2020 #VWEDU: Training in digital worlds: Signature Safety: in the trenches

Training in digital worlds: 

Signature Safety:  

In the trenches 

A video interview with people in a safety consulting firm showing the advantages offered  by scene simulations in a virtual world, such as Kitely.   

• Watch on YouTube

Signature Safety is a full-service environmental, health and safety (EHS) consulting firm with offices located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our clients span the spectrum of industries, from warehousing and distribution facilities to construction managers; from manufacturing to maintenance contractors; from municipal governments to construction subcontractors.

• Web page
• Kitely page
• Trenching and excavation safety
• Hypergrid address:
• grid.kitely.com:8002:Signature Safety LLC

• Update 8/27/2020 Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30

2020 #VWEDU: VWMOOC20 starts on September 1st and ends on September 30th. Online instruction for Continuing Education. How to use virtual worlds. Here is how to get started

VWMOOC20 starts on September 1st and ends on September 30th.
Online instruction for Continuing Education. 

How to use virtual worlds. 

Here is how to get started.

VWMOOC: Connecting in Virtual Worlds. Communities of Practice.  VWMOOC20 will focus on connecting online for collaborative learning and teaching around the world through virtual worlds like Second Life, Digiworldz, Kitely, Minecraft, or OpenSim. 

How to Navigate Virtual Worlds MOOC 2020

• Watch on YouTube
•  This year, like last year, inworld sessions will be live-streamed all over Facebook. 
• Virtual Worlds MOOC 2020 Playlist

Course Highlights 

• 1. Experience Life in Virtual Worlds 
• 2. Get Acquainted with Learning communities in SL and other virtual worlds. 
• 3. Professional Development in Virtual Worlds 

Two learning platforms

• Continuing education credit: Moodle for Teachers 
• Virtual worlds MOOC 2020
• VMMOOC Headquarters:
• https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chilbo/167/53/97 in Second Life.

Topics include:

• 1. Getting acquainted with Second Life and Virtual Worlds 
• 2. Resources and skills required for learning 
• 3. Resources and skills required for teachers 
• 4. Summarizing and reflecting on the information and the process 
• 5. Certificates of Completion 
• Syllabus and all platforms

Credit

Participants, who reflect on 4 live sessions and fill in the feedback form at the end of the MOOC, will be eligible for a certificate of completion. The due date for the reflections is October 1, 2020.

• Update 8/27/2020 Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30

2020 Opensim Fest 2020 opens

Opensim Fest 2020 opens

OpenSim fest schedule and venues

• Watch on YouTube
• Landing Region: HG: opensimfest.org:80

Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30

• Schedule: https://web.opensimfest.org/schedule
• Merchants: https://web.opensimfest.org/merchants
• Exhibits: https://web.opensimfest.org/exhibits

• Update 8/27/2020 Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30

2020 #VWEDU: VWBPE Interview with Alice Krueger: Virtual Ability, Inc. in virtual worlds. Differently abled, not disabled

VWBPE Interview with Alice Krueger:  

Virtual Ability, Inc.  in virtual worlds.

Differently abled, not disabled 

An interview with the leader of Virtual Ability, Inc. about the work she has been doing in virtual (digital) worlds. The interview was recorded in a presentation to the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference 2020 

• Watch on YouTube

VWBPE instituted the Thinkerer Award in 2014 in recognition of exemplary service across the metaverse. Join us as Mal Burns catches up with our 2nd Thinkerer Award recipient Alice Krueger / Gentle Heron (2015).

• Virtual Ability Inc. (search)
• Login 2 Life Teaser
• Disabled?  Differently abled
• Is lack of internet skills a disability?

Topics

• Universal design
• Accessibility features
• Virtual worlds are adaptable
• Appearance in virtual worlds
• Research into management of disabilities
• Diabetic education  (Medical support)

• Update 8/27/2020 Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30

2020 #VWEDU: #DTA: Computational thinking in preparing instructions: Design thinking: Use-case analysis: Micro-learning JIT learning

Computational thinking in preparing instructions: 
Design thinking: Use-case analysis: 
Micro-learning: JIT learning

How to design instruction pages to fit use cases that users want.

