2019 #VWEDU: WRITE: The Dickens Project Returns to Second Life December 1, 2019*

The Dickens Project Returns
to Second Life December 1, 2019

Seanchai Library brings you The Dickens Project 2018. MUVE, Social 3D

The Dickens Project has become a winter holiday tradition for a growing number of Second Life residents since it began as a special seasonal presentation by Seanchai Library in 2008.  It transformed into an interactive environment in 2012, then to a full region experience for 2017 and 2018. Seanchai Library is proud to announce that they will be opening the doors of The Dickens Project 2019 Edition beginning December 1.

• update 11/28/2019 New OpenSim release. Virtual classes in a German university. IMA releases simplified Scenegate viewer

2019 #VWEDU : #DTA: Scenegate beginner's instructions: for people coming to a class or meeting in OpenSImulator. DTA content

Scenegate beginner's instructions 
for people coming to a class or meeting in OpenSImulator
DTA content

Detailed JIT  instructions for people coming into OpenSimulator for education or a meeting in Scenegate.   DTA content pages are assembled and written for use as Digicoach advice. This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0). 

Scenegate full screen
Click image to enlarge

Lots of controls

• The more controls, the more power you have.
• And the more you have to learn.
• The secret to learning lots of things: 
• Only learn what you need at the moment.
• Just-in-time learning

This page supports JIT learning

• To search the page: click Crtl+f.  The search bar appears near the top.
• Enter a term you want to know about.
• Key terms are listed below.

Key terms

• Talk, Chat, Speak
• Walk, Run, Fly
• Camera
• People
• Profile
• Inventory
• Map
• Landmarks
• Me, Preferences
• World, Take landmark
• Help 

• update 11/28/2019 New OpenSim release. Virtual classes in a German university. IMA releases simplified Scenegate viewer

2019 MUVE: Metaverse, WebVR Augmented Reality, Stereo Reality reaching your browser. Gunter's Universe - Metaverse Roundtable Discussion

Metaverse, WebVR, Augmented Reality, Stereo Reality 
reaching into  your browser.  
Gunter's Universe - Metaverse Roundtable Discussion

This is not a game.  It is people.  People sometimes like to play games,  Sometimes the need to learn things. Sometimes they just need to have meetings.  The Metaverse can accommodate most of what they need to do. And these days, the metaverse has reached into your browser.

• Watch on YouTube
• Gunter's Univrse (YouTube Channel)

In this episode of Gunter's Universe a panel of VR developers discuss what WebVR is as well as the concept of "The Metaverse".

• 3D WEBSITES A2Z
• A virtual field trip to Stonehenge
• CybaLOUNGE
• Metaverse Software
• Web-worlds, 3D virtual worlds running in a browser. Summary
• HGProjects. Opensim, Hypergrid: Summary
• Aframe

• Update 11/21/2019 SceneGate Launch Party,. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – call for proposals. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 WW: #VWEDU: Metaverse School GmbH @ Berlin Change Days 2019. Web classes in a German university

Metaverse School GmbH 
@ Berlin Change Days 2019  
Web classes in a German university    

A report from a learning project in a German university.  The project was done in a browser-based virtual world (a web-world). The project produced a workshop room   Unlike most such rooms, you can go there now (instructions in the article).

 Avatars meeting on the web

Click image to enlarge

• Much like being there.  
• Except for the cost (nothing)
• And the travel time (30 seconds)
• And the facility (a laptop) 
• Metaverse School GmbH @ Berlin Change Days 2019 (web article)

How does it work? 

• The people are there as avatars. 
• They talk to each other.  They may have a mentor or facilitator.
• Here they are probably brainstorming and planning. 
• They are doing the same things they would do in a classroom.
• Rearing something on the wall, talking about it, writing something.

