2019 #VWEDU: LIBR: Digital Archival and Preservation of Virtual Worlds. Sponsored by the Community Virtual Library

Digital Archival and Preservation of Virtual Worlds
Sponsored by the Community Virtual Library

A tour with a few examples of the resources at the Underwater Archival Room in Kitely at the Digital Citizenship Museum. Sponsored by the Community Virtual Library. Curator: Dr. Marie Vans

• Watch on YouTube

Go there

• Web link
• In Kitely, Firestorm Hop:
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Cookie II/677/900/23
• In Kitely, paste the hop in the address bar (top) of the viewer, enter
• HG address:
• grid.kitely.com:8002:Cookie II
• Paste the HG address in the Find bar of the world map. click Find, TP.

Takeaways 

• Building in a virtual world (MUVE)?  
• Be sure your grid lets you save your creations on your computer.
• Opensim Prmer: Hypergrid, OAR, IAR, SOAS, Kitely, Inworlds, Markets
• Preserve  events by making videos
• Spread the word by posting videos on YouTube
• Plan for what happens to your virtual world creations when you cannot tend to them.

• update 9/26/2019 VWMOOC19 videos available OpenSim grid stats, VWMOOC2019 continues.

2019 ART: VIDEO: Art video from the virtual worlds. Impressive art, showing what can be done in virtual world art.

Art video from the virtual worlds.  
Impressive art, showing 
what can be done in virtual world art

I never do this.  The video is too long for people to watch in a single sitting.  My suggestion: watch it in parts.  Any part is well worth watching. 

• Watch on YouTube

• Video of Mario2 Helstein's "AUTUMN" Light Show 
• at Theatre On The Hill on Sunday 22 September!
• Second Life SLurl:
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pure%20Luxury/190/84/21

• update 9/26/2019 VWMOOC19 videos available OpenSim grid stats, VWMOOC2019 continues.

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: Learn to be a self-starter. Self-managed learning, libraries, learning communities.

Self-managed learning, libraries, 
learning communities.   
Learn to be a self-starter

With the growing demand for adult education, adults are increasingly taking charge of their own education.  The internet can supply all the instructional content needed, and more.  Internet libraries can provide guidance in planning for self-managed learning. Most internet sources, however, are impersonal, one-way deliverers of content.  To bring social interaction into self-managed learning, the internet needs software that supports group meetings, such as Skype or virtual worlds.

Self-managed learning is a natural for self-starters

• Self-starter: a person who shows initiative in undertaking a project.
• A person who is sufficiently motivated or ambitious to start a new career or business 
• or to pursue further education without the help of others.
• You decide what you want to learn.
• You decide how you want to learn it.
• You set your own schedule and work at your own pace.
• You don't get to grade yourself so you need another way to show your abilities.
• Education builds skills. Skills are assets. Assets are marketable if you can show them. Your portfolio shows your skills
• Can you learn to be a self-starter?
• Only if you start practicing.  
• Learning for life. Learning for living
• Digital Learning with Simon Nelson. Social, collaborative, self-managed learning
• An online university prepare Texans for 21st century careers: WGU Texas
• How to Develop an Online Course For Self-Directed Learning
• A model for the future: Independent Learning Centre (ILC) 
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in a MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

2019 #DTA: #VWEDU: Search tips from a digital coach: DTA content page

Search tips from a digital coach.  
DTA content page
Updated 10/26/2019

Bits of advice for searching the web. DTA content pages are assembled and written for use as Digicoach advice. This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0). 

The Empty Classroom

No computers?

• The DTA as search coach: How does that work? Especially for project-based learning
• DTA content pages: The plan: Initial DTA content on the web here
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

Contents

• Search on page: Ctrl f opens search bar (near top)
• Avoid this term
• Search on site
• Simple, one answer
• Complex, multiple answers
• Research: web links for answers
• First returns: What to look for
• Suggested questions
• Scholarly articles 
• Second search: What to look for
• Second search: Add terms.

2019 ART: PEOPLE: Burn2, Metamorphosis

BURN2 2019: Metamorphoses

As is tradition every year, artists and creatives are invited to get their plots and create homes and art installations in this virtual temporary city on six sims.Get your plot now: build period ends October 9Opening 5:00pm SLT, Friday, 11 October 2019Ending Midnight SLT, Sunday, 20 October 2019 

This year’s theme, Metamorphoses, presents interesting interpretation opportunities within the framework of the Ten Principles of Burning Man and build guidelines. 