Computational thinking in preparing instructions

• Design thinking: What do the users need?
• Users always have a specific use in mind: that is a use case.
• Instructions are part of the product.  A user wants instructions for a use case.
• Users need instructions for each use case they have.
• At any given time, users only need instructions for the use case at hand. 
• Each use case should have its own set of instructions.  
• That allows microlearning for each use-case.
• And supports JIT learning.
• Microlearning needs microcredentials (badges).
• Not just to provide evidence of competence
• But also to tell learners what they need to do be competent.

Key terms, search on page

• Design thinking
• Use case
• Demand
• Market potential
• User interface
• JIT
• Microlearning
• Badge
• Search on page: Ctrl+f opens search bar near the top of the page.
• Search on page is an element of JIT learning.

• Update 8/20/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®

2020 #VWEDU: Web-worlds as a place to get together in a pandemic. Parents, teachers, students, tweens, teens, museums, field trips. . All at home in web browsers.

Web-worlds as a place to get together in a pandemic.  

Parents, teachers, students, tweens, teens, museums, field trips. 

All at home in web browsers.

Web-worlds are digitally simulated places that people visit in a browser.  People appear as avatars of their own choice. We can talk, show images, play videos, walk around the place and do many of the things we normally do face to face--but we can't swap germs.  

• Watch on YouTube

Learning at home?

• Will All Of Our Kids Be Home Schooled This Fall?
• Miss Brenda Goes Back To School
• Museums on your lap. Going places in your laptop. An online presence extends the reach of a museum and gives new meaning to the idea of a field trip.
• Web-worlds for education. Cybalounge, 3DWebWorldz
• The online campus: Your campus on the internet. Meet fellow students, work with them

• Update 8/20/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®

2020 #VWEDU: # DTA: VWBPE Social event: Second squares. What does a quiz show have to do with education?

VWBPE Social event:  Second squares. 
What does a quiz show have to do with education?

Could a class be as interesting as a quiz show?  Has anyone tried to find out? Is it worth finding out?  Do schools really need to teach tolerance for boredom?

• Watch on YouTube
• Transcribe video to text: VidReader
• Remember the famous TV show Hollywood Squares?
• Start at 1:20 seconds.
• VWBPE Channel

• Education has always been a quiz game.
• Just not entertaining.
• Would a class be more entertaining as a quiz show?

• Update 8/20/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®

2020 #VWEDU: Presentation in a box: Ethnographic Cultural Exhibits. In a digital world you can handle big boxes

Presentation in a box: 
Ethnographic Cultural Exhibits.  
In a digital world you can handle big boxes 

A presentation in a virtual world does not mean that you have to show slides and talk about them.  That method is so last century.  You can put your slides on the wall as posters. You can show videos.  You can link to other sources.  The main problem you will have is managing all that potential.

Attending a presentation

in a digital world

• Not your granddad's literacy. Digital literacy: a presentation in a digital world. So not your grandad's presentation either.
• Presentation paradigm for the internet generation
• Cultural anthropology

2020 #VWEDU CVL Podcasts for education. Snack packs of knowledge. Student-sized projects.

CVL Podcasts for education.
Snack packs of knowledge.
Student-sized projects.

Community Virtual Library (CVL) is developing a podcasting capability in virtual worlds.  CVL will be able to guide educators in finding useful podcasts, in producing and posting educational podcasts, and in using student podcasts as projects in project-based learning.

CVL podcasting studio

Go there 

• Second Life address:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tkachiev/235/202/25
• Inworld, put the address in the address bar of your viewer, enter
• CVL podcasts on the web.

Is anyone using podcasts for education?

• School podcasts (search)
• Starting Your Podcast: A Guide For Students (NPR)
• https://www.npr.org/2018/11/15/662070097/starting-your-podcast-a-guide-for-students
• 5 Steps To Start A School Podcast
• 50 BEST EDUCATIONAL PODCASTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
• 26 Best Podcasts for Students in Elementary, Middle, and High School
• https://www.weareteachers.com/best-podcasts-for-kids/
• 5 Ways To Earn Money With a Podcast
• I take that as a yes.

How is a podcast useful?

• Pocket teacher: Rides on the smart phone.  Commute buddy. 
• Low cost project:  Needs only a computer and smart students.
• Portfolio project: Easy to store, easy to share. 

Why involve virtual worlds?

• Virtual worlds are full of skilled digitals
• Skilled digitals can do most anything digital.
• If they don't have the needed skill, they know how to get it. 
• Educators: Yes, that's growth mindset.
• We have lots of educators already collaborating.  
• You don't have to know how to do it if you work with somebody who already does.