• Web-worlds, 3D virtual worlds running in a browser. Summary
• CybaLOUNGE  is a user-built web-world.  
• VWMOOC19: Web-worlds for education. Cybalounge, 3DWebWorldz

• Update 11/21/2019 SceneGate Launch Party,. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – call for proposals. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: The SceneGate Viewer open beta: Rationale, documentation, support, roadmap

The SceneGate Viewer open beta:  
Rationale, documentation, 
support, roadmap

Scenegate is a new viewer for OpenSim grids, directed at the needs of newcomers and particularly newcomers entering to take classes or to attend meetings.  It offers a simplified screen with only a few options--just those needed for classes and meetings.  It offers defaults and other features set for newcomers.  This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0). 

Meeting at IMA Alpha

• IMA:Infinite Metaverse Alliance
• Thales teams with Infinite Metaverse Alliance (IMA) to work on next generation collaborative and training tools.
• SceneGate Open Beta Launch Party

Download/install

• Instructions here: SceneGate Open Beta Test (Windows)

The name: Gate to a scene

• Not a world. That is overbrag.
• Classes and meetings are not held in worlds.
• Classes and meetings have realistic goals.  
• They are held in classrooms and meeting rooms

Come to a meeting

• IMA meets Fridays at 6:00 pm Pacific time.
• HG address: grid.metaversedepot.com:8002:ima outpost alpha
• Travel tips for the Hypergrid. A DTA content page

• Update 11/21/2019 SceneGate Launch Party,. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – call for proposals. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 #WVEDU: Triumph trails: The hero's journey. Team-based learning. Students laughing! Portfolio building!.

Triumph trails: The hero's journey.  
Team-based learning. 
Students laughing!  
Portfolio building!.

Triumph trails: The hero's journey.  Team-based learning.  Students laughing!  Portfolio building!.  What does the hero's journey have to do with starting school?

• Watch on YouTube

• Hero's Journey
• What does the hero's journey have to do with starting school?
• Laughing. In school!  Is that allowed.?
• Symbolism!  What does that symbolize?
• Confidence?  What does that have to do with the hero's journey?
• Portfolio building?  Why can't they just take tests and get good grades?
• Peninsula College
• The Hero's Journey and Guided Pathways--Peninsula College

• Update 11/21/2019 SceneGate Launch Party,. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – call for proposals. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 #WVEDU: #DTA: The myth of Asgard. Role play: Norse mythology characters. Could people learn about mythology here?

The myth of Asgard.  Role play: 
Norse mythology characters.  
Could people learn about mythology here?

A short look at Asgard and a bit of role play with an apparition.  

Arrive at the Pantheon

Go there

• Hypergrid link:
• grid.kitely.com:8002:Asgard Folkene
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Asgard Folkene/994/242/70
• Asgard Folkene on the web
• Click the statues and they will tell you who they are

Educational topics

• Norse mythology
• Myth
• Asgard
• Norse cosmology

The People's Asgard: the world where you will find all 9 realms and the world tree. We are the guardians of the realms of the gods of Asgard and we are open to receive all manner of Norse mythology characters. We do not play Marvel comics Asgard we play the pure mythology and welcome those who share the dream. UNDER CONSTRUCTION

• Update 11/21/2019 SceneGate Launch Party,. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – call for proposals. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 #VREDU: #DTA: Project-based learning with work-groups: Not just the content: project skills, team skills, self-confidence

Project-based learning with work-groups:  
Not just the content: 
project skills, work-group skills. self-confidence  

A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) can support inquiry-based and project-based learning.  A preliminary plan for supporting inquiry-based learning is presented.  This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0). 

Group project planning template

Click image to enlarge

Project skills? Team skills? Self-confidence?

• Team sports do not cover the whole domain of team skills.
• People also get paid to work in teams.
• Team skills (search)
• Project management skills  (search)
• Self-confidence (Wikipedia)
• Using Group Projects Effectively

Can students really work effectively in groups?