BURN2 is the virtual extension of the Burning Man festival and community into the world of Second Life. It spreads Burning Culture and the Burning Man Ten Principles all year round. We are one Burning Man regional among more than 100 first world Regional groups. 

Go there

• Opening 5:00pm SLT, Friday, 11 October 2019
• SLURL: 
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/174/32/25
• It’s not too late to get your own plot: after the break 

• Update 9/19/2019 OpenSim grid stats, VWMOOC2019 continues. Firestorm split is off

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: Coding and virtual worlds: a marriage made in computers. The DTA could officiate

Coding and virtual worlds: 
a marriage made in computers. 
The DTA could officiate

Coding, or computer programming, teaches valuable skills that transfer to other parts of life.  It teaches planning skills that are needed by anyone who is going to plan later in life.   

• Watch on YouTube
• Computational thinking or how to get along with computers

Coding is the literacy of the 21st century. Coding is a universal language we need to teach children of all ages. But we don't teach it to help students learn a new language, rather to understand the essence of computational thinking. Computational thinking is the fabric of the 21st century.

• Related concepts: Algorithmic, procedural, design, Agile, planning.
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: Learning Made in Second Life - CNDG

Learning Made in Second Life 
- CNDG

Video about CNDG , an education company, and its use of virtual educational places in Second Life

• Watch on YouTube 

• CNDG is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) developer. 
• Educate in the Virtual World Learn more about education in Second Life 
• Education in Virtual Worlds. Summary
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

2019 NEW: New to OpenSimulator? You can find freebies, sandboxes, and free land in Kitely Search

You can find freebies, sandboxes, 
and free land in Kitely Search

• Search services in Kitely, on the web and inworld.

Search page in Kitely

Click image to enlarge

• Other grids may offer similar services--I have not checked.
• Kitely now fills the search panels on the viewer. Events, places, and classifieds benefit

On the web

• Places with freebies
• Places with sandboxes
• DIY: Kitely Explore Worlds
• Use the search bar, upper left.

Inworld Kitely 

• Click Ctrl f
• For free land, click the places tab.
• In the search bar, enter free land.
• For people, groups, etc., click the appropriate tab

• Update 9/19/2019 OpenSim grid stats, VWMOOC2019 continues. Firestorm split is off

2016 HELP: Promo: Embed videos and calendars in your blog (simplified)

Embed videos and calendars 
in your blog (simplified)  

Simplified instructions are presented. 

How to put embedding code into HTML
in Blogger

• Update 9/19/2019 OpenSim grid stats, VWMOOC2019 continues. Firestorm split is off

2019 #DTA: #VWEDU: Schools need 3 levels of edtech--Matt Harris, Ed.D. And how does the Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) fit in?

Schools need 3 levels of edtech--Matt Harris, Ed.D.  
And how does the Digital Teaching Assistant fit in?  

Three levels of edtech: Access, teaching, outcomes.   In the tech  age of the 21st century, you can's show you've done it till you've measured it.  

• Watch on YouTube
• Access: Caution: you don't know what you need till you know how you will use it
• Teaching:  Telling is not teaching: Learning activities 
• Outcomes: You don't know you've done it till you've measured it.

Contents below

• Technology is money heavy?
• The DTA can identify effective learning activities.
• The DTA can monitor skills development.
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: Edpuzzle offers DTA features and could serve as a module in Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA)

Edpuzzle offers DTA features 
and could serve as a module in 
Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA)

An existing service, Edpuzzle, offers one of the services proposed for DTA and could be used as one of its modules.  

• Watch on YouTube
• EDpuzzle Live Mode - Turn Video Lessons Into Group Activities
• Edpuzzle offers DTA features
• Edpuzzle (search)
• Questions in homework: Answered! Evaluated!  Recorded!
• Blended learning homework (search)
• Scholarly articles for blended learning homework
• Digicoach can support collaborative homework and study sessions
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

2019 #VWEDU: ART: Serenity Island: Sea grotto and crystal caves.

Serenity Island: 
Sea grotto and crystal caves.  
Spaceship, Mars and the Moon

Introduction to the creative and educational art of Serenity Island (Kitely).  California State University of Los Angeles

• Watch on YouTube

Go there

• Hypergrid address:  
• grid.kitely.com:8002:Serenity Island
• Put the HG address in the Find bar of the World Map, click Find: TP
• In Kitely, use Firestorm hop:
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Serenity Island/124/212/22
• Put the hop in the address (top) bar of the Firestorm viewer, Enter
• Kitely Website: Serenity Island

• Update 9/12/2019 Nonprofit Commons 12th Bday Friday

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: We can reduce barriers to educational uptake of virtual worlds. Assessment of the situation

We can reduce barriers to 
educational uptake of virtual worlds.  
Assessment of the situation

Assessment of perceived barriers to the use of virtual worlds in education.  And  some suggestions for solutions.  This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).