2020 WW 3DWebWorldz: People working together. Students learning to work together. If you want people to learn, you have to give them practice.

3DWebWorldz:  People working together. 
Students learning to work together. 
People learn from practice. 
Telling is not teaching.

Effective learning requires bringing people people together.  You can do that on the internet,  We have been working together for years in installed virtual worlds.  More recently, we have been meeting in a browser.    We can't share germs or throw paint on each other.  But we can talk and share web content.   

• Watch on YouTube
• An educational workgroup meeting in a browser. 3DWebWordz

People can work together on the web?

• Social is not just fun and games.  Most work is social.
• And most work is going digital.  
• Traditional digital is a place where your only company is a flat web-page.
• 3D digital is a web page you walk into.
• A place where you meet people and collaborate with them.
• The video above shows that happening.
• A 3d place in your browser. As easy as going to a web page because it is a web page.
• An educational workgroup meeting in a browser. 3DWebWordz

• Update 8/13/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 VIDEO: #VWEDU: How to use OBS to get video in virtual worlds. Not the long and short of it. Just the short. And a few links to the long.

How to use OBS to get video in virtual worlds.  
Not the long and short of it.  Just the short.  
And a few links to the long.

Use-case instruction for capturing video clips in virtual worlds with OBS.

OBS at the start

Click image to enlarge

Open Broadcaster Software

• OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software)
• Install and run Autoconfiguration.
• Completely free
• Compresses captured video to MP4. 
• Supports live streaming and recording.
• An introduction to OBS studio
• Tutorials from Open Broadcaster
• Tutorials about Open Broadcaster
• Articles about video from this blog
• Free video resources for virtual worlds
• Video/Machinima in virtual worlds. Community, Market, Resources
• The instructions 

Use-case instructions 

• Start with a single specified use of the product.
• Give detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to use the product for this goal.
• Add hyperlinks for how to do anything else needed to complete the task.
• Plan for use as JIT instruction.
• Ask for questions, collect and publish a page of FAQ.
• Use questions to suggest improvements in the instructions.

• Update 8/13/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: A field trip to virtual Mars. Jezero Crater. We are the digitals. We can go anywhere.

A field trip to virtual Mars.
Jezero Crater. 

We are the digitals.
We can go anywhere.

Dr. Schmactenberg, designer of the field trip to Mars, describes and demonstrates his lesson plan for the field trip to the virtual Martian scene.  

• Watch on YouTube

• A field trip to virtual Mars. Jezero Crater. 
• We digitals can go anywhere. 
• by Dr, William Schmachtenberg 
• Franklin County HIgh School (Virginia) 
• For his Earth Science class

• Under development on 3DWebWorldz
• No need to register--enter as a guest  
• Come in my office times and I will help you find it
• Jezero Crater (Wikipedia)
• Perseverance

Jezero Crater - Learning Room

• Learn about the geology of Mars and the Mars 2020 Mission - 
• then step through the airlock and collect samples in the search of ancient life!
• Region Owner: William Schmachtenberg

3D objects located on this region:

• Jezero_learn - Evie_Marie
• Nasa Rover - Curiosity 

Go there

• Under development here: 3DWebWorldz

• Update 8/13/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: #DTA: Video: Case study in support of a course on process plant safety. Video made safely and at low cost in a user-built virtual world

Case study in support of a course on process plant safety.  
Video made safely and at low cost in a user built virtual world 

Instructional video made in a virtual world. Case study of an accident with hazardous material in a process plant created in a virtual world with simulated equipment.

• Watch on YouTube:

• Case study of a chemical splash accident in a process plant 
• In support of PPT 151 Process Plant Safety at Montana State University Billings.
• Process plant

Instruction on working in a process plant

• The equipment is big, hazardous and in continuous operation
• Operator errors can be costly and dangerous.  
• Simulation offers a safe way to create demonstrations of accidents and how to avoid them.  

• Update 8/13/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 EDU: PEOPLE: Social user-built 3D on the web: an extension of your living room, your office, your classroom, or your campus. But this extension reaches into your laptop.

Social user-built 3D on the web: 
an extension of your living room, 
your office, or your classroom. 
But this extension reaches into your laptop.

