Doctor of Computer Science Fall 2012 Innovations

During the Fall 2012 Workshop at Colorado Technical University's Doctor of Computer Science Symposium, our research students contributed their innovation ideas to a time capsule that they called their Brain Map.

In it, they worked in small groups to identify innovation areas for future research after watching several inspirational videos, including Corning's A Day Made of Glass 2: Unpacked and discussed their call to action for further research and development.  

Based on their recommendations for future research, we ended the session with a review of Microsoft's vision of the future, as featured in a video called Microsoft at 2020.

College Fair 2009 in Second Life

The College Fair 2009 in Second Life opened to a packed region of dedicated educators and enthusiasts.

I had a blast meeting educators new to Second Life and seeing some old friends at the Colorado Technical University exhibit booth.

On Sunday, I'm giving a presentation on Designing Games and Learning Activities at 6:15 AM Pacific time, which is also Second Life time.

And now, back to the news...

Saturday's sessions were lively as Claudia Linden opened with information about the educational opportunities, wikis, and resources available in Second Life.

In addition, she requested that educators send her updates each week of their activities in Second Life. This information will help her write additional case studies and to understand the state of virtual world education.

Her session was followed by Vic Michalak as he presented his research on Teaching International Courses in Second Life. He and Hopalong Oh, with his presentation entitled Why Second Life??? offered excellent information, tools and techniques.

Vic recommended the Universal Translator, which now supports 35+ languages, including Asian languages. Hopalong spoke about scavenger games and other stimulating activities in Second Life.

During the break before the Marcia Kloepper's Using Second Life for Agriculture, Animal and Poultry Science Instruction session, I toured the Front Range Community College's fantasy build. Their World of Warcraft image of an undead rogue wearing a pirate's hat in Booty Bay caught my attention. *grins*

I spent the next session listening to it from amid the flames from the Operation Afterlife (image on the left).

The evening ended with Krystine and Remington dropping by from a Caledon event. Krystine talked to Katie at CTU Online earlier in the day about Colorado Technical University's MBA program.

There are five speakers on Sunday with sessions running from 6:15 AM to 10:00 AM.

See you at the College Fair 2009 in Second Life!

Second Life Classes

You are welcome to join us during our class sessions in Second Life. While they are optional, they enhance your learning experience and give you real-time access to ask questions and discuss the course concepts and your research.

Please scan these instructions before creating your account and you will find it easier to join us for classes in Second Life.

Creating Your Second Life Account
For tips on how to create your free account and join us for class in Second Life, Visit my TCC 2009 Getting Started in Second Life Wiki at:

http://tcc2009.wikispaces.com/Getting+Started+in+Second+Life

Visit the NMC SL creation site (publishers of the Horizon Report) at: http://sl.nmc.org/join to create a new account.

Select a less common first name and choose a last name from the drop down list.

Don't remember your account information and can't get your old password for it? You can create a new free account for a different email address.

Accessing Second Life:
First you create an account, and then you download the SL software so you can access the 3D websites. You can log into SecondLife.com to check your account and access their tutorials, but this does not give you access to the virtual world. *smiles* You need the Second Life software, and it takes a couple of minutes to download and a couple of minutes to install it.

At first, you may get a message about your graphics card not being compatible. Even with the latest graphics cards, I get the same message and can use it. *smiles*

I've also included some short educational videos at the beginning of the TCC 2009 Getting Started in Second Life Wiki that offer tips on how to use the technology. For those new to it, do not worry if you do not have time to view them. We will cover these concepts as we conduct our class sessions in SL.

See you in Second Life! *cheers*

Back to the Future

It is great to see you again during our Fall term at Colorado Technical University. Thank you for posting your research plans and accomplishments in your class introductions.

On Saturday, October 10th, I gave a workshop on Emerging Media as a Mind Amplifier at the Doctor of Management Symposium. I'll be holding an abbreviated version of it during the DCS Symposium this week. The photo shows William Kamkwamba demonstrating a windmill that he created out of a bicycle as noted in one of the Ted Talks videos.

During this Fall 09 term, I am teaching two of my favorite classes, CS 820 Usability and Interaction and CS 855 Futuring and Innovation.

CS 820 uses an empirical testing approach to identify how to understand and support people and their interaction with systems better.

CS 855 examines the future by reviewing past forecasts and predictions, examining think tank processes, and studying what scholars use today to strategize and impact the future.

I'll post notes on this blog for both classes and highlights from my research for you to enjoy.

Our Second Life sessions include 30 minutes of course content, 20 minutes of Second Life skills and 10 minutes for research discussions and tips. If you wish to meet after our sessions, let me know.

And now, back to the future! *cheers*

How Music Changes a Video

Here is a version set to contemporary music of our Constitution Day and Colorado Technical University Class of 2009's Graduation Party footage, held in Second Life. Many thanks to our guests from the DM and DCS degree programs for playing the trivia game and helping us celebrate!