Busy classroom in a virtual world

• Content given in signs and notecards.
• The digital scene can be relevant to the topic.
• The cost is tiny compared to the cost of a physical classroom.
• Audio and video lectures can be provided here,
• Students can talk and collaborate here.
• A teacher can be here at class time.
• Students can come here to study at any time.
• No travel time, no travel costs, no travel risks.
• With a computer at home, this works for home study.
• And still allows experience in collaboration.
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

Contents

• What are the barriers?
• Institutional issues
• Relevant research
• Personal perceptions, student difficulties
• Needed solutions
• What does the target market want?
• What barriers can we reduce?

2019 TKR: EDU: Why We Pursue Happiness But Overlook Joy with Ingrid Fetell Lee

Why We Pursue Happiness 
But Overlook Joy 
with Ingrid Fetell Lee

Based on insights from psychology and neuroscience, renowned designer Ingrid Fetell Lee shows us how to find joy hiding in the everyday things around us.

• Watch on YouTube

• Update 9/12/2019 Nonprofit Commons 12th Bday Friday

2019 #VWEDU: The DTA as search coach: How does that work? Especially for project-based learning

The DTA as search coach: 
How does that work?
Especially for project-based learning

Project-based learning often creates a need for effective search.  Just the place to provide JIT learning on web-search skills.   This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).

The Empty Classroom

What, no computers?

• Google search is the main search engine used in the U.S.
• So the DTA Search Coach is focused on that.  
• How to use Google search is well known and well documented.
• The easy way to instruct on using Google search is to give a curated list of links.
• Imagine a football coach handing out sheets with these links. 
• "Read these and you will know how to play football," says the coach.
• Absurd?  Of course.  Football requires skills.  
• Using Google search is a skill.  You do not learn a skill by reading about it.
• Google 101: How to Search And Get Results You Want
• You learn a skill by practicing it and (perhaps) figuring out how to do it better.
• It may help to have a coach suggesting ways to improve.
• There may be hundreds of known ways to improve.   But you can't use hundreds.  
• You need a few good ways that fit your situation (as a beginner, for example.).
• DTA Search Coach can do that.    

The DTA

• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• A digital teaching assistant (DTA) in a virtual world. Can it be done?
• Digital coaching is needed for the DTA: Do we have the technology for that?

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: The Digital Teaching Assistant fits with the practice of blended learning

The Digital Teaching Assistant fits 
the practice  of blended learning

A digital teaching assistant could be part of blended learning. 

• Watch on YouTube

Using Videos

• Videos present what the teacher would teach in lectures.
• A lecture is ephemeral; a video of the lecture is reusable.
• Teacher time is freed to help students who have problems.
• Videos can be evaluated to choose those that are most effective.
• Students having difficulty on a topic can watch other videos on the same topic.
• Students can review a video if they missed something the first time.
• Videos can fit in the typical attention span. 
• Students can miss a class without missing a lecture. 
• Answers to Your Blended Learning Questions
• Blended learning (Wikipedia)
• What is missing from a video lecture?  (After the break)
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: F/Xual Education Services: Occupational Medicine Simulation. A HUD is a Digicoach without personality.

F/Xual Education Services: 
Occupational Medicine Simulation.  
A HUD is a Digicoach without personality.

A simulation for instruction in occupational medicine with comments on how a DTA might support learning in this MUVE

Start here

• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary
• Occupational medicine (Wikipedia)
• F/Xual Education Services
• Otago University Occupational Medicine Simulation
• Occupational Medicine Simulation
• Creating Terrain Surrounds for OpenSimulator in Blender
• Recording OpenSimulator Visitors to a Google Form/Spreadsheet

Go there

• Kitely on the web:  FXual Education Services
• Hypergrid address: 
• grid.kitely.com:8002:FXual Education Services
• Put the HG address in the Find bar of the world map, click Find, TP
• In Kitely, use Firestorm hop:
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/FXual Education Services/128/148/22
• Paste the hop in the address bar of Firestorm, press Enter.

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: Error based learning in writing. Combine project-based learning with test-based learning. And maybe get a useful product out of it.

Error based learning in writing
Combine project-based learning with test-based learning.   
And maybe get a useful product out of it

An  example of how a Digital Teaching Assistant could provide practice in editing text for grammar.  Four projects of increasing difficulty are suggested for practicing editing skill.    This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).