• Not without practice.  The same as with swimming.
• "Sometimes most of the work is done by a few of the students."
• That happens when the project is not effectively structured. 
• "The students lack project management skills."
• Developing skills is what they go to school for.
• "Teams need somebody to manage them."
• Self-managed teams (search)
• Business teams with no experienced leader often have a Group facilitator (Wikipedia)
• That's in business.  Education can't afford that. 
• But it can afford the help of a Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA). 
• And a DTA can be designed by a group facilitator and a project manager.

2019 #VWBPE: VWBPE 2020 Stellar: Call for Proposals. Where do we go from here? Immersive education

VWBPE 2020 Stellar: 
Call for Proposals.  
Where do we go from here? 
Immersive education 

Call for proposals, Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education: VWBPE 2020 Stellar.  Presentations, exhibits and immersive experiences

VWBPE 2016 entrance

• The Call for Proposals for VWBPE 2020 Stellar is Now Open
• Presentations, Exhibits and Immersive Experiences
• Per aspera ad astra
• VWBPE 2020 Stellar: Call for Proposals
• From anywhere in the (physical) world.
• To anywhere there is an interested educator. 
• VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities in VWBPE

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINES

• Presentations: 13 January 2020
• Immersive Experiences: 10 February 2020
• Exhibits: 16 February 2020

• #VWEDU: update 11/15/2019 VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 PLAY: Wellspring, an Elf Clan affiliate region, a 16-region world of contrasts. Steampunk, Victorian, Fantasy, Caves, etc.

Wellspring, an Elf Clan affiliate region
a 16-region world of contrasts
Steampunk, Victorian, Fantasy, Caves, etc.

Wellspring is a 16-region world of contrasts. Regions of Steampunk, Victorian, Fantasy, Caves, Underwater Fantasy, waterways for boating with boats for you to row, cars and motorcycles to drive, parks, a small New town and an Old Town and the famous Sendalonde Library once well-known on InWorldz. 

Elven lands?

• "I need a guide for this place,"  I remarked aloud to the empty air.
• "I can give a bit of counsel." the empty air responded. 
• I was there as a digital, so I was neither alarmed nor astonished.  "And who might you be?" 
• "I might be Saint Nicholas." the air commented.  "Or I might be Titania.  Or perhaps a Gremlin.  But you may call me Alfreda.  Elf counselor.  And guide to humans who can use the third eye." 
• A little puff of smoke off to my left in the view of my third eye. 
• "So kind of you, Alfreda.  Can this modern road really be for elves?"
• "Only if they are modern elves," Alfreda answered.  "You are not usually this conventional."
• "And I do not intend to be.  I appreciate the reminder," I commented, clearing the conventional cobwebs from my mind.  

Hypergrid address

• grid.kitely.com:8002:Wellspring
• Travel tips for the Hypergrid. A DTA content page
• Wellspring on the web
• Kitely hop 
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Wellspring/128/128/28
• Ingrid (within a grid) Travel tips for OpenSimulator . A DTA content page
• You can read more about Elf Clan and the charter at http://elfclan.spruz.com

• #VWEDU: update 11/15/2019 VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: WW: 3DWebWorldz, free shopping at Linda's place, first floor. Experiential learning and the DTA

3DWebWorldz, free shopping 
at Linda's place, first floor.  
Experiential learning and the DTA

Free content available on 3D WebWorldz.   And suggestions on how the DTA could handle experiential learning.

 Linda's free stuff on display
Click image to enlarge

• How to start in 3DWebWorldz
• A bit of Experiential learning
• Not something you are told; something you experience.  
• For the full effect of experiential learning, you reflect on your experience.
• You store some images in memory.  Your reflection establishes verbal connections.
• That is like the "take-aways" from a presentation.  
• Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) 

3DWebworldz

• 3DWebWorldz 
• WebWorldz is a professionally built web-world showing the 3D web.
• Web-worlds, 3D virtual worlds running in a browser. Summary

• #VWEDU: update 11/15/2019 VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2020 Sailing the seas of the virtual worlds. Sea battles on the A Nowak channel

Sailing the seas of the virtual worlds. 
Sea battles on the A Nowak channel

Sailing in action in virtual worlds.  The story in video, the shipyards in web links.