The slogan for the day, featured on one student's shirt, reads:

Come to the Dark Side
We have cookies!

Congratulations to our graduates! *cheers*

Constitution Day and Graduation Party

Our last Futuring and Innovation class featured a trivia game designed to celebrate Constitution Day and a party to honor our graduates.



Congratulations to our Colorado Technical University graduates! *cheers*

Game Simulation Tour in Second Life

As part of the Think Balm Innovation Community's Un-Lecture series, game design masterminds Mike McCrocklin and Dr. Andy Stricker in addition to the talented Toni Scribner and I will give a tour of their game simulation kit in Second Life for our LinkedIn Group attendees at 08:00 Pacific time today.

I created a third Animoto video to commemorate today's tour called A Game Simulation Kit in Second Life.

Speakers for the Un-Lecture Series No. 4

1. Charlie Herbek of CSC, http://tinyurl.com/n5a3r7

2. Leon Cych of Learn 4 Life, http://tinyurl.com/kqjo4e

3. Janalee Redmond of IMMERSION: tools.jam, http://www.linkedin.com/in/janred

4. Cynthia Calongne of Colorado Technical University, http://tinyurl.com/5uqgga

For more information about the game simulation at MyBase Zeta, visit my Slideshare presentation entitled Evaluating a Game Simulation Kit in Second Life. It features scenes from the game, rubrics for evaluating it, and a summary of student feedback after play testing the game in March 2009.

See you in Second Life! *waves*

Preparing for Graduation - Second Life Style!

In our CS 855 Futuring and Innovation class, we discussed the Animoto class activity and took a field trip to the NMC Orientation island's Educator Freebie Center to check out the tools, toys and avatar content.

We used the Game Design group voice channel so we could hear everyone even while traveling around Second Life.

Animoto is a fun, easy to use tool that takes your images, sets them to music and animates them. The free account allows you to create 30-second videos out of 8-15 slides.

While animated slides set to music may be foreign to some of us, the class found the Animoto videos stimulating and interesting.

At the end of class, one student modeled the NMC's regalia, and looked fine in his graduation cap and gown. This is our class's last doctoral course and we are looking forward to graduation. *cheers*

Our next class features a discussion of the final projects and observations from Technology's Promise by Dr. William Halal.

During our Second Life skills session, we will discuss presentation styles and tips for hosting conferences and seminars in Second Life.

Animoto Video - Second Life Summer 09 Classes

Our Week 8 class focused on analyzing alternatives for a modified Delphi process and a review of how Christakis' Energy Efficiency case study employed group work in their voting process. Our virtual world content creation activity examined how to create a heads up display (HUD) device.

As a retrospective from our CS 855 Summer 2009 classes held in Second Life, I created this 30 second CS 855 Summer 2009 Animoto video. The images highlight the discussions and virtual world building sessions held on Acheron LV426.



With Animoto, you can upload your images, drag and organize them, add text, set them to music and add a title and description before finalizing your video.

Creating a Heads Up Display Device

When creating a 3D HUD, the root prim may need to be rotated. Our sample HUD, the Boracay Hitchhiker's Guide to Second Life distributed by Corwin Carillon, had a 270 degree rotation on the y axis. This HUD uses images, landmarks, scripts and a notecard for associating the images with a category on the menu.

When editing the tour HUD, use Edit Linked Parts, a command on the upper right corner of the object edit menu, below the radio menu buttons. Edit Linked Parts allows you to edit a single prim within an linked object, in this case, the images and landmarks within the Contents tab.

Social Media's Impact on a Modified Delphi Process

While some modifications to the Delphi process reduce the number of iterations while preserving anonymity between respondents, Christakis used mixed methods with face-to-face participants, small groups and dialogue during a later iteration's voting process.

Our discussion focused on whether today's collaborative tools offer opportunities for tailoring and using the Delphi method. The class noted excellent reasons for using private responses vs. open collaboration, yet remarked on how online collaboration may encourage increased participation from the contributors who are less outspoken.

See you in Second Life! *waves*

Second Life Class on Campfire and Genie Chair Rezzers

This week's CS 855 Rezzer 2 Class featured using and creating a rezzer with one linked object.

Each student received a folder with sample rezzers for a campfire meeting and for a genie chair rezzer and a second folder with instructions on how to make a campfire meeting rezzer.

The genie chair's instructions were designed by Vanilla Jessop and the chair depicted at the left was created by Lyr Lobo. When you move the rezzer box, the chair moves with it.

The campfire meeting object was designed by Lyr Lobo.

The class discussions included the Delphi wiki activity, comments on the student blogs, the Structured Design Process and the August's Global Learning Forum event.


