SL_Shawn

= WEEK 2 =

Mini-Research Project - To be completed for homework
> - - The minimum requirements for Second life is a computer that has 800MHz Pentium III or Athlon, or better one for computer processor, Internet connection, operating system that is XP, Vista, or Windows 7 in 32-bit only, 512MB or more of computer memory, 1024x768 pixels of screen resolution, and NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or ATI Radeon 8500, 9250 or Intel 945 chipset of Graphics Card. -Avatar is another form of you in the virtual world.
 * 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

In your Journals discuss these questions:

 * What are your thoughts about SL now you have been inworld?
 * Share any difficulties or challenges you had moving around, sitting, flying, finding places.
 * Share any pictures you took while in SL. Describe these.
 * What was your favourite part about going into SL?

**Recording in SL: What is Machinima?**

 * CamStudio (@http://camstudio.org/),
 * Fraps (@http://www.fraps.com/), costs just around $40...or the ultimate,
 * Camtasia (http://www. techsmith.com/camtasia/), Version 7 costs $300
 * Others? Jing? What else?

5/10 Today, We had a meeting in Second life at 9pm. We met at CIS (China International School) island. At the beginning of the meeting, it was hard to hear someone's voice due to the background music in the island. Before the meeting, i changed my cloths to something weird, then it keep tumbling when i run. During the meeting, we briefly tested how we use our microphones, and introduced about the island.

5/6 Today, we made an account in Second life, then we learned how to control or do things in Second life. I can fly in Second life!!!! that was the most awesome thing to do i found in Second life.


 * Second life Journal Entry**

Second Life Research - Pre-Survey Questions
1) Describe your classroom personality (shy, outgoing, personable, engaged, etc). Tend to be passive and shy for some, and outgoing for some. 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). 4 3) How important do you think it is for your learning to have a “sense of community” in the classroom? Please explain. it is one of the most important things to have in the classroom since the classroom is small size of society. I think we learn more by sharing our ideas and what we know so i think sense of community is important. 4) Are there some learning (classroom) activities where the use of technology helps you learn? If so, please explain why? I daily use my mac to do my homework such as Excel, Pages and PowerPoint, and also I use mac as a book in the school, so it's really useful. 5) Are there some learning (classroom) activities where technology does not help you learn? If so, please explain why? During ITGS classes, mostly we have to get online and meanwhile many online news or fun blogs come up and they interrupt my attention on ITGS.
 * Questions about you as a Learner**

6) What are some ways that technology may connect people together? Social media, such as Facebook. 7) What are some ways that technology may make people feel disconnected? I think it's the same thing. Social media. If no one comments on my blogs or facebook, it makes me to feel disconnected. 8) Is there anything that you don’t like about technology? If so, explain. The carelessness of reality caused by the technology is what i hate the most. Sometimes, i see the news that a man killed a person because the person killed the man's avatar in the game, or the parents let their baby die because they forgot to feed their baby due to the playing online game. 9) What role does technology play in your learning? It's kind of my mom. It's kind of the thing that I cannot live without the technology. As I said, my mac can be a text book in the class, searching solution machine, a dictionary, and etc. 10) Are there any ways that technology gets in the way of your learning? If yes, provide some examples. i think every ways i learn involves technology. For example, Searching information on the internet to learn something.
 * 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. Wikispaces: We put our works and the others can edit the information to correct them. 12) What do you think are the advantages of using tools that allow us to connect and collaborate online? What are the disadvantages? We can share our ideas and perhaps we can be socialised more. i would say that the disadvantage is the difficulty of the access on online. Especially in China, some websites are blocked and it's too slow to get online. 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)? No idea 15) What importance, if any, do you place in creating your own avatar? Appearance and the name of it 16) What role do you think your avatar will play in how you interact with your classmates and teacher in SL? No idea... 17) Do you think learning inside SL will be challenging? If so, how? May be the connection problem. 18) What sort of classroom ITGS activities do you think will be possible inside SL? discussion or maybe debate 19) How might relationships in a virtual world like SL be different from face-to-face interactions? I think it might be more active in SL then face to face since we just type, not talk.
 * Questions about Virtual Learning**