2019 #VWEDU: BIZ: We can bring schools into OpenSim. Not just people. Whole campuses full of people.

We can bring schools into OpenSim.  
Not just people.  
Whole campuses full of people.

OpenSim and web-worlds can support virtual campuses online. Such a campus would be managed by the school.  The OpenSim or web-world "grid"would only provide hosting.

Writers meet to share their work

Yes, there is research

• Scholars use MUVE to refer to a virtual world
• Scholarly articles on MUVEs
• Mostly about the use of MUVEs in education. 

Bringing in a campus is not like bringing in people

• For openers,a school would bring in students by the hundreds.  
• If the school found the arrangement useful, it could bring in thousands.
• But bringing in students requires special arrangements: 
• Batch registration. A specialized viewer.  A private grid.
• You need a private grid to separate your school from adult activities

Marketing to schools is not marketing to people.  

• Schools have special needs.  But those needs are similar across schools.
• Thus meeting the needs of schools could be profitable.

An online campus is not an online class

• A physical campus is not just for holding classes.
• Students meet outside of class for collaboration, socializing, etc.
• I won't expand on the etc. but the other things can have major educational value.

No, you don't need that thing over your eyes

• Those are expensive.  You just need a computer screen.
• You get a picture you can walk through and look around in. 
• It is much like the sense of 3D you get in a movie.
• Where they also don't wear things over their eyes.   

• #VWEDU update 6/13/2019 Writers on the MUVEs, Teams for education

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Author's note

• I know from informal conversations that there are virtual schools in development.
• I would like cite references, but these are not yet available.  
• I am hopeful that some reports will come out in the next few months.
• Meanwhile I an here reporting on what a MUVE-based campus would need.
• And on infrastructure developments aimed at meeting those needs.

Needs for bringing students into a MUVE

Batch registration

• New educational term: Batch Registration: for schools and organizations in virtual worlds

• CybaLOUNGE: credentials: Batch-Registration for Students

A specialized viewer

• SceneGate: updating the strawman model for education
• Schools want a viewer that carries the school's logo and news. 
• Schools want a viewer that Is accessed on the school's web site.

A grid managed by the school

• A school wants to manage its own campus.  
• It wants to control who comes there and where they can go.
• It wants to control what activities are associated with its campus
• Kitely announces virtual campuses for schools (and other organizations): Virtual worlders would say private grids.
• Kitely offers themed "grids". Independent websites using Kitely tech but managed by an organization

Onboarding the student: the basics for students.

• Log on and off
• Move the avatar locally: walk, fly
• Use view control:  Zoom, cam around
• Interact with things: Sit, stand, activate (click or hover)
• Interact with people:  Identify, find, friend 
• Communicate: Typed chat, voice, IM
• Find and go to where they need to go.
• A custom viewer would come with the needed settings. 
• So the beginning student need not learn to manage settings.

Contact links for educators in virtual worlds

• #VWEDU on Twitter

• #VWEDU on search

• #VWBPE on Twitter

• #VWBPE on search

Related articles

• The online campus: Your campus on the internet. Meet fellow students, work with them

• Why I specifically recommend Kitely for hosting a virtual campus (MUVE)

• Educational resources for virtual worlds: Free. Universal Campus

• Why an OpenSimulator Virtual Campus? REDgrid, of Ball State University.

• Kitely for educators: A virtual campus, educational places, educational products

   

• What would I want in a MUVE if I were using it to teach a class?

• Education in Virtual Worlds. Summary

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Visit me on the web

• Drop by my web offices Weekdays: 12:-12:30 Central time (US)
• Cybalounge and 3DWebWorldz (Orientation room)
• I will be in both places, so you may need to speak to get my attention.
• Web-worlds, 3D virtual worlds running in a browser. Summary
• And we can visit the Writer's Workshop on the Web
• Don't register -- enter as guest.  

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