Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

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Using OpenSimulator inK-12 Schools

David W. Deeds

OpenSimulator Community Conference

November 9, 2014


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Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools

Welcome! Im determined that this session wontbe Death by PowerPoint!

Ill do a quick introduction and then present some

questions to choose from.

Or you can ask your own. Ill start with thequestions from this mornings OpenSimulator

K-12 Power Panel in case you missed it.

Ready? Here we go!


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Introduction

Been using VWs since 2006, started using

OpenSimulator in 2009 with switch to K-12

international schools

Have managed my own grid, plus used hosts:ReactionGrid, Dreamland Metaverse, Kitely

(and VIBE)


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Introduction

Have taken 200+ kids inworld, K to 12 (triedPre-K too)!

Georgia, China, Mexico and now Im the High

School Technology Integration Coach for theAmerican School of Guatemala


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Introduction

Published OpenSimulator: School Quick StartGuide in 2011, one day Ill get around to the

Second Edition! Lots of outdated information, but still some

good stuff:http://www.nmc.org/pdf/OpenSimulator-

School-Quick-Start-Guide.pdf


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OpenSimulator K-12 Power Panel Questions:

1. What makes an effective virtual world learning

activity?

2. What makes young students excited to be in

virtual worlds?3. What are the advantages of having ones own

grid and how do you effectively manage it?4. How do you get others to engage in virtual

worlds teaching?

One or more of these?


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Frequently Asked Questions

5. How do I get virtual worlds started at my school?

6. What can you teach using virtual worlds?

7. Does this meet Common Core or other standards?

8. How do you assess virtual world activities?

9. Can virtual worlds be used for training teachers?10.How does this compare to Games-Based Learning

or gamification?

One or more of these?


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1. What makes an effective virtual world learning

activity?

Skeleton lesson plans: just enough structure

to keep students focused on objectives

Differentiation so that students can succeed

on individual and/or team basis Connect, communicate and collaborate

Task-based exercises and project management IB Design Cycle: Investigate, Design, Plan,

Create and Evaluate (also Attitudes)

Everything is project-based: No tests!


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2. What makes young students excited to be in

virtual worlds?

Being in charge of own learning experience

Programming with instant payoff/gratification

Cross-curricular or interdisciplinary activities(connections with lessons in other subjects)

Wide variety of tools put to practical use:

graphics, sound, etc. Freedom to create, (virtually) without limits

Ability to simulate impossible gadgets/gizmos

Making machinima (3D cartoons/movies)


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3. What are the advantages of having ones own

grid and how do you effectively manage it?

Locally managed grid means free usage, abilityto not worry about Internet connection

Complete security, at cost of inability to

hypergrid to other grids, interact with others

Sells virtual world concept to nervous parents

and administrators re: little munchkins Total control over parameters such as prim size

Mainly a matter of managing OARs: saving andloading for different classes


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4. How do you get others to engage in virtual

worlds teaching?

Best if IB (or IB-style) cross-curricular or

interdisciplinary instruction is a goal Start with easiest sell: Art teacher for inworld

gallery, Music teacher for inworld concert

Usually after students start using it, word of

mouth will get other teachers curious Conduct demos for teachers of other subjects

according to their interests (e.g., Math)

Request virtual field trips to education sims


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5. How do I get virtual worlds started at my

school?

Best is to start with free local grid or cheapest

possible host company, pay for it yourself

Dont try to explain too much in advance(better to seek forgiveness than permission)

Could start with education-specific game like

MinecraftEdu and let kids do the sales job

Start with easiest sell, usually IT Teacher Another angle is to introduce it as the best way

to teach programming (as part of STEM)


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6. What can you teach using virtual worlds?

Obvious: Computer-Aided Design (CAD),

programming, project management

Teamwork, communication, collaboration Self-reliance, being in charge of learning

Good way to introduce student-centered

learning as concept, also 3D printing

Subjects: IT, Math, Science, Art, Music,Languages, even Literature

Other tools: Graphics, 3D Modelers (e.g.,

Sketchup), Sound and Music Production


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7. Does this meet Common Core or other

standards?

Honestly dont know about Common Core, VIBE

folks about to embark on that project Have created IT curriculum that met rigorous

International Baccalaureate standards

Middle Years Program (MYP) at first, with

reliance on Design Cycle, extrapolated toPrimary Years and Diploma Programs (PYP, DP)

If World of Warcraft curriculum can meet

Common Core standards, so can OpenSimulator


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8. How do you assess virtual world activities?

IB Way: Each phase of the Design Cycle

(Investigate, Design, Plan, Create and Evaluate)

has rubric scaled according to performance

Again, no tests: everything is project based

IB includes Attitudes, can adopt as rubric

category: Teamwork, Collaboration, etc.

Let students evaluate each other onperformance, e.g., contributing to team effort Keep daily plus or minus sheet to track

formative assessment, ends in summative


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9. Can virtual worlds be used for training teachers?

Absolutely! All skills students can learn are

valuable to teachers too, tangible (e.g.,

programming) to intangible (e.g., collaboration) Great for getting teachers into cross-curricular

or interdisciplinary instruction mode

Also great for transitioning teachers from tests

to projects, grades to rubrics Best way is to train teachers and students

simultaneously, with this and/or games

Show teachers that learning can be FUN!


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10.How does this compare to Games-Based

Learning or gamification?

It is Games-Based Learning, just without the

shootings and obvious levels (external XP)

Goals and milestones are within the game buttied to class or other external objectives

Easier to convince skeptical administrators and

parents that this is a learning environment

Is gamification in the sense that a lesson planis tied to achieving goals and winning contests

Team efforts compare well to all games

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If youd like an OpenSimulator grid for your

school, you could do it yourself.

Or you could contact Dreamland Metaverse:

[email protected]

Or Kitely: www.kitely.com

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Thank you for (virtually) attending!

Questions/Comments?

[email protected]@gmail.com

Follow my Scoop.it page:

http://www.scoop.it/t/3d-virtual-worlds-

educational-technology

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Using OpenSimulator in K-12 Schools