Tag: online learning

Brave Teleportation Around the World with the #VWMOOC2020

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Virtual world immersive learning environments provide a “real space” for learning across the globe with a sense of presence beyond webinars or online learning platforms like Canvas or Blackboard.  During the Virtual World MOOC 2020, Dr. Valerie Hill (Valibrarian) of the Community Virtual Library collaborated with Hajime Nichimura (Yan Lauria in virtual worlds).  Yan Lauria, who is located in Japan, has developed a teleportal system that shares simulations for education that are organized by subject.  Each month, Yan shares a tour for Community Virtual Library, and anyone can participate.  These tours are in voice and Valerie types in a chat window to help people follow Yan across the virtual world through teleportation.

Of course, watching this video as avatars teleport to Japan, Africa, France, and Italy is not the same experience as jumping into the virtual space yourself! The video was shot and shared through ZOOM during the Virtual World MOOC.

When one enters these simulated environments, there is a sense of “being there” beyond reading a book about a different culture.  In a virtual world, one controls the camera angles, walking, and interacting through active participation rather than passive viewing.

Together, learners can communicate across space and help each other juggle a variety of technological tools.  This is part of metaliteracy– a new way to view literacy beyond reading and writing.

Virtual Japan
Virtual African Savannah
Virtual Castle in France
Virtual Venice

Visit the narrow streets of Tokyo, a beautiful African Art Gallery, a French cathedral and the gondolas of Venice! One can stop and take a look at the beautiful view from way up at the top of a castle. Visit the Community Virtual Library calendar for more information about “Gateway to Thinking” (the teleportal system created by Hajime Nichimura (Yan Lauria) located in Second Life.

Our world has changed and continues to change, requiring us to develop new literacy skills (metaliteracy). “An exploration of global digital participatory culture spotlights a momentous change in the way we live and perceive our world, the “structure of feeling” evolving from postmodernism into metamodernism and the need to rethink literacy for a new era (Hill, 2020 p. 14)”.

Hill, V. J. (2020). Metamodernism and Changing Literacy: Emerging Research and Opportunities (pp. 1-225). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-3534-9

Quest for a Virtual PLC

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People have always shared ideas and learned in collaborative communities.  But today, especially with the rush to online learning during the Covid19 pandemic, joining a professional learning community (PLC) has become essential for educators to help the next generation of learners.

Choosing the best digital and virtual environments is a daunting task.  There simply is not enough time to explore them all!  But, together, we can be aware of the best applications and best practices for utilizing virtual environments.

An example of a PLC in virtual environments is the CVL Education Network provided by the Community Virtual Library.  Educators hold “office hours” in virtual spaces such as Second Life, Kitely, Opensim, Cybalounge, 3Dwebworlz, AltspaceVR, VirBela and many more. This spreadsheet shares virtual worlds (desktop) and virtual reality (headset) platforms for education with the goal of illustrating high quality virtual learning environments and helping educators become aware of possibilities. Note that there are five sheets to share various ways to connect and build a PLC and contact information to include your virtual office hours. Anyone (educators, artists, musicians, subject specialists, or lifelong learners) can use this spreadsheet to navigate and explore virtual environments.

CVL Main Branch is in Second Life

Virtual Learning: the world scrambles to find remote learning spaces

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Due to the Corona Virus, I find myself getting numerous questions about how to learn in virtual spaces! As Director of the Community Virtual Library, I have years of experience in immersive learning in virtual worlds. However, it is important to say that it is not a quick and easy tool to learn! In fact, my dissertation topic was factors contributing to the adoption of virtual worlds and findings showed the biggest obstacle was complexity. People have used the term “steep learning curve” to describe virtual worlds for years. The advantages and benefits, I firmly believe, are well-worth the effort. A few weeks of exploration and navigation of the interface provides most of us with a comfort zone and a “sense of presence” that is much more suitable to learning than a web-based platform, quick apps, or webinars.

Librarians discussing virtual world learning environments

Help! Where do we start?

Learning how to utilize virtual worlds for education requires locating a virtual space (a simulated classroom or “sim”) and importing the curriculum used for specific learning outcomes, just as an educator does in the physical world. Building a professional learning network with other educators is the best starting point. Those educators are ready to help you! The International Society for Education (ISTE Virtual Environments Network) has several communities and individuals who meet regularly. Just FYI, I won the ISTE VEN Pioneer of the Year Award last year in 2019. Scroll down to the bottom!

Now’s your chance at VWBPE 2020

If you are interested in learning about virtual worlds, the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference 2020 takes place this month: March 26th-28th. I have several presentation during the conference which are available on the schedule.

Visit the Community Virtual Library

Anyone can visit the Community Virtual Library in Second Life or in other virtual worlds and tours can be scheduled. Joining educational groups helps educators find others who have paved the way for bringing deep learning and critical thinking into virtual spaces. Currently, VR headsets are NOT ready for mainstream. There is little research on how these headsets impact the human brain. Virtual worlds have been around for years and research documents high quality simulations for all subject areas.

Library tour at CVL

What age level should use virtual worlds?

Currently, virtual worlds are ready for higher education and some educators bring younger students into specific virtual spaces. Educators should explore first and find the best spot for learning. With all the questions coming my way, plans are underway for workshops to help newcomers explore virtual worlds!

Contact info: https://twitter.com/valibrarian

https://about.me/valibrarian