• A Nowak channel

You don't have to make the boats

• Ocean engineering (Kitely Market)
• Sailing ship (Kitely Market)

Sailing in action

• Sailing the virtual seas with Kayaker Magic and his advanced NAV
• Sunday sailing around scenic islands on Discovery grid
• The Boat Race Course at Panthalassa 
• Tessin: race of the state yachts: replicas of a state yacht of the 18th century

• #VWEDU: update 11/15/2019 VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities. New OpenSim release (0.9.1)

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities in Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education

VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – 
Sponsorship Opportunities in 
Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education

Sponsorship opportunities in the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) Conference.

VWBPE 2016 entrance

• VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities
• Sponsors keep the conference free and get their message heard.
• Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) Conference 
• Celebrates 13 years of focus on education in immersive virtual environments. 
• This year, the focus is beyond simple instruction.
• Towards creative experience and critical reflection
• Four levels of sponsorship. 

What can you do with education in 3D places

• Issue-oriented organizations can distribute 3D content about their issues
• Students can make videos presenting their own projects.
• Schools can have a world-wide campus.
• Virtual places can provide educational content around the world and 24/7
• Students around the world can meet and talk with each other.  
• Students learning a second language can meet with counterworld counterparts
• Schools can provide a Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) as a mentor.

2019 VID: PROMO: Construction tool. Dynamite Terrain Tool. Terraforming can be fun--and safe

Construction tool.   
Dynamite Terrain Tool.  
Terraforming can be fun--and safe  

A mesh prim that looks like a stick of dynamite. When you click on the prim or chat “boom” it explodes with particles and sound. Then it digs a hole in your terrain. Finally, it “falls” down into the bottom of the hole it just made. The safest way to play with explosives you are likely to find.

• Watch on YouTube

The hole is a shallow circular dent in the terrain with an optional crater lip. Explode the dynamite several times to dig a deeper hole. Or line up several and shout to get them all to go at once. This is how explosive professionals dig ditches! Or use it to put that crowning crater in your volcano.

• On Kitely market: Dynamite Terrain Tool  

This scripted object works on OpenSim 0.9 or 0.8, but it REQIRES Owner permissions, Estate Manager and Threat Level HIGH. Test for these with the Terrain Test Prim which you can buy here  or come to my world Fractalis and pick up a free copy of the Terrain Test Prim on the platform.

In chat type radius=nn to set the radius of the hole to any integer number. Type lip=off to disable the crater lip. You have to re-enable with lip=on before every explosion if you want the lip to grow higher than 1 meter. Type help at any time to get a list of commands and to find out the current radius and crater lip state.

• update 11/7/2019 Linden Lab Lays Off 30 Staff. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities

#VWEDU #DTA Inquiry-based learning: "Here's what you have to know." changes to "Here's how to find out things."

Inquiry-based learning: 
"Here's what you have to know."  changes to 
"Here's how to find out things."

Inquiry-based learning sets students to the task of collecting and organizing the content they are supposed to learn in the class.  They don't just learn that content, they practice the skills of collecting information.  And, about themselves, they learn what they can do.   This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).

The Empty Classroom

Students off researching

• Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA)
• With inquiry-based learning students don't just learn to remember the content.
• They practice skills that they can use for future learning.
• The gamification of learning how to learn. Learn what you can do
• Learning how to learn | Barbara Oakley | TEDxOaklandUniversity

Inquiry-based learning

• Scholarly articles for inquiry-based learning
• Inquiry-based learning (wikipedia) 
• Inquiry-based learning (search) 
• Learning how to learn (search)
• Student-thinking versus breadwinner-thinking versus entrepreneurial thinking: coming of age in school
•  Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) as facilitator 

• update 11/7/2019 Linden Lab Lays Off 30 Staff. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities

2019 #DTA: #VWEDU DTA can guide ideation sessions. Group ideation: "Brainstorming"

DTA can guide ideation sessions.
Group ideation:  "Brainstorming"

Suggestions for how a  Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) could support group brainstorming.  The DTA could not match a live moderator,  But it could do many of the things a human moderator would do with someone telling it when to do these things.