How to make a campfire meeting rezzer

By Lyr Lobo, a.k.a. Dr. Cynthia Calongne
Seating animation scripts by Lyr Lobo
Builder's Buddy Scripts created by Newfie Pendragon

1. Click the Build button on the bottom of your display window.

2. Rez a box (a cube - click the first icon on the Build menu and drop your cursor to the ground). Name your box Campfire rezzer on the General tab. Check the permissions at the bottom of the General tab to Modify and Copy.

3. Click the following Campfire rezzer texture and copy it to your inventory.

(a campfire rezzer texture is visible in Second Life)

Next, you will texture your cube with the Campfire rezzer texture.

4. Select the texture tab and select the big woodgrain texture box in the center left.

5. Look for your Campfire rezzer in your Textures folder or search for the texture Campfire rezzer, highlight it and press the Select button.

6. Select the Contents tab and drag the Builder's Buddy Base Script into your Campfire Rezzer box. It is located in your folder, but if you misplace it, click this Base script to copy it to your Scripts folder.

(a script called the Builder's Buddy Base Script is visible in Second Life)

Next, we will stop working on the rezzer box and rez the campfire meeting object in step 7.

7. Drag the object called Lyr's Campfire Meeting - no script from the folder (provided in class or available from Lyr Lobo) and drop it on the ground from your How to make a campfire rezzer folder.

8. Move the campfire meeting object about 1-2 meters from the rezzer box. Use the General tab and rename your campfire meeting object, removing "no script" from the title.

9. Drag the Builder's Buddy Component Script into the campfire object's Contents tab.

(a script called the Builder's Buddy Component Script is visible in Second Life)

10. When your campfire is in the right position and elevation, stop editing your project. Click the Campfire Rezzer box that has the base script inside it and click the Record button on the menu at the upper right of your display. It records the current position of the campfire from the box.

11. Take the campfire into your inventory (right click it and Take). Edit your Campfire Rezzer box that has the base script in it.

12. Drag the campfire meeting object into the Contents tab of your box. You should see the Base script and the campfire meeting object in your box.

13. Take your box into your inventory. Nothing should remain on the ground.

To use your Campfire Rezzer:

14. Drag the Campfire Meeting Rezzer to the ground (the base box).

15. Click the box and select the Build command.

16. The campfire appears and relocates itself to your recorded position.

To remove your campfire:

17. Click the box and select the Clean button. The copy of your campfire is deleted.

Enjoy your new campfire rezzer. If you make changes to it, repeat the earlier steps and record the new location. *smiles* Be sure to put a new version of your campfire inside the control box and delete any older versions after making changes.

You could make a rezzable environment with several objects each with a component script inside it. Once it is ready, click the Record button to record the locations, take all of the objects into your inventory and drag them into your base object for use.

Lastly, if you do not change the primchannel in both the base object and every component script that is used in the project, you may find that a similar base object deletes your objects. Use different primchannels inside your script (near the top of it) to avoid communication conflicts between objects.

Have fun! *waves*

Lyr Lobo, a.k.a. Dr. Cynthia Calongne
Colorado Technical University
August 19, 2009

Is that a Holodeck in your pocket? An introduction to rezzers

Tonight's class in Second Life included Second Life rezzer tips and an introduction to Christakis's case studies.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could create content that appeared when requested and disappeared when it is no longer needed?

To understand how rezzers work, we examined a simple rezzer, an object that copies and renders new objects when touched, and how rezzers work. Our example uses the Builder's Buddy rezzer design by Newfie Pendragon with its base and component scripts.

We rezzed and tested the Builder's Buddy interface, building and cleaning up our component objects, then discussed the primchannel variable in the Builder's Buddy program.

A primitive is a basic shape and the channel is a communication path. Prim = a primitive shape. A primchannel is a channel that the object uses to communicate with other objects. It is a variable name in this program.

Objects communicate over negative or positive channels. Avatars only use positive channels. The local chat, our default text chat channel, is channel 0 (zero) and does not require specifying the channel number to use it.

When objects are communicating only with other objects and not receiving instructions from a user over a channel, then use a negative primchannel (a negative number).

Our first task is to ensure that the base and component scripts use the same prim channel. You want to reset it to a matching number in both scripts so your object is not sending instructions and listening over the same channel as other objects.

When we did not reset the prim channel number, one student could request his rezzer to clean or delete his component object and everyone's component objects were deleted.

Next, we linked the primitive shapes into an object by editing a prim, holding the shift key, selecting the remaining objects and using the ctrl+L command to link them into a single linked object.

The four prims in the image to the left are linked. The prim with the yellow outline is the parent object. Child objects have a blue outline around them in edit mode.

After a brief study of rezzers and linked objects, we tore down the tree house with a single command and rebuilt it with a second command.

