2020 VW: WW: #VWEDU: #DTA Use-targeted learning plan for schools in digital worlds. Learners can pick the skills they need for the uses they intend. Gamified as a model

Use-targeted learning plan in digital worlds.
Learners can pick the skills 
they need for the uses they intend.
Gamified as a model

A gamified plan for learning how to use digital/virtual worlds is offered both as a suggestion for teaching the use of virtual worlds and as a model for gamification in other educational contexts.  This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).

Practice goal setting 

Overview

• Use-targeted learning plans rest on units of competency-based learning.
• Use-targeted learning plans put the units into clusters of skills needed for practical objectives.
• And they arrange each cluster into subclusters that can mark stages of learning progress.
• The learner sees demonstrable achievement milestones marking progress.
• And, for the more advanced uses, the learner can choose the objective.

Proposed roadmap for instruction in the use of virtual worlds

• Identify the uses
• Identify the user levels
• Specify the skill sets required for each use-level combination.
• Organize tool buttons and instructional units to fit the skill sets.

"Game" elements

• Clearly specified goals and levels. (Practice goal seeking)
• Closely spaced levels allow frequent achievements.  (Growth mindset)
• User choices in targets and paths (Independence)
• Levels based on what the learner can do.  (Objective success) 
• Skills focus rather than "knowledge" focus.  
• "Game" is in quotes because the elements serve for learning, not just for games.

• update 2/20/2020 Kitely updates to OpenSim 9.1.1 OpenSim stats decline reversed this month OpenSim Fest 2020. August 28th-30th, 2020

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Proposed roadmap: more detailed

Reference context

• This roadmap is designed for organizations using Kitely Organizations.
• The plan is designed for use with SceneGate and DTA support. 
• Since the plan is use-oriented, it can be adapted to other viewers and virtual worlds.  
• The concept can be adapted to any learning package that benefits from use-oriented learning. 

Kitely organizations

• Why I specifically recommend Kitely for hosting a virtual campus (MUVE)
• Gathering educational support in OpenSimulator. Scenegate, RezMela™, Kitely Organizations, DTA
• A campus grid for a graduate school. An independent grid using the Kitely organization system
• Kitely offers themed "grids". Independent websites using Kitely tech but managed by an organization
• Kitely announces virtual campuses for schools (and other organizations): Virtual worlders would say private grids.
• Bring the virtual campus into the school: Kitely custom viewer login page

Scenegate

• The SceneGate Viewer open beta: Rationale, documentation, support, roadmap
• IMA SceneGate Viewer Release 1.0.0 for Linux and Windows*
• For 32 bit systems, 32 bit version should download, not yet tested

Major planning steps

• Identify the uses of potential value.
• For each use, identify the user levels that are steps to it.
• Specify the skill sets required for each use-level combination.
• Organize tool buttons and instructional units to fit the skill sets.
• Prepare learning plan and exit criteria* for each use-level.
• *Exit criteria=Competencies to be demonstrated for certification at that level.

SubLevels within each use-level

• Guild model:
• Apprentice: Can do some of the tasks
• Journeyman:  Can do a complete job. (This sub-level gives exit badge.)
• Master: Can show others how to do the job (required for tutoring)
• Upper levels include the levels below.

General plan for a use-level unit 

• Based on task-based learning:
• Academics answer: What is task-based learning?
• Scholarly articles for task-based learning
• Skills-based learning (Search)
• Scholarly articles for skills-based learning
• Competency-based learning (Wiki)
• Specify the prerequisite skills (or badges) the learner must have to start.
• Specify the exit skills that earn a badge for this use level. 

How would this plan be used?

• To organize a section of the knowledge base.
• To organize virtual world controls (buttons, menus, options).
• To show users what capabilities are available to them
• To show new users that the learning curve is only steep if they make it so.
• To certify capabilities (by the guild, organization, or grid)

Strawman guilds plan for digital worlds

The label "strawman" marks an early draft distributed for others to throw improvements at. 

Uses (guilds) for virtual worlds

• Novice
• Communicator
• View rover
• InGrid traveller
• Visitor
• Learner
• Meeting participant
• Traveller
• Presenter
• Inventory manager
• Destinator
• Media streamer
• Land manager
• Event manager 
• Mentor
• Performer
• Videographer
• Reporter
• Scripter
• Creator
• More (TBD)

Strawman skill sets for some uses (guilds)

• The label "strawman" marks an draft for others to throw improvements at. 
• The designation Prerequisite means that this skill level is required for following skill levels.
• The designation Choice means that this skill level is not requred for following skill levels.

Novice badge (prerequisite)

• Apprentice: Can log on
• Journeyman:  Can walk, talk and chat effectively.  Skills listed here:
• Ingrid (within a grid) Travel tips for OpenSimulator . A DTA content page
• Communications tips for OpenSimulator. A DTA content page
• Master: Can show others to walk, talk, and chat.

Communicator badge  (prerequisite)

• A:  Has contacts list: Develop your contacts list. DTA content page
• J:  Has contacts list with several mentors of digital worlds.
• M: Can show novices how to develop and use a contact list.

View rover badge (prerequisite)

• A: Familiar with all the ways to control the view seen by the user.
• J:  Can view large and small objects from any desired viewpoint.
• M: Can show novices how to view objects from any viewpoint.

InGrid traveller (prerequisite)

• A: Familiar with: Ingrid (within a grid) Travel tips for OpenSimulator . A DTA content page
• J:  Frequently travels within the home grid.
• M: Can show others how to travel within the home grid.

Visitor badge  (prerequisite)

• A: Can use some of the skills listed here:
• Ingrid (within a grid) Travel tips for OpenSimulator . A DTA content page
• Communications tips for OpenSimulator. A DTA content page
• J: Can use all the skills listed above:
• M:  Can teach all of the skills listed above:

Learner Badge  (prerequisite)

TBD (I will post DTA content pages to match badges with criteria and instruction.)

Meeting participant badge  (prerequisite)

TBD

Traveller badge  (prerequisite)

• A: Can show these skills: Travel tips for the Hypergrid. A DTA content page
• J:  Has collected three landmarks from seven other grids.
• M: Can show novices how to get and use landmarks from the hypergrid.

Presenter badge (choice)

TBD

Inventory manager badge (choice)

TBD

Destinator badge

• A: Can design landing points, teleports, and landmarks to get people to their destinations 

Media streamer badge

• A: Can establish media streams (Audio, MOAP) on a parcel.

Land manager badge (choice)

TBD

Event manager (choice)

TBD

Mentor badge (choice)

TBD

Performer badge (choice)

TBD

Videographer badge  (choice)

TBD

Reporter badge (choice)

TBD

Scripter badge (choice)

TBD

Creator badge (choice)

TBD

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Visit me on the web

• Drop by my web offices Weekdays: 12:-12:30 pm Central time (US)
• I am available for free consulting on any topic in this blog.
• 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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License

• Original text in this blog is CC By: unless specified public domain.
• Use as you please with attribution: link to the original.
• All images without attribution in this blog are CC0: public domain.
• Second Life, Linden, SLurl, and SL are trademarks of Linden Research Inc.
• Annotated screenshots made with Jing
• This blog is not affiliated with anything.   Ads are from Google.
• Selby Evans in Kitely and hypergrid, Thinkerer Melville in Second Life.