How we digitals use 3D user-built virtual worlds on the web for social educational, and business purposes  

• Watch on YouTube

A user-built digital place 

• Much like the "real" world that we are accustomed to.
• It looks like our normal world.
• If you come at the right time, there are people (avatars).
• The people are talking to each other.
• They are all doing what they please. 
• Some may be playing a game.
• They may be singing and dancing.
• They may be telling jokes.
• A few may be building something.
• Or maybe just rearranging furniture (in a user-built place).
• Some may be taking pictures or making videos.
• Some will be so busy on their own projects that you won't see them.
• They are in a class or holding a business meeting.
• Some may just be looking around.

• Update 8/13/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: Virtual Ability, Inc on HealthInfo Island: Displays and exhibits. Nonprofits teach, too. Here is an example in from the digital worlds

Virtual Ability, Inc on HealthInfo Island: 
Displays and exhibits. Nonprofits teach, too.  
Here is an example in from the digital worlds

The digital world teaching work of Virtual Ability, Inc. An example of how to present knowledge in virtual worlds

Healthinfo island

Focus for August

• Minority Donor Awareness Week
• Healthcare for the Homeless
• August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day
• Yo! Hangover, Dude!
• August is Psoriasis Awareness Month
• How to Curb Antibiotic Resistance
• What is Neuropathy?

Virtual ability outreach

• Virtual ability: blog
• Virtual ability: website
• Virtual ability: Facebook
• Virtual ability--YouTube

Go there

• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/132/125/24

• Update 8/6/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: Geology field trip to a tropical island. Introduction to rock types.

Geology field trip to a tropical island.  
Introduction to rock types.

By Dr, William Schmachtenberg, Franklin County HIgh School (Virginia) for his Earth Science class  And for other science classes in Virginia schools.  Maybe for other schools teaching geology.

• Watch on YouTube

• Under development on 3DWebWorldz
• No need to register--enter as a guest  
• Come in at my office times and I will help you find it
• Geology
• Igneous
• Sedimentary
• Metamorphic

3D objects located on this region:

• Beach Setting - Evie_Marie, https://sketchfab.com/TheHyperChimp

Go there

• Under development here: 3DWebWorldz

• Update 8/6/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #DTA: #VWEDU: Leaderboard alternatives in education managed by a digital teaching assistant (DTA): Recent rate. Rate per badge. Gamification

Leaderboard alternatives in education  
managed by a digital teaching assistant (DTA): 
Recent rate. Rate per badge.  Gamification.

Many educators see motivational problems with leaderboards.  A digital teaching assistant can support alternatives that may offer better gamification and better motivation.

The Empty Classroom

Taking notes is not the only skill

Do leaderboards motivate everyone?

• Leaderboards in education
• If you are way ahead, you can slack off.
• If you are way behind, you can give up.
• Some see themselves falling farther behind every week.
• How does a leaderboard work in games?
• Games are short.  Soon you start a new game with a clean slate.
• You get to pick your game.  You have a choice. 
• A digital teaching assistant (DTA) can easily handle the implied adjustments

• Update 8/6/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: Schools, colleges, and universities with classes in user-managed virtual (digital) places.

Schools, colleges, and universities 
with classes in user-managed virtual (digital) places. 

A collection of instructional units offered in virtual worlds.  These may be part of a digital campus of the future.   This list will be updated when new information is available. 

Universal campus (Kitely)

Virtual places mentioned here

• Second Life
• Kitely (OpenSimulator) 
• Metaverse School  (CybaLOUNGE)  
• 3DWebWorldz

What does user-managed mean?

• Users can create or buy objects for their places.
• Owners control who enters the place and what they can do in the place.
• The place and the changes persist.
• Users can write or buy scripts to make their objects perform actions. 
• A persistent place the user can modify can invoke a sense of ownership.
• Students can be given their own places to hold symbols of their learning. 

