Monday, November 30, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: How to expand your Kitely virtual world. Megaworlds and teleport. Walk in TP works for avatars. Object TP for vehicles


How to expand your Kitely virtual world   
Megaworlds and teleport.  
Walk in TP for avatars. Object TP  for vehicles.
Consideration of how teleports and object teleports can extend the world for users to more distant points (as subways do for NYC).
Walkin TPs at Cookie II entry point

Sunday, November 29, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: How to get Immersed in online virtual worlds. A visit to the Community Virtual Library (CVL). The online PLC of educators in virtual worlds.


How to get Immersed in virtual worlds
A visit to the Community Virtual Library
The informal online PLC of educators in virtual worlds.

Online virtual worlds suitable for education have been around for over 15 years.   And educators have been exploring their potential.  These user-built worlds let educators build the environment they want and program it to support their objectives.

Education in virtual worlds

  • The key was user-built virtual worlds.  
  • No game rules. No game goals. Building and programming support.
  • Build a world as you want it, program it as you want, use it as you please.
  • Soon the educators began to find each other and form professional groups.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: An online meeting about online teaching in an online PLC. Plans for teaching in Second Life during the 20-21 academic year.


An online meeting about online teaching in an online PLC. 
Plans for teaching in Second Life during the 20-21 academic year.  

That's a lot of online.  But we virtual worlders have been online a lot of time. Many of us started more than 15 years ago.  Some of us have been teaching online for much of that time.   And we are happy to share our experience with new people.

Friday, November 27, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: OPLN: Catching events in your online PLN. Meetings about online learning. Like webinars except they are free with no registration. More like collaboration than a lecture.


Catching events in your online PLN.  
Meetings about online learning.  
Like webinars except they are free with no registration. 
More like collaboration than a lecture.

Finding events in your Online Professional Learning Network (OPLN). Like webinars except less formal.  And free.  And with more collaboration.

Who?

  • Educators, home schoolers, pod schoolers, self-schoolers

Online?

Virtual worlds? 

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: OPENSIMULATOR COMMUNITY VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: December 5-6, 2020. Registration now open!


OPENSIMULATOR COMMUNITY VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: 
December 5-6, 2020. 
Registration now open!
OSCC20 is coming Dec 5-6 2020.  Put that on your schedule.

Monday, November 23, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: Outreach: Contacts. If we want more educators in virtual worlds, we need to focus on outworlders Developing contacts


Outreach: Contacts
If we want more educators in virtual worlds, 
we need to focus on outworlders
Developing contacts.

Consideration of how virtual world educators can reach out to educators not familiar with virtual worlds.  

Brick and mortar education
  • Outworld is the opposite of inworld.
  • Inworld means in a virtual world.
  • Outworld, in the name of this blog, means not in a virtual world.
  • After the break:  Outreach channels.

Promising outworld interests

Community Virtual Library outreach

Sunday, November 22, 2020

2020 #VWEU: Online library in 3DWebWorldz Part 3: Victorian: Romanticism, Gothic, and Science Fiction


Online library in 3DWebWorldz Part 3: 
Victorian: Romanticism, Gothic, and Science Fiction

Paper literature of the Victorian era that became the movie literature of the 20th century.

Who would be interested

  • Teachers and students of English literature, cultural history, and theater.
  • Librarians, book clubs, and writers
  • Below: The rise of the online library

Saturday, November 21, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: Digital literacy. He did it in Classcraft. Like a detective story. Could you do it better in your favorite virtual world? Are your students the heroes who will solve this problem?


He did it in Classcraft. 
Like a detective story.  
Could you do it better in your favorite virtual world?  
Are your students the heroes who will solve this problem?
Consideration of how a story could be created in a virtual world to engage students in activities that develop skills on digital literacy, teamwork, and presentation.  Plus knowledge of some selected STEM content.
Students as detectives


Friday, November 20, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: #DTA: Microcredentials for the teachers, badges for the kids, guild ranks for the teens. All learning is microlearning, whether educators use it or not.