The Empty Classroom

This is not the only place to learn

• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?

If you can't make errors, you can't make anything

• Errors in writing are no problem if you can edit them out of the draft.
• Errors in writing have little cost now if you can find them and fix them.
• Writing grammatically correct language is a natural for error-based learning. 

Learning from the test

• Instead of teaching to the test.
• Suppose the real objective in school is to pass multiple-choice tests. Can a digital TA handle test-based learning?
• Scholarly articles for teaching to the test
• Teaching to the test (Wikipedia)

Error based learning

• Deliberately introduced errors as a pedagogical tool: the teaching of energy flow
• Scholarly articles for error based learning
• Error-based learning (search)
• A game version might be developed.

2019 #VWEDU #DTA: Travel tips for the Hypergrid. A DTA content page

Travel tips for the Hypergrid.
 A DTA content page
Updated 1/29/2020

Bits of advice for travelling the Hypergrid. DTA content pages are assembled and written for use as Digicoach advice. This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0). 

World Map for HG travel
Click image to enlarge

• This page is developed to support the DTA and Digicoach.
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• Using Viewer: Firestorm for OpenSimulator set to Viewer 5 (drop-down menus) 
• Instructions are for Microsoft.  Apple has slightly different names for keys

Key terms

• DTA content page
• Failure
• Hypergrid or HG
• HG address
• Inventory
• Invite
• Landmark
• Suitcase
• Teleport
• World Map
• Search on page: Ctrl+f opens search bar near the top. 

2019 #VWEDU: Virtual Worlds MOOC 2019 Starts on September 1st and continues through September 30th

Virtual Worlds MOOC 2019 Starts on September 1st 
and continues through September 30th

New educational developments in virtual worlds.  Certificates and continuing credit.

• Watch on YouTube

• You can join the Moodle course and work towards a certificate 
• by clicking on the Moodle4Teachers VWMOOC19 course link

• Join the VWMOOC Group: Joiner on the VWMOOC HQ front porch
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chilbo/166/54/97
• There is also a calendar of events there.

• Update 8/29/2019 VWMOOC19 Starts Sept 1st. Firestorm now supports stereo

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA David Lee - Design Thinking in the Classroom: How-to for project-based learning

David Lee - 
Design Thinking in the Classroom
How-to for project-based learning

How design thinking can help with project-based learning in the classroom. 

• Watch on YouTube

David's book outlines the process, procedure, and culture for using the Design Cycle and Design Thinking in the classroom. He speaks in depth about the five areas of Design Thinking - Empathize, Design, Ideate, Prototype, Test - and how teachers can use those with students in project based learning.

• Design thinking (Wikipedia)
• Scholarly articles for project-based learning
• Project-based learning (Wikipedia)
• Students can design to improve their student world.
• Empathy: think from the standpoint of the people you intend to serve
• Design Thinking in the Classroom: Easy-to-Use Teaching Tools to Foster Creativity, Encourage Innovation, and Unleash Potential in Every Student
• DESIGN THINKING IN EDUCATION (Website) 
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary
• More after the break.

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: CVL Hypergrid Resource Library Overview. Educational resources on the Hypergrid.

CVL Hypergrid Resource Library Overview.  
Educational resources on the Hypergrid.

The Hypergrid is a network of interconnected OpenSimulator grids.  OpenSimulator is opensource software that runs a virtual word.  The Hypergrid allows avatars to travel from their home grid to hundreds of other grids.  Thus educational places on the Hypergrid are available to any school connected to the Hypergrid.

• Watch on YouTube
• Community Virtual Library

Go there

• In Kitely use Firestorm Hop:
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Cookie II/421/915/23
• Put the hop in the address (top) bar of Firestorm, Enter
• On the Hypergrid, use the HG address:
• grid.kitely.com:8002:Cookie II
• Put the HG address in the Find bar of the World Map, click Find, TP.
• HG address will bring you to Cookie Welcome Center
• There are 2 library teleport devices at the center 
• Or you can use the Firestorm hop to get to the library.

What Hypergrid offers schools

• Schools can have their own grids at low cost.
• Faculty (and students, if permitted) can visit other places on the Hypergrid.
• Educational communities of the virtual worlds, a database by the Community Virtual Library
• Educational resources on the Hypergrid: Educator places, educational places, education support
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) may be available.
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) in MUVE (virtual world): What would it do?
• The Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) for MUVES (virtual worlds): Summary