SECONDLIFE

Today’s agenda:

I. Second Life…What Is It?

A. An IntroductionB. Definition of Terms

III. Kansas’ NeedIV. The Solution

A. SL as a Solution to Teacher Retention a. Lets Take a Tour

b. Events

II. Second Life In Academia

A. Why Academics Use Second LifeB. Examples of Academic Use

An Introduction

A. What’s the Data With Kansas?a. What are the demographics?b. What are the statistics

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Basic DefinitionsSecond Life

•Second Life (SL) is a ‘virtual world’, accessible via the Internet, developed by Linden Lab.

•It launched on June 23, 2003.

A free client program called the Second Life Viewer enables its ‘residents’ to interact with each other through ‘avatars’.

Definition of Terms

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Moving About

Avatars Can Fly

They can also create and trade virtual property and services with one another, or travel throughout the world, which residents refer to as the ‘grid’.

•Explore•Meet others •Socialize• Argue

Residents can also…

My Avatar

•Is ‘Alter Self’ in cyberspace•Designed upon first entry into SL•Interacts with Other Avatars•Participates in individual and group activities

•Watch Movies•Present•Teach•Play Games

And yes, Avatars can fly.

Definition of Terms

SECONDLIFEDefinition of Terms

OwnershipCover Your Assets

the digital images referred to as textures that decorate primitives, digitized audio clips, avatar shape and appearance, avatar skin textures, LSL scripts, information written on notecards, and so on. Each asset is referenced with a universally unique identifier or UUID.

Every item in the SL universe is referred to as an asset. This includes the shapes of the 3D objects known as primitives,

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Linden Scripting Language

Adding Dimension

Built into the software is a three dimensional modeling tool based around simple geometric shapes that allows a resident to build virtual objects.

This can be used in combination with the Linden Scripting Language which can be used to add functionality to objects.

An Introduction

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The Second Life Terms of Service ensure that users retain copyright for any content they create, and the server and client provide simple digital rights management functions.

The Software

The Law Is Everywhere

Adding Complexity

More complex three dimensional Sculpted prims (colloquially known as sculpties), textures for clothing or other objects, and animations and gestures can be created using external software.

An Introduction

In the picture to the right, my avatar is looking at some of the dropdown functions of the SL program.

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There are over one hundred regions used for educational purposes.

Instructors and researchers in Second Life favor it because it is more personal than traditional distance learning.

Second Life is used as a platform for education by many institutions, such as colleges, universities, libraries and government entities.

Academia

Why use Second Life?

Second Life in Academia

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New educational institutions have also emerged that operate exclusively within

Second Life taking advantage of the platform to deliver a high quality service to

a world wide audience at low cost.

Harvard’s Berkman Center

Ohio University

At least 300 universities around the world teach courses or conduct research in SL.

Examples of Academic Use

AcademiaWho Uses It?

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Info Islands uses library programming sponsored by the Illinois' Alliance Library System

Online Programming for All Libraries (OPAL) currently offers a library within Second Life.

A host of other government agencies, universities, and museums are on SL including: NASA, NOAA, NIH, JPL, NPR, and the National Physical Laboratory.

In December 2008, the United States Air Force launched MyBase, a Second Life island overseen by the Air Education and Training Command.

Examples of Academic Use

Academia

Who Uses It?

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Kansas can be a balmy 60 degrees with clear skies, and 20 degrees and snowing… both at the same time, at two different ends of the state.

In Kansas, you can walk into a restaurant, chatting with someone in shorts and a t-shirt. and come out an hour later needing a down jacket.

Kansas’ Need

What’s the Data With Kansas?

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

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Our schools have no less diversity.

Some of our districts will have a population of 30-40, others, 50,000 students.

Kansas Schools are on land that ranges in price from $20,000 for a square yard, to $20,000 for a square mile.

And our students speak dozens of different languages, and come from all corners of the globe.

Kansas’ Need

What’s the Data With Kansas?

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Is it any wonder Kansas has a Recruitment and Retention problem?

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What’s the Data With Kansas?

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

One of the ways Kansas decided to address this issue is through the 3d environment.

Rich White, with the help of SPDG funding, has created ‘Second Life Greenbush Island’.

The Island itself has six main geographic areas: Conference Center, Visitor’s Pavilion, Auditorium, Vendor Pavilion, Headquarters and Offices.

And there are three areas of focus: Content delivery ,Collaboration, Academic Services

SECONDLIFELets Take a Tour

The Main Entrance

Also called the ‘Vendor Pavilion’ this area links to the other areas and provides an overview, with questions posed on the board to my avatar's left.

To my avatar's right, you can see the Headquarters and Offices. They are used for Office hours for recruiters or teachers.

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The Auditorium

The auditorium is typically used as a Lecture hall. Presenters can stream audio and video, with live feeds, guests, and questions from the audience.

Lets Take a Tour

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The Conference Center

The Conference Center is typically used for small group discussions. It offers many of the same features as the Auditorium, but with smaller groups.

Lets Take a Tour

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The Visitor’s Pavilion

The Visitor’s Pavilion is typically used when Educators want to get together and discuss different topics.

Lets Take a Tour

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Events

The Job Fair

The Island also has events. Our main, yearly event is the Kansas Job fair. Schools from across Kansas entertain potential applicants from all corners of the world.

Events

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EventsThe Job Fair

As teachers enter the island, they sign in to the guestbook, make comments, or proceed.

The pre-registration allows for a level of security. We can lock down the island. “You’re off the island!”

Essentially, Registration allows restriction.

Events

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Big Brother?

THE Data

Potentially one of the best aspects of the island is the collection of data.

Ever hosted a conference, only to find that the best data can be found in the conversations? Here, the data can be reviewed and your conversations analyzed.

Events

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•Greenbush Island has been around about 2.5 yrs. •Two Recruitment fairs have taken place•It is simply another component to our recruitment•60 clients in Greenbush Island at last count•The Island provides a level of communication and ‘intimacy’ not available through the telephone.

Conclusions

Overview

Conclusions