SL_Ye+Eun

__**Machinima**__ Machinima is using 3D computer graphics rendering engines to make a cinematic production (video) __**Mini-Research Project - To be completed for homework**__ Explore ITGS concepts and issues specific to Education and Training and the impact of technology
 * Use the Diigo feeds on the wiki as well as this Delicious set of bookmarks on SL
 * Write a paragraph describing the technical setup needed to access SL. Make sure it is clear so that a novice can start using SL from your instructions.
 * Write another paragraph defining these terms and using them to show understanding of the IT concept: avatar, machinima, teleport, render, streaming audio
 * What impact has SL or virtual worlds had on education? Explore these to write your answer:
 * MUD - what is a MUD? a MMORPGs? (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) ([|Definition], [|example])
 * How could SL or similar virtual learning environment support learning?
 * []
 * Take notes from videos watched in class
 * What are the main issues with using SL - social and ethical?
 * digital citizenship - knowing how to relate to others inworld, knowing how to act, communicate, collaborate?
 * people and machines - getting used to your avatar....what else?
 * Issues with learning in a virtual world - what are these?
 * Find ONE news item to do with learning and teaching in a virtual world
 * Read this article and follow links: Charting the rise of virtual education

__****__ It was the first meeting we had on second life. At fisrt, I was lost...but then Shawn teleported me, so I could get along with other students. It was cool to know that we could actually sit on a chair or fly in the sky. It was kind of hard to listen to other people talking. Because the internet was too slow, the words they speak was chopped up.

__****__ Today, we made our account and tried getting on second life. We chose our own avatar. We also added other people as friends. Some people had their name in the ID, some people didn't. It was confusing to know who is BISS student or not but some people didn't put their names considering the privacy. Though some people got on without any problems, some people were keep rejected by the second life. That happened to me also quite a few times. We hope this doesn't happen when we actually get to have a meeting on Tuesday.

__****__ 1) Describe your classroom personality (shy, outgoing, personable, engaged, etc). Our classroom is quite but everyone is engaged. The atmosphere is very free. Anyone who has ideas can talk freely. 2) How effective are you at communicating with other students and teachers on a day-to-day basis (Rate yourself from 1-5 with 1 meaning you are not effective and 5 meaning you are very effective). I am effective in communicating with other students and teachers on ning. But I would rate myself 3 because I don't come that often on ning or wiki. 3) How important do you think it is for your learning to have a “sense of community” in the classroom? Please explain. It is very important because I can share ideas with other students. I think this is important because we are also communicating with other students from WAB. 4) Are there some learning (classroom) activities where the use of technology helps you learn? If so, please explain why? The tuturials online helps me to learn about the new lessons. When we were learning about databases, we had toturials we could watch. I liked that becuase it really helped me. With all the words, I would not have understood everything that clearly. 5) Are there some learning (classroom) activities where technology does not help you learn? If so, please explain why? Sometimes technology does not help me in learning because it distracts me. Sometimes I find myself in school doing other things on computer instead of what we are supposed to be doing.
 * Questions about you as a Learner**

6) What are some ways that technology may connect people together? Wikispaces, blogs or ning can connect people together. Others may be social networking sites and MSN... 7) What are some ways that technology may make people feel disconnected? 8) Is there anything that you don’t like about technology? If so, explain. Technology allows us to connect to everywhere. I sometimes don't like technology because teachers can check anytime about our homework. When we didn't use laptops, our homework was always due the next day the fastest. But nowadays, teachers can make it due on that day at night and stuff. 9) What role does technology play in your learning? Technology has made my life easier in my learning. I can get work done faster than before with all the conveniences. I can do data/graph work on computer easily. 10) Are there any ways that technology gets in the way of your learning? If yes, provide some examples. Like I said, it sometimes distracts me when doing my homework. Everytime I get the internet connection, I am somewhat dragged to facebook, msn, and places wher I can communicate with my friends. I really try not to be distracted but it became my habit, doing social networking first and then doing homework. This makes me spend more time each night.
 * General Questions about Technology**

11) What are the virtual learning tools we use in the classroom already? Describe briefly how these are used to support your learning.
 * Questions about Virtual Learning**

12) What do you think are the advantages of using tools that allow us to connect and collaborate online? What are the disadvantages? Because we can collaborate with other schools using the tools, we can share our ideas. Our way of thinking expands to bigger range. We can get ideas and thougths that we couldn't have thought of from other classes. The disadvantages are that sometimes we can't connect with them. Some people just come and get the ideas without even communicating with us. Some people never reply to the messages on the wiki or ning. 13) Have you had a 3D virtual world experience before? If yes, describe your experience. No. 14) What do you think classroom learning will be like inside a virtual world like Second Life (SL)? I think it will be fun because every one of us look different than who we are. We can move everywhere we want, we can chat with people, call people and etc. 15) What importance, if any, do you place in creating your own avatar? The most importance is that I don't put any false information about me on the avatar profile. 16) What role do you think your avatar will play in how you interact with your classmates and teacher in SL? Avatar will play the role of me and interact with my classmates. I think I will be able to talk to people that I didn't used to because they sit far away. In this second life, I can move closer to them and talk. 17) Do you think learning inside SL will be challenging? If so, how? I think it will be challenging because I never had experience about this before. 18) What sort of classroom ITGS activities do you think will be possible inside SL? 19) How might relationships in a virtual world like SL be different from face-to-face interactions? Some people in our class were shy so they didn't talk much during classes. With this opportunity now, I think anyone can talk freely and interact more than they did before. No one will be shy now.