Microcredentials for the teachers, 
badges for the kids, guild ranks for the teens.  
All learning is microlearning, 
whether educators use it or not.
Learning requires focus.  Focus needs a goal.  Progress is one step at a time.  Badges mark the steps.  Teachers don't have time to manage all those badges.  Computers do have the time. 
Goal setting

Microlearning and skill sets 



Tuesday, November 17, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: VWBPE2021, "Reconnaissance" March 18-20, 2021 Call for proposals: 7 tracks, 5 formats, 3 types.


VWBPE2021, "Reconnaissance"  
March 18-20, 2021 
Call for proposals: 7 tracks, 5 formats, 3 types. 


VWBPE exhibits space 2020
Not your father's conference hall

Submission closing dates for 3 types of proposals

  • Presentations: 13 January 2021
  • Exhibits: 10 February 2021
  • Immersive Experiences: 10 February 2021

Proposals are especially invited from these communities

  • Educators and Trainers
  • vLanguage Members
  • ArtistsDesigners and Builders
  • Advocacy and NonProfit organizations
  • Support and Help Communities
  • Entertainers and Performers
  • CodersScripters, and System/IT Analysts
  • Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Monday, November 16, 2020

2020 WW: PROMO: OSCC19 How web-based virtual worlds can serve as gateway to installed virtual worlds


How web-based virtual worlds can serve as 
gateway to installed virtual worlds

Web-worlds and installed virtual worlds: symbiosis.

  • The integration of a web based virtual world in a grid’s homepage can attract lots of new users by the ease of access and the ease of use. 
  • These users can then be guided to join your grid to experience OpenSim’s advanced features.
  • SceneGate developments will allow a voice connection between OpenSIm and Web-worlds

Web-Worlds now!

  • CybaLOUNGE
  • 3DWebWorldz 
  • No download.  No registration.  Go to the page, enter as guest.
  • Details after the break

Saturday, November 14, 2020

2020 FREE: Find free virtual world stuff on Kitely. Maybe furniture, land parcels, stuff, sandbox, freebies, stores, fishing, education.


Find free virtual world stuff on Kitely.   
Maybe furniture, land parcels, stuff, 
sandbox, freebies, stores, fishing, education.

Kitely has good search support  inworld, on its Explore Worlds pages and on Kitely Market.  Here are the links to use.
Search term: free

Friday, November 13, 2020

2020 #VWEDU: Planning for the flipped and persistent webinar. Guided by the participants. Informed by a panel. Organized by 3DWebWorldz


Planning for the flipped and persistent webinar.  
Guided by the participants.  
Informed by a panel.  
Organized by 3DWebWorldz
Flipped: focus on participants.  Persistent: asynchronous participation allows continuing contact.  Synchronous working meetings arranged as needed.  Like a workgroup on discovery.    
 

Flipped Webinar

  • Focus on the participants rather than the "sage on the stage."
  • Flipped classroom (Wikipedia)
    • About what the participants want to know.
    • Rather than what the speaker thinks they should know.
    • Much like a large work group focused on discovery.

    Tuesday, November 10, 2020

    Monday, November 9, 2020

    2020 #VWEDU: WW: Digital Field trips for career exploration. On a browser? Only if you think computers will be in the future world of work.


    Digital Field trips for career exploration.  
    On a computer?  
    Only if you think computers will be in the future world of work.

    Locations to go to for digital field trips and suggestions for projects that students might do there in learning about careers they might pursue.
    • Some field trips are available in browser-based worlds.
    • These can be accessed on a Chromebook or smart tablet.
    • The performance may not be adequate without good WiFi.
    • More extensive field trips are available in installed virtual worlds.
    • Installed virtual worlds require a computer or laptop, probably above the lowest price. 

