NMC Campus Observer

Great Discussion on Challenges / Solutions for SL Teaching

CDB Barkley (aka Alan Levine) : Jan 9, 2008 07:03am

We had a great turnout (30+) at the Muriel Cooper Coliseum for the first of a 2-part discussion on Challenges & Solutions for Teaching in SL. Our panel in the middle of the “ring” were students this past semester to from Mali Young (aka Lisa Dawley)’s EDTECH 597: Teaching & Learning in Second Life class (Boise State University, EDTECH Island). There were here to share their findings summarized in a summary article.

In an appropriate mix if interaction, we had a lot of back and forth by chat, and a few of the students used SL voice, and for Jeremy Braver, even got piped in from bridging through Skype. The technology itself was a piece of this discussion, but certainly not all of it.

Dalai Haskell had his session organized in an interesting manner- a pre-recorded podcast was transmitted though hi SL voice, while colleague Severus Spyker was pasting the text from a transcript. Dalai spoke of the different modes of communication in SL, playing off the voice versus text chat issues. In being prepared to teach, it is good to outline the central points of a lesson and supporting details so that they can be copied into a chat window or handed off in a note card.

This works best when the anticipation is teaching in voice but the possibility of teaching to some in text. In group teaching, voice can work as the primary method. One solution is to assign someone to act as scribe and translator.

See below for a podcast of Dalai’s section as well as another one recorded from Jeremy Braver talking about ushering in new students. Sunshine Sparrow provided an example of a t-shirt activity.

Dalai Haskell Speaks on Challenges/Solutuions

Jeremy Braver speaks on Challenges/Solutions

We have an entire chat log saved for those wishing to follow the action.
chat log transcript for whole session.

Our thanks again to everyone who showed up and to the group of colleagues who took the time to share their work and ideas. But wait, it’s not over!

Tomorrow we re-convene with another set of students, and it will likely be a completely different event. Join us at January 9, 2008, 12:00 PM PST (check for local time) with panelists:

• Eric Miner
• Helen Farley canceled due to illness
• Mauri Collins
• Ann Jeffrey
• Randall Holmes

The energy was high, the sharing sincere, and a lot of light-hearted fun.

Story filed under: Teaching and Learning

See all stories by CDB Barkley (aka Alan Levine)