Saturday, November 30, 2019

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.

Friday, November 29, 2019

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 

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

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.

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

Monday, November 25, 2019

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

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.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

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

Download/install

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

Saturday, November 23, 2019

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?


Friday, November 22, 2019

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
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



Tuesday, November 19, 2019

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?

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.

Monday, November 18, 2019

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

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINES

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

Sunday, November 17, 2019

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

Saturday, November 16, 2019

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

3DWebworldz

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

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.

Monday, November 11, 2019

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.

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.
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.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

#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

Inquiry-based learning

Saturday, November 9, 2019

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

Friday, November 8, 2019

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


Tuesday, November 5, 2019

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

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.

Monday, November 4, 2019

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