ACRL Virtual World interest group

• Ideation (Wikipedia)
• What is Ideation – and How to Prepare for Ideation Sessions
• How To Run An Effective Ideation Workshop: A Step-By-Step Guide
• A virtual place for real brainstorming
• Novel environment is easy in a virtual world. 
• Make a resource rich place related to the brainstorming goal/
• Rules slogans -- can be animated by brainstormers. 
• Shared whiteboards (yes, plural.  Ideas live in categories)
• Direct access to web resources--click for web page
• Moderator (teacher) on call (and sometimes monitoring)
• Brainstorm (search)
• Brainstorming (Wikipedia)
• Ideation guides

• update 11/7/2019 Linden Lab Lays Off 30 Staff. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities

2019 #VWEDU: #DTA: Can virtual worlds support large lecture classes? The past is not the future

Can virtual worlds support 
large lecture classes?
The past is not the future 

Consideration of the need for large lecture classes in virtual worlds.  They are only needed for specialized advanced classes.  Even there they could reach a larger audience at lower cost with a live stream.

A lecture without the internet

Instruction methods for a large audience

• Scholarly articles for Lecture-based learning
• Lecture-based learning (search)
• Lecture (Wikipedia)
• Text-based learning (search)
• Scholarly articles for Text-based learning
• Video-based learning (search)
• Scholarly articles for video-based learning
• Live streaming (Wikipedia)
• A Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) 

• update 11/7/2019 Linden Lab Lays Off 30 Staff. VWBPE 2020 STELLAR – Sponsorship Opportunities

2019 #VWEDU: WW: #DTA: Presentations: In 3D places you can do more than show slides and talk about them. You can use 3D places as slides. Your audience can go there to practice

In 3D places you can do more than 
show slides and talk about them.   
You can use 3D places instead of slides.  
Your audience can go there to practice

Demonstration of how to adapt a presentation to 3D places.  And of how a 
Digital Teaching Assistant (DTA) can help.   This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).

How to move panel

Go there

• 3DWebWorldz 

Learn to move

• Click on the screen
• Move your mouse around, get the red circle leading to where you want to go.
• Press the up-pointing keyboard arrow and see what happens.
• Press your left pointing and see what happens.

Learning objectives, entry panel

• Be able:
• to move your avatar to where you want to go.
• to toggle between 3d environment and flat screen controls with cursor.

• Update 10/31/2019: New OpenSim release (0.9.1) IDRAC Conference Is Nov. 1 & 2. OpenSim conference seeks presenters. Free Ghost Story Radio Stream (Seanchai Library )

2019 COMEDY: Oct 2019: Lauren's place, Tuesdays at 5:00 PM Pacific NSFW

Oct 2019: Lauren's place,   
Tuesdays at 5:00 PM Pacific NSFW

October collection of comedy from Lauren's place:  WyNott,  Catboy, HiTech, Amouretta, Randy, Jamie, Synnove

• Watch on YouTube

• Selby's comedy channel
• At Lauren's Place Tuesdays 5 pm Calif. time (NSFW)
• Place:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cookie/122/242/23
• A one-hour comedy show in voice.
• Tell the MC that you want to do comedy.
• If you can do a good 3-5 min. set with a good close will make a video.
• Our Comedy Channel
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGw_HANVLFY&list=PLmXCeJpxLXokSPNK_UVR1rS9qHSfJJsNM
• JOKE BANK - POPULAR JOKES
• Joke search

• Update 10/31/2019: New OpenSim release (0.9.1) IDRAC Conference Is Nov. 1 & 2. OpenSim conference seeks presenters. Free Ghost Story Radio Stream (Seanchai Library )