technology

Second Life Glitch?

Tried to spend some time in Second Life but couldn't go anywhere and couldn't see friends online - the major thing I look for when I jump in . . . .  hmmmmm . .  .  as if there wasn't an online life before Second Life . . . .

Archives, Manuscripts, and Technology

This Cliopatria entry contains a good discussion of print and digital records and another positive from the concept of wikipedia entries. (I find it interesting that Typepad underlines both Typepad and wikipedia as possible misspellings . . . . )

It reminds me of the 20 million emails (not counting attachments) in the Clinton Library. What is the story we are missing as we move forward - or will an overwhelming amount of information just obscure the real story anyway?

Boston in Second Life

KJ mentioned a Boston Globe article about this sim and the controversy (?) surrounding it. Here's the comment I left there:

As someone interested in utilizing Second Life to help students and teacher experience history in a new and intriguing way, this is exactly the type of sim I’m interested in exploring. It sounds similar to what has been done with the Shakespearan era and the more modern Capitol Hill spot. I hear that there is a Harlem Renaissance project under development also.

Just like in-class simulations do or, better yet, taking students and teachers to a Boston or a Colonial Williamsburg, many forget that a large number of people may never be able to get there.

On the other side of the coin, experiencing these sims may actually get them there.

From a pedagogical angle, having the opportunity to interact with historic characters who not only look like the historical figure - which in RL is only sometimes possible given how different people look, clothing available, etc., (not to mention funding) - but can act and interact like the historical figure - is exactly what I am hoping for the potential of Second Life.

These “two sides” of Second Life can co-exist quite easily - if you don’t like a representation of RL, just don’t go there.

We’re taking a group of history grant teachers to Boston in 2 years and this will be another pull to get them into Second Life. As can be expected, the younger ones jumped right in, the older teachers are trying to figure out what the point is (social interaction doesn’t seem to be enough at this point).

We took a different group to Boston earlier this summer and the types of things they noticed such as historical figures walking around and experiencing the places where history happened is part of the great experience SL can bring to their world in Kansas. Folks who do not travel a lot do not always know it is possible and/or are concerned about the unknown. This Boston sim will bring the rest of the world one step closer to them.

Second Life and Disabilities

The July 30 Newsweek has a series of articles on Second Life and one of the videos featured on the web explores Wheelies  - run by a man with cerebral palsy. The significance of this is that it explores the possibilities - esp. for social interaction - for those that are disabled. (the author also mentioned those in urban settings who are often, in fact, quite isolated.)

She asked him why he kept his wheelchair and he said it was part of his identity. But, I'm wondering what possibilities SL offers for disabled students to feel less "contained."

Another university in Second Life

The University of New Orleans will be offering classes this fall in Second Life. One of the newsletters I subscribe to alerted me to this and it will be interesting to follow - especially given that my pre-service teachers will be involved in Second Life this fall. I'm anxious to see if your campus computers will allow us to access Second Life. Worst case, I make it an optional requirement although most will be able to access it from home.

I'm anxious to post more of my reflective practice about what we had teachers doing over the last two weeks and what I plan to explore before the new academic year starts. Additionally, there are some sites to research for some publication opportunities - which rank high on the list in a few weeks. Still catching up on a few things.

I'm also looking forward to the new academic year bringing folks back to a regular virtual presence in SL. The last few times I've gone in, not many have been there and it's just not as interesting without people. It's almost another tool like IM but, yet, much more.

Campfires in Second Life

I was able to jump back into Second Life again - have only had time for sporadic visits during the teacher institute the last two weeks. I met at the Elven Institute about coordinating educational efforts throughout Second Life. They had us meet outside around a campfire - a virtual campfire, that is. It's an interesting way to get a group together to talk - as contrasted to a classroom setting or everyone bumping into each other standing in a circle. I'll get back there more this week.

The grant teachers dove into Google Docs, wikispaces.com, blogging and a few even made it all the way into Second Life. I'll detail more later but it will be interesting to see how they utilize these social networking tools throughout the year. The ultimate goal is for them to use them - at least at this point - rather than worrying about using them in their teaching - there are still too many obstacles given administrator, school board, and parent fears. More controls will have to be put into place to protect children (even teenagers who don't realize they are still vulnerable). My prediction is that organizations like Greenbush will launch their own Second Life-like servers around which they can control access and keep out potential predators and/or griefers.

KellyKate Flanagan at Bloggers Cafe

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Thanks, Ryan!

Bloggers' Cafe - Thanks, Ex!

Ryan (Existential Paine in SL) has done a great job getting the Bloggers' Cafe ready. I visited there tonight and he has a great collection of pictures on the cafe wall with links to everyone's blogs - what a fantastic idea. He'll email me a copy of the picture he took of me (my first in SL) and I'll post it here later.

We'll get the teachers in our workshop in SL this week. Am still thinking of strategies to make it more successful. Several I think will jump right in.

The July 23 issue of BusinessWeek had an article about Widgets being the third generation - after URLs and search.

Have been doing a bit more work with Google Docs and Picassa to implement them with teachers - too much of the actual transfer work was falling on me and the technology glitches and lack of time just prevented it from getting done.

One of our Teacher Leadership Team members is in SL as a Kerrigan - but I will have to find the slip of paper with her name on it to find her. Should be fun - she'll do great things with SL given her work as a curriculum technology specialist. She'll love getting to know Kathy Shrock (Kathy Dryburg in SL).

Thanks, Ex!!!

Breaking Past the SL Plateau

The last few times I've been in SL, there hasn't been much going on - just hitting the wrong times plus the holiday.

Today I hit the jackpot twice - both Prof Fred and later on, KJ. Prof and I talked about a potentially interesting joint project and, as always, I met some new people through KJ at ISTE Island and we did a quick building session. Although I did get in trouble from Kristy Flanagan for not doing my homework from our previous building session. It's not like it's the only thing I'm behind on.

Earlier this week, I did some serious websurfing about some research and am looking forward to reading more about the cutting edge work on history education and the science of teaching and learning.

Teacher workshops start Monday and there is travel to KC tomorrow so posting will most likely be light for the next two weeks.