• Update 8/6/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: #DTA: Virtual Laboratory Training and Career Center: BioHazard

Virtual Laboratory Training 
and Career Center: 
BioHazard

Updated 8/24/2020

Sally Cherry talks about the training she provides for people in, entering ;or considering a career in medical testing.  She shows posters with authoritative content on managing biohazards and how they are easily accessed on the web

• Watch on YouTube

Virtual Laboratory Training and Career Center: BioHazard

• Virtual Laboratory Training and Career Center
• Virtual Laboratory Training & Career (VLTC) Project (web page)
• https://real2virtual2real.com/
• Facebook connection: 
• https://www.facebook.com/VirtualLaboratoryTrainingCenter/

The overall mission of the VLTC Project

• integrate clinical laboratory training; 
• showcase medical laboratory resources; 
• share laboratory and public health information;  
• promote medical laboratory careers within 3D immersive virtual worlds.
• Virtual Laboratory Training and Career Center: Virus model
• Virtual Laboratory Training and Career Center: Training, SARS testing

Go there

• Kitely page: Virtual Laboratory Training and Career Center (VLTCC)

Creator

• Sally Cherry (45 years as ASCP-certified Medical Technologist)
• YouTube channel by Sally Cherry

• Update 8/6/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 #VWEDU: Heavy industry: Big equipment: Operator errors can be costly and dangerous. Simulation offers safe learning. And for teams, too.

Heavy industry: Big equipment: 
Operator errors can be costly and dangerous.  
Simulation offers safe learning.  
And for teams, too.

Training for work in heavy industry.  The equipment is big, expensive and hazardous. You don't want anybody near it without experience.  But how can people get experience?   Simulation,  

• Watch on YouTube

Simulated training environment

• Introduction to a new virtual training environment for Process plants
• Just like being in a refinery or chemical plant.
• Creator's faculty website: Andy Sullivan's Homepage
• at Montana State University Billings.

Contents (by time): 

• 0:00 Simulator overview and advantages 
• 2:23 About the tool creator / how to contact / workforce development
• 2:42 How to become an operator 
• 3:53 Students working as a team to restart furnace 
• Permission was given by students to show their avatars in the video

• Update 8/6/2020 . Opensim Fest 2020 coming August 28-30 STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®.

2020 Virtual: #VWEDU: OSCC19 VIRTUAL WORLD EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS OVERVIEW AT CVL

OSCC19 VIRTUAL WORLD EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS 

OVERVIEW AT CVL

This presentation will share an overview of open sim projects developed by the Community Virtual Library. The CVL Hypergrid Resource Library, located in Avacon and Kitely, as well as several other projects will be highlighted.

• Watch on YouTube
• VidReader

• Update 7/30/2020 . STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®. July. Opensim Fest 2020 coming in August

2020 #VWEDU: BIZ: Project-based learning can develop work-group skills--if it uses team projects It needs a DTA familiar with group facilitation roles.

Project-based learning can develop work-group skills--
if it uses team projects 
It needs a DTA familiar with group facilitation roles.

Consideration of how project-based learning can teach the skills needed to function effectively in work groups, thus adding a new amd valuable skill set to the course.  

Web-world for nonprofits 

and public service organizations

• Project-based learning
• Project-based learning in this blog 
• DTA: Digital Teaching Assistant
• Group facilitation roles (search)
• Group facilitation roles  (Wikipedia)
• Scholarly articles for Group facilitation roles
• Scholarly articles for Leadership Styles and Facilitation Skills

• Update 7/30/2020 . STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®. July. Opensim Fest 2020 coming in August

2020 ART: VIDEO: “Deeper” Installation art

“Deeper”  
Installation art 

Another work of installation art, poetry and video by the prolific Karima Hoisan.

• Watch on YouTube

Go there

• On the web
• Digital Rabbit Hole
• HG address:
• grid.kitely.com:8002:Deeper
• In Kitely:
• hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Deeper/132/128/23
• Travel tips for the Hypergrid. A DTA content page

• Other work by Karima Hoisan: after the break

• Update 7/30/2020 . STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®. July. Opensim Fest 2020 coming in August

2020 #VWEDU: Virtual World TV: Programming from the digital world. Audience participation at a cost so low it could be disruptive.

Virtual World TV 
Programming from the digital world. 
Audience participation at a cost so low it could be disruptive.

 Virtually reality Game Show played in real time with avatars from around the world.

• Watch on YouTube

• No travel. no studio.  Just computers.
• The 1st Question > Virtual World Television < Proof of Concept
• PookyMedia

Pooky

• Talk with her about the Future of Game Show TV 
• Or about  Multi - Person User Television 
• info@pookymedia.com
• Over a decade of experience in this field.

• Update 7/30/2020 . STÖMOL is a feature-length sci-fi video done in Second Life®. July. Opensim Fest 2020 coming in August