The AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community in Second Life

Presented by Lisa Perez (Av: Elaine Tulip)Chicago Public Schools Dept of Libraries

ISTE SIGMS Chair

AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community

• Chosen as a PD delivery technology because

–ISTE & ALA already use SL extensively

–Synchronous–Immersive environment supports a

sense of community

AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community

–Non-geographically dependent–Easy to learn for this purpose–Can provide sustained, frequent PD

in a learning community environment.

Learning Community Format

• Monthly drop-in orientation meetings to learn basics of SL

• Monthly learning community meetings featuring guest facilitators who are recognized leaders in school librarianship– One hour, 15 – 20 min

lecture followed by group discussion

– Hybrid voice/text chat

Joyce Valenza – Web 2.0 for Librarians

David Loertscher – “The New Learning Commons – Where People Win”

Rhonda Trueman – “Virtual Libraries in Second Life”

David Warlick – “Cultivating a Personal Learning Network”

Mike Eisenburg – “The Crisis Facing School Libraries and Librarians”

Chris Smith – “Keeping Current in a Global Environment” (Thailand)

Jon Mueller – “Assessing Critical Skills”

Will Richardson – “Googled Well: Helping Our Kids Lead Transparent Lives”

Marla McGhee & Barbara Jansen – “Keeping School Libraries Relevant in the

Age of Accountability”

Doug Johnson – “Are You a Format Bigot?”

Bernajean Porter – “Book Trailers – Seen Any Good Books Lately?”

Ernie Cox & Linda Braun – “Professional Communication Tools”

Banned Book Week – “School Librarian Discussions”

LIS Students in Second Life

Emporia State University - Rob Panache w/Rocky Vallejo, Cindy Elkhart and Elaine Tulip

University of Maryland – Meredith Dreamscape and Elaine Tulip

Winter Shopping Spree – Extreme Avatar Makeover

Our Students Are In Virtual Worlds

Source: http://www.kzero.co.uk/radar.php

TIPS for

Success

Making a Learning Community Work• Keep the focus on the profession, NOT the

technology• Set up a planning committee• Establish regular meeting patterns &

orientation sessions• Communicate broadly• Share responsibility, take breaks• Follow up with asynchronous discussion• Keep it fun and stay flexible

Locating and Preparing Guest Facilitators

• Go primarily with well-known guests who are leaders in the field.

• Help new guest facilitators set up an account and prepare their avatars

• Practice in advance• Set deadlines for receiving files and stage the

items in advance – slideshow, notecard givers/notecards, pictures

Marketing the Learning Community• Form appropriate organizational alliances• Create a communication plan to include

listservs, nings, wikis, and other social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

• Create expectation of future meetings• Enlist colleagues to spread the word• Take pictures of events and post to Flickr• Blog about the events – create a history

Technical Expertise Needed

Participants• Practice in movement and

communications in 2nd Life• Headset/mic; practice with

using voice• Understanding of how to

access chat history• Understanding of camera

movement

Organizers• Uploading slides and

inserting in slide viewer• Voice control options• How to take photos• How to create objects and

insert scripts to launch URLs and give notecards

• How to create signage• Understanding of groups

and group permissions

Measuring Our SuccessWhat worked…

• Meetings are usually a success – on topic and rich interaction

• Good documentation of our meetings

• Few technical problems• Strong support for

newcomers

What needs improvement…

• Spread leadership of virtual learning community

• Continue to increase attendance

• Look at holding other events

How to Join Our Learning Community

• Hear about our monthly meetings at– ISTE SIGMS listserv– AASL listserv– LM_NET– LinkedIn – sigms group– Twitter @ sigms and leperez1– Facebook group – sigms– ISTE Community ning (SIGMS group)– Teacher Librarian ning

Plans for the 2010-11 School Year

• Continue to engage the planning committee• Spread leadership more broadly• Continue to attract leaders in school

librarianship and educational technology to be guest facilitators

• Continue periodic orientation• Continue to expand the learning community

ContactLisa Perez

Chicago Public Schools Dept of LibrariesAvatar: Elaine Tulip

Twitter: leperez1FacebookLinkedIn

Blog: http://www.3dlibrarian.com