David W. Deeds, IT Manager/Teacher Changchun American International School (CAIS) AACE Global Learn Asia Pacific: March 30, 2011.

David W. Deeds, IT Manager/TeacherChangchun American International School

(CAIS)AACE Global Learn Asia Pacific: March 30, 2011

Establishing 3D Virtual World Presences for the International Baccalaureate’s Teachers,

Administrators and Students

Establishing VWs for the IBCan’t possibly make it through all these slides

and do live demos and/or machinima too! Get the slides for later reference from me or

via: www.indeeds.com or www.slideshare.net.Not a technical presentation. Get the “OpenSim

101” slides. Or “Getting Your Cyberturf” subset.

CAIS is an IB World school but I do not represent the IB and this is not an official IB presentation.

Establishing VWs for the IBInternational Baccalaureate

(Organization):Non-profit educational foundation3,000+ schools; 900,000+ students; 140

countries3 major centers: Asia-Pacific; Americas;

Africa, Europe, Middle East3 programs: Primary Years Program

(PYP); Middle Years Program (MYP);Diploma Program (DP)

Establishing VWs for the IBInternational Baccalaureate:DP: “Java Course” plus Information

Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)MYP has 8 subject areas: Technology

and the less important ones (known as “those others”)

MYP: Separate Information Technology and Design Technology tracks

PYP: Technology classes not mandatory; at CAIS 2-3 classes per cycle

Establishing VWs for the IBIB Virtual Community:Launched in 2010 with partner ePalsEach school has IBVC rep (yes, I’m it for

CAIS)“IB Ning”: groups; forums; wikis; etc.Users empowered with creating: groups;

forums; wikis; etc.3 languages: English; Spanish; French“Open” alternative to the Online

Curriculum Center (OCC)

Establishing VWs for the IB3 C’s: Connect, Communicate,

Collaborate!(The IBVC is a great first – 2D – step.

The next step is 3D…virtual worlds…3 C’s + Classes!)

Establishing VWs for the IBASMeB = Anti Social Media Behavior2D tools (wikis, blogs, etc.) enable the

3 C’s…people just won’t/don’t do itFacebook Phobia: people lose jobs for

posting: photographs; opinions; etc.Privacy concerns; awareness of

permanence; hesitation to write in general

Exchanges are generally asynchronous

Innovative? Interesting? FUN?

Establishing VWs for the IBGeneric IB Problems:Schools are geographically separated,

isolatedInformation/Design Technology splitTeaching 21st century tech: teachers,

budgets

Specific 3 C’s Problems:Students aren’t necessarily fluent in LOI2D tools are limited: subjects especially! Privacy; permanence; ASMeB; FUN?

Establishing VWs for the IBThe answer:

3D Virtual Worlds!

Establishing VWs for the IBSecond Life and OpenSim:

Built-in computer-aided design (3D modeling) tools: students build their own worlds

Built-in Linden Scripting Language: students easily learn programming with instant payoff

Project management: students must work together in teams with defined roles and responsibilities

Language exchange programs: virtual field trips!

Establishing VWs for the IBSecond Life: Teachers/Administrators & Students

16+:

Teachers/administrators can attend meetings and otherwise network with professional peers

Students can produce products and run their own businesses, making actual profits if successful

Teachers/administrators can recruit and otherwise advertise their organizations

Students can visit the cybercampuses of universities or colleges they want to attend

Establishing VWs for the IBOpenSim: Teachers/Administrators & Students 3-

19:

With grid, teachers/administrators can do everything possible in Second Life, except perhaps economics

Students can enjoy completely private regions/grids while intermittently going on virtual field trips

Technology classes can feature true continuity: students starting as of PYP could be professional builders/programmers by DP

Younger students learn all computer basics plus advanced aspects such as project management

Establishing VWs for the IBProblems? What problems? Geographic location/isolation no longer a factor

(except for time zones). Virtual China or Italy “next door”!

Information and Design Technology tracks combined!21st century educational technology at $100 a month,

with teachers and students training simultaneously!3D enables struggling students to succeed, while

native speakers excel: ultimate differentiated classroom!

Avatars are anonymous; people talk, not write; no such thing as ASMeB; and yes, it’s FUN!

Establishing VWs for the IBImagine 3,000 schools united via a

common IB Grid. Teachers, administrators and students connecting,

communicating and collaborating!

Establishing VWs for the IBOur Goal(s):

1. Create an IB Grid (or International School Grid) via OpenSim

2. Create an IB Island or Islands in Second Life (International School Islands already inworld)!

#1 is most important!

Establishing VWs for the IBAfter this conference, CAIS – along with

business partners and organizations willing to assist us – will submit a formal proposal to the IB re: creating the IB Grid. Who wants to help? Grants? Research?

We can proceed with any/all international schools interested in joining and then the IB schools can establish a special grid later.

Establishing VWs for the IB“As co-founder of Flat Classroom(tm) Projects I see

huge potential in the use of virtual worlds for students and teachers to meet both together and separately. This is the next frontier in the classroom, it is a medium to teach digital citizenship skills while connecting, communicating and collaborating with others. In addition, the ability to create new structures and interactive items has enormous possibility for embedding into our IB curriculum. Once again this is action-based, student-centred learning, not passive. I look forward to potentially piloting my ITGS class immersed in a virtual world next year!”

