Kansas immersive education conference 2011

Rich White - Greenbush Educational Service District

[email protected]

Rosemary Talab - Kansas State University

[email protected]

Purposes

• Purpose – Leadership for at-risk rural middle school leadership-capable students and their teachers (October 2010-April 2011)

• Goal – To experience a more realistic approach to STEM subjects through immersive environments

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Methodology

• Qualitative Data Sources:– In-person class and distance observations– Two teacher focus groups (3 and 4)– Two student focus groups (3 and 3)– Four teacher/facilitator/principal semi-

structured interviews– Five student semi-structured interviews– Images, documents, student artifacts

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Activities

• Read Seven habits of highly effective leaders

• Explore and build in Scratch, Edusim/OpenCobalt, OpenSim

• Learn STEM subjects through project-based learning inworld

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Activities Timeline

• October 12th: Introduction to the Technology - MSLA Social NetworkAccount Setup , Scratch, Edusim/OpenCobalt, OpenSim

• November 16th: Scratch - Generative Art & Game Building Exercises

• January 12th - Introduction to Opensim & Edusim/OpenCobalt

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Activities Timeline

• Feb 9th: Create “Me” Museum in Edusim/OpenCobalt – via Adobe Connect & inworld)

• March 9th:Collaborative Pyramid Building on GreenbushGrid (Opensim) & Edusim/OpenCobalt Tools (Objects & Images)

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Tools

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Scratch

Tools

My Avatar

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Tools

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Greenbush Social Network

Tools

• Greenbush Grid

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Tools

• Whiteboard

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January 12th

– OpenSim/Greenbush Grid, the menus, and adding in-world resources

• Imported pictures• Created objects with 3D sketch tool

-- Introduction to Opensim & Edusim/ OpenCobalt

• Built a building with in-world tools – • Used simple shapes & textures

Avatar Skills

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Building with Texture

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February 9th

• Create “Me” Museum in Edusim/OpenCobalt – via Adobe Connect & inworld)– Students in home districts watching the

instruction remotely

– Students constructed “Me Museum” of their interests, family, friends, and school

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Building with Roof

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Building with Floor and Lights

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Building with Roof, Lights, Door

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March 9th

• Collaborative Pyramid Building on GreenbushGrid{Opensim} & wrapping up the Edusim-Cobalt tools introductions– Edusim-Cobalt - Students created avatar of

their own picture, and– In-world billboard of their picture, – Drew a “pet” for their building using the 3D

painter (pictures attached)

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Red and Blue Team Competition

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Completion

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Room with Pet

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Room with Pet and Picture

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Student - Final Comments

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Tips for Teaching STEM InWorld

• Inworld STEM:

• Was enjoyable for all students • Was more motivating than realworld STEM for

those who did not like STEM subjects• Was particularly so when:

– Teams were involved in collaborative competition– Students could design graphics, games, etc., of their

own design

• Most students found Scratch enjoyable

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• Draw linkages between in-world and realworld STEM applications. Students do not always see this.

• Gender differences applied:– Girls enjoyed collaborative and drawing

activities more– Boys enjoyed collaborative and competitive

activities more– More boys enjoyed building than girls

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• Students need:– An agenda – Written explanations of in-world activities and

their STEM purposes– Re-teaching (spiraling)– Individual review opportunities (videotaped

sessions or other means)– Explanations of how in-world STEM is used

for realworld STEM purposes

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Resources

• 1) Scratch– http://info.scratch.mit.edu/About_Scratch

• 2) My Avatar – http://www.myavatareditor.com/

• 3) Greenbush Grid– Imprudence Viewer Download for Mac and PC– http://roots.greenbush.us/3/wordpress/?p=1214

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Resources

• 4) CSI Greenbush/avatar navigation controls– http://grid.greenbush.us/CSI_world/

CSI_introduction2.mp4• 5) Whiteboard for In-World Audio

– http://labs.greenbush.us/whiteboard.php?room=hpkvd2

– http://www.youtube.com/ImmersiveED#p/u/4/9HYH1yB2D2g

– See video of the whiteboard

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