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VIRTUAL WORLDSVIRTUAL WORLDSSecond LifeSecond Life

Nelba QuintanaNelba Quintana

Jennifer VerschoorJennifer Verschoor

Kip YellowjacketKip Yellowjacket

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What are virtual worldsWhat are virtual worlds??

A A virtual worldvirtual world is a computer based is a computer based simulated environment intended for its simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via users to inhabit and interact via avatarsavatars (a computer representation of (a computer representation of a usera user). ).

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The most Popular:The most Popular:Second LifeSecond Life

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A bit of information...A bit of information...

It was opened to the public in 2003It was opened to the public in 2003 It has grown explovsivelyIt has grown explovsively It is entirely built and owned by its It is entirely built and owned by its

residents.residents. Requirements: download the program for Requirements: download the program for

free , certain hardware and connection free , certain hardware and connection conditions.conditions.

66AVATARS

People = Avatars

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How to start in SL?How to start in SL?

Probably the best thing to do is explore Probably the best thing to do is explore Second Life, visit existing areas set aside Second Life, visit existing areas set aside for educational projects and talk to other for educational projects and talk to other educatorseducators

e.g: ISTE islande.g: ISTE island

http://edumuve.com/tour/iste-island/http://edumuve.com/tour/iste-island/

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The importance of being The importance of being an Avataran Avatar

Choosing the Choosing the appearanceappearance of one’s of one’s avatar as an educator is not so simple. avatar as an educator is not so simple.

We must take into consideration this We must take into consideration this question:question:

What is an appropriate professional avatar What is an appropriate professional avatar appearance for educationappearance for education?  ? 

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What is a appropriate What is a appropriate professional avatar appearance professional avatar appearance

for education?for education?    ““A lot depends on the nature of the courseA lot depends on the nature of the course. I . I would say that extremes in would say that extremes in

whatever direction should be avoided both by teachers and students.whatever direction should be avoided both by teachers and students.As a free-lance language teacher working in-company as well as doing As a free-lance language teacher working in-company as well as doing private tutoring, I often tend to look formal.”private tutoring, I often tend to look formal.”

How can the ability to alter avatar How can the ability to alter avatar appearance be used as a teaching appearance be used as a teaching

tool?  tool?     ““Being able to change the avatar’s appearance is a wonderful “tool” for Being able to change the avatar’s appearance is a wonderful “tool” for

role-play activities to make avatars feel and look more real and thus help role-play activities to make avatars feel and look more real and thus help to find into one’s role. “ Prof. Nergiz Kern ( Daffodil Fargiz in SL)to find into one’s role. “ Prof. Nergiz Kern ( Daffodil Fargiz in SL)

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MOVEMENTSMOVEMENTS

Teachers and students need to Teachers and students need to be familiar with avatars’ be familiar with avatars’ movements: walking, turning, movements: walking, turning, stopping, flying, landing, sitting, stopping, flying, landing, sitting, jumping, teleporting.jumping, teleporting.

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Need some guidance? Need some guidance?

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorialshttp://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorials http://npirl.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-every-http://npirl.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-every-

second-life-newbie-should.htmlsecond-life-newbie-should.html http://www.sltutorials.net/http://www.sltutorials.net/ http://dennisintro2sl.pbwiki.com/http://dennisintro2sl.pbwiki.com/ http://slurl.wikispaces.com/tipshttp://slurl.wikispaces.com/tips

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Educational Educational Uses of Uses of Second LifeSecond Life

“ “ Second Life is completely Second Life is completely user-generated 3D user-generated 3D environment that comes environment that comes with relatively easy-to-use with relatively easy-to-use building and scripting building and scripting tools that anyone can tools that anyone can learn. This makes it an learn. This makes it an idealideal platformplatform for for engaging students in engaging students in creating their own learning creating their own learning activities, experiences and activities, experiences and environments, and not just environments, and not just be passive consumers of be passive consumers of learning.”learning.”

Jo KayJo Kay (jokay) (jokay)

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Why is SL so innovative?Why is SL so innovative?

Provides ideal environments in which to Provides ideal environments in which to work because objects and people may work because objects and people may react as in real life.react as in real life.

Allows the combination of real-life Allows the combination of real-life classes and inside SL.classes and inside SL.

Offers the possibility of combining Offers the possibility of combining different types of media .different types of media .

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Teaching “How to buy clothes” in Ciudad Bonita-Language Lab Sim

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Teaching “The Alphabet”

Calisto’s sim

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Camito sim where you can learn how to dance tango

Ciudad Bonita looks like a Spanish city

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Kip Yellowjacket’s sim

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UADE (Argentinian University of Business) sim

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Reflections of an expertReflections of an expert

Synchronous teachingSynchronous teaching Teachers need to create materials- new Teachers need to create materials- new

challengechallenge Interaction between Avatars Interaction between Avatars Available educational tools Available educational tools

(projectors,givers, games,etc.)(projectors,givers, games,etc.)

Prof. Dafne Gonzales (Alias Daf Smirnov in SL) Prof. Dafne Gonzales (Alias Daf Smirnov in SL)