    Contents

    • Teaching with a digital field trip: Options
    • Common reflection considerations
    • Field trips in general
    • Field trips in a browser
    • Field trips: Installed virtual worlds
    • Occupational skills

    Sunday, November 8, 2020

    2020 #DTA: #VWEDU: Onboarding for teaching and learning in digital worlds. A microcredential (badge) model.


    Onboarding for teaching and learning in virtual worlds.  
    A microcredential (badge) model.
    A microcredential (badge) model for onboarding students and teachers into digital worlds. This article is explicitly licensed Public Domain (CC0).
    A digital class does not 
    need a classroom

    The badge story

    Saturday, November 7, 2020

    2020 VW: Kitely Megaworld. Over 2 KM on a side. With a server to itself. The area of 64 traditional sims. With no sim borders to cross.


    Kitely Megaworld.  Over 2 KM on a side.   
    With a server to itself.  
    The area of 64 traditional sims.  
    With no sim borders to cross.
    It's a big world!  A big digital makerspace.  On anybody's computer.  No travel, no  pandemic, no use cost.   Especially good for sailing, model railroads, and long distance auto races. Free for experimental use by builders in Kitely.
    My megaworld as created

    Friday, November 6, 2020

    2020 #VWEDU: Online library in 3DWebWorldz Part 2: Renaissance and Enlightenment


    Online library in 3DWebWorldz Part 2: Renaissance and Enlightenment
    Home school, pod school, self school, 
    online school, writers, readers, book clubs
    Miss Brenda, Jamie Jordan, and Selby discuss the items from the Renaissance and the Enlightenment in the collection of the library.  

    Tuesday, November 3, 2020

    2019 VWEDU: WW: Educational presentations in 3D. In the old days, we called them "lectures". But with modern technology, we don't just stand there and talk.


    Educational presentations in 3D.  
    In the old days we called "lectures".  
    But with modern technology, 
    we don't just stand there and talk.
    Educational presentations can take advantage of the opportunities offered by new technology.

    Monday, November 2, 2020

    2020 #VWEDU: Educational facilities:costs. Cost per square foot. Cost per student. Physical versus virtual. The savings could go into educational services


    Educational facilities:costs.
    Cost per square foot. Cost per student.
    Physical versus virtual. 
    The savings could go into educational services
    Comparison of the costs of virtual facilities for education and the costs of physical facilities.  This might also be instructive for companies that lease a lot of office space.
    Universal campus (Kitely)
    Free

    Facilities costs for US education

    • US school districts spent more than $14 billion on constructions in 2014.
    • Spaces4Learning 
    • 36th Annual Maintenance & Operations Cost Study for Schools
    • Maintenance & Operations Costs per student = $823.84
    • Maintenance & Operations Costs per square foot =  $5.09 
    • School Facilities COST CALCULATOR  (includes building costs)
    • Total annual ownership costs per sq. ft.=$15.90
    • NCES  Total expenditures per pupil also included $1,266 in capital outlay
    • Total annual cost per student= 1288+824 =  $2112.
    • What do students learn from a building?
    • Example of facilities costs in virtual worlds after the break.

    Sunday, November 1, 2020

    2020 VWMOOC20: ACRL Virtual World Interest Group presents a tour in Kitely


    VWMOOC20: ACRL Virtual World Interest Group 
    presents a tour in Kitely
    Sendalonde library
    Heather Ebey (Alexina Proctor) in ACRL Virtual World Interest Group presents a video tour in Kitely Sendalonde Library in Kitely.
    • Watch on YouTube
    • Sendalonde library is in the Kitely Wellspring region.
    • Previous article: Sendalonde library.
    • After losing five years of work due to a virtual world grid that is now defunct, 
    • Alex and Prax are rebuilding the Sendalonde library on the Kitely grid. 
    • On a sim called Wellspring, you will find library collections 
    • based on Sci-fi, Fantasy, Steampunk and Folklore.