ALEXWEBLOG: мај 2016

The third annual Second Life MOOC (SLMOOC16) took place from April 1-30, 2016 on WizIQ/SL. The theme of the current MOOC was peace through learning and connecting online for instruction and learning via web technologies such as Second Life. The MOOC was focused on connecting online for collaborative learning and teaching around the world through Second Life. The live presentations included the speakers’ reflective process on teaching and learning in fully online and blended learning formats.

This event gave to me the opportunity to be connected with the other attendees. All partecipants introduced their first life and second life avatar in an introduction forum. But there were many ways to cooperate and to have an exchange. Speakers and tutors have been approachable and supported learners with their comments and especially by examples.

After all, the level of partecipation in Second Life by schools and universities suggests considerable confidence that the application really does effectively combine technologies with the quality of a shared space. So I convinced myself that virtual worlds allow students to interact in 3D spaces. I didn’t imagine how many educators pursue hundreds of experiments to elucidate the elements of a meaningful educational experience in fields ranging from music to the sciences to history.

I partecipated in most of webinars, especially in SL. But sometimes, work engagements prevented me from taking live sessions, so I watched many of them registred on YouTube Channel. After the Opening Dance, when many partecipants got to know one another, my first lesson has been in the Community Virtual Library: there I knew for the first time a virtual world and its possibilities for teaching and learning, guided by Valery Hill.

Gentle Heron guided to the heart of some interesting questions, for example How virtual ability supports education, educators and students, contributing to a positive behavior change. A more applicative lesson about Easy methods for making exceptional online videos took place by John Orlando. He showed how effectively use some video presentation tools (I immediately tested them!).

I still want to mention Learn in town; an example how learning by doing (in this case by listening) can be useful to learn english as L2. Fundamental the lesson of Nancy Zincrone about Resouces for teachers in VW.

Therefore the first challenge I might encounter in implementing this way of teaching is to involve colleagues in a cooperative work.

To do this, I would show them the real potential of VW, perhaps taking them on tour through some of the most interesting places in Second Life. I am certain that they would be exited about the opportunities that virtual environments can offer. VW enable teachers and students to work together synchronously and then return, individually or as a team. The learning space is always available, not just for geographically dispersed groups but even those who meet regularly in the physical world. This is particularly useful when students require more flexible schedules or need to work asynchronously on the same project. But what is fantastic is that virtual environments help to diffuse a learning component or entire programs exclusively in immersive learning worlds.

This is what I would like to do in my future, amplifying teaching and learning beyond capabilities afforded by teleconference calls and web presentation tools, but also training simulations. What’s better? Reading about Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in a book or walking through the chapel doors and flying up to the top of the ceiling for a closer look?

Here I would also like to mention Just talk sesions with Nancy Zincrone in a relaxed way we talked about our experiences and plans in SL.