• Open Q A

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Benefits of 2nd Life Display Areas

• Geology in 3-D
• Student work

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Benefits of 2nd Life Virtual Experiences

• NOAA Island tsunami

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Student Reaction

• Positive response on evaluations
• Enhanced understanding
• High attendance
• Creative avatars

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Bottom Line
This is important
This is engaging
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What to do

• Go to secondlife.com
• create an account
• download the program
• Go to 2nd Life
• install the program
• log on
• complete the orientation program
• explore

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Thank you!

• Visit us in Second Life atIllinois State
  Universitys Geo Island!
• 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