– Julie Lindsay, E-Learning Coordinator, Beijing International School

Establishing VWs for the IB“Western Academy of Beijing would support

this idea [of creating an IB or International School Grid]. It is my feeling that students understanding and participating in virtual world activities can, if done well, promote student learning and allow them to understand how to successfully communicate and collaborate in ways that will become a normal part of their lives.”

– Jeffrey Holte, Educational Technology Director, Western Academy of Beijing

Establishing VWs for the IB“Pedagogically, virtual worlds provide an

opportunity for students and teachers to interact in a way that is not affected by appearance, location or culture. People are known for their ideas not their status.

Practically, virtual worlds allow individuals from around the world to meet and discuss ideas in a common environment. This provides a forum for better understanding others, which in turn leads to a better understanding of mankind in general.”

– Dr. Leigh Zeitz, Instructional Technology Professor, University of Northern Iowa

Establishing VWs for the IB"...3D realities [are] collaborative

learning environments...inherently...and no matter what learning goal is intended, students instantly respond to the ‘world building’ aspect of virtual realities by framing their learning around group information seeking.“

– Beth Sachtjen, Virtual World Developer, New Media Consortium

Establishing VWs for the IB"Because Second Life gives me a feeling of

presence, it has become a significant part of my professional learning community. I have teacher friends from all over the world, most of whom I’ll never see, and I share with them inworld activities...[which] have had direct impact on my students. It has opened me to knowledge of tools and applications for education that I wouldn’t have discovered on my own. This resource would knock down walls for so many other teachers!”

– Kim Harrison, Computer Resource Specialist, Indian Lakes Elementary School, Virginia

Establishing VWs for the IB“[With 3D virtual worlds] I can connect with people

all over the world without leaving the classroom! And I’m really communicating… talking with them…while we are working together toward a common goal. Wikis and blogs are just texting. You can’t design and create a building with a wiki or a blog!”

– Yvette Yuan, CAIS MYP5 Student“I didn’t understand why we have a Design Cycle

until we started working in Caisland. Now I can use what I know about project management in my other subjects.”

– Ling Hua (“Oscar”) Gao, CAIS MYP5 Student

Establishing VWs for the IB“[3D virtual worlds] are AWESOME! You get to

do so many interesting things. I always thought learning programming would be boring, but now I can’t wait to try new scripts to make my creations do different stuff! Building is fun, too. I want to be a professional 3D designer after I finish school so I can make virtual world fashions! And I never liked working together with the whole class until we started doing this. Now I want to work together with everybody around the world!”

– Jorgette Rojas, CAIS MYP5 Student

Establishing VWs for the IBMore information:2011 Horizon Report:

http://www.nmc.org/publications/2011-horizon-report

“The Second Life Grid: The Official Guide to Communication, Collaboration and Community Engagement” by Kimberly Rufer-Bach, Wiley Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-470-41291-6

“Learning and Teaching in the Virtual World of Second Life” (edited) by Judith Molka-Danielsen, Tapir Academic Press,ISBN: 978-82-519-2353-8

Establishing VWs for the IBMore information:“Learning Online with Games,

Simulations and Virtual Worlds” by Clark Aldrich, Jossey-Bass, ISBN: 978-0-470-43834-3

“Learning in 3D” by Karl Kapp, Pfeiffer Publishing, ISBN: 978-0470504734

“The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education” by Curtis J. Bonk, Jossey-Bass, ISBN: 978-0470461303

Establishing VWs for the IBMore information:“The Entrepreneur's Guide to Second Life:

Making Money in the Metaverse” by Daniel Terdiman, Wiley Press, ISBN: 978-0470179147

“A Practical Guide to Using Second Life in Higher Education” by Maggi Savin-Baden, ISBN: 978-0335242146

“Cutting-Edge Social Media Approaches to Business Education” by Charles Wankel, Information Age, ISBN: 978-1617351167

Establishing VWs for the IBMore information:“Higher Education in Virtual Worlds” by

Charles Wankel, Emerald Group Publishing, ISBN: 978-1849506090

“Empowering Students with Technology” by Alan November, Corwin Press, ISBN: 978-1412974257

“Training and Collaboration with Virtual Worlds” by Alex Heiphetz, McGraw-Hill, ISBN: 978-0071628020

Establishing VWs for the IBConnect/Communicate/Collaborate?Research project with

university/organization?Other IB/international schools interested? IBVC: ibo.epals.comGroups: 3D Virtual Worlds: Second Life and

3D Virtual Worlds: OpenSimRezEd: www.rezedhub.ning.comClassroom 2.0: www.classroom20.comOther ning/wiki/blog? Or use Teaching in

Second Life, Caisland in ReactionGrid?

Thank you…

Establishing VWs for the IB

Establishing VWs for the IBThank you for your attention! Questions/Comments?

David W. Deeds, Ph.D.Work: +86-431-8458-1234, [email protected]: +86-186-8668-4534,

[email protected] & LinkedIn: David W. DeedsSkype: davidwdeeds, Twitter: dwdeedsSecond Life: Deed Davids (visit Teaching!) ReactionGrid: Deed Davids (visit Caisland!)