Next, we discussed a review of the Christakis' case study from Chapter 14 on how to get a drug developed and to market faster [1]. In addition to being an excellent example of using SDP to facilitate change, the case studies also illustrate alternative research methods using an action research approach.

Rather than read the case studies passively, we urge scholars to consider how to employ the method as a catalyst for social change.

As we shift to online collaboration, we recognize that document management may be insufficient for stimulating effective communication and rapid change. Christakis' observes that the 3-6 days of dedicated workshops accomplished the tasks that would normally take weeks or months to complete [1].

Next week, we will continue our discussion of Christakis' research and develop some new Second Life skills. To obtain a copy of the rezzer exercise folder, send an instant message in Second Life to Lyr Lobo.

References
[1] A. N. Christakis and K. C. Bausch, How People Harness their Collective Wisdom and Power to Construct the Future in Co-Laboratories of Democracy, 1 ed. Greenwich, Connecticut: Information Age Publishing, 2006, pages 93-98.

Great Thoughts - The Futurists

In our Week 5 class, we discussed the following thoughts about the future. This extends last week's discussion, when we observed that there is no single method for predicting the future.

“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” (Albert Einstein)

"Any useful idea about the future should appear to be ridiculous." (Jim Dator)

"A part of our future appears to be evolutionary and unpredictable, and another part looks developmental and predictable. Our challenge is to invent the first and discover the second." (John Smart)

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” (Albert Einstein)

“Forecasting is not a respectable human activity.” (Peter Drucker)

After discussing the semantics and how we would re-phrase them, one student closed our session with the following quote.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." (Arthur C. Clarke, "Profiles of the Future" - Clarke's third law).

Next week, we will examine how Christakis describes the SDP method and discuss a case study from his book during our Second Life class session.

Visit the CS 855 Summer 2009 list of blogs to the right to view the student discussions each week. The topics range from inspiring videos from Ted Talks, our opinions about the Horizon Report's predictions, the use of collaborative Web tools and our reflections on the future.

CS 855 Week 4 Classes in Second Life

We gathered twice this week to discuss our perceptions of the myths and truths that are associated with creativity and innovation.

Does creativity require creative people? Bill Breen raises the question in The 6 Myths of Creativity. Our responses ranged from no, anyone can have creative ideas to yes, when they are stimulated by necessity (a requirement) or executed by talented individuals who have the tools and skills to envision these ideas.

Each of us has the opportunity to meet the creative challenge.

Does technological innovation have a method? Scott Berkun, in the interview about his book The Myths of Innovation, notes that in retrospect, the stories of how certain innovations evolved may seem as if they were derived from a logical progression of steps. Yet, if the creators of each incremental development were interviewed, the failures and uncertainty associated with evaluating and rejecting alternative approaches would surface. There is no single method.

While we did not constrain our discussion of creativity and innovation to technology, one of our focal points in this course is to understand how new ideas become future technologies.

Near the end of class, we created content in Second Life, using the building tool to develop a one prim design that began as a tube, evolved into a 1) one prim stool, 2) twisted into a fountain and 3) rotated, stretched and textured into a Tiffany lamp.

The term prim is describes a single primitive shape, one of the beginning shapes offered in the Second Life building tool. These shapes a cube, prism, sphere, cylinder, torus, tube and ring. There are also modifications to these basic shapes and a sculpted shape available in the SL building tool.

Next week, we will meet on Thursday (August 6th) from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Mountain time. The first and last half hour will include some Second Life content and skills while the middle of the class will explore futuring and innovation concepts.

CTU Doctoral Defense News

Congratulations are extended to Matthew Purkeypile for his research on Quantum Computing, Paul Yanzick for his research on Web Services for Embedded Devices, Brent Wilson for his research on Distributed Networks and Neighborhoods and David Graves for his research on IT Service Management. They successfully defended their doctoral research and presented it to the Institute for Advanced Studies during our Doctoral Symposium last week.

In addition to our formal graduation ceremony, we held a ceremony during our Doctoral Symposium to share the celebration with the Doctor of Computer Science students and faculty.

Dawn Frankovich and Will Henry presented their research during the Spring Doctoral Symposium and are also graduating this Summer. *cheers*

The graduation photos depicted in this post were taken by the friends and family of Paul Yanzick and Matt Purkeypile, and are hosted on Matt, Paul and Brent's Facebook sites.

Maurice Dawson's doctoral defense is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2009 at 1:00 Mountain in our Adobe Acrobat Connect meeting room. As future defenses are scheduled, I will also announce them in Twitter.

Congratulations to our Colorado Technical University graduates! *cheers*

CS 820 Week 3 in Second Life

On Thursday, April 30, we held two sessions in Breeze and created recordings of the following topics: selecting measurement attributes, setting goals, creating the usability specification and designing the test procedure, test plan and experimental design.

In Second Life, we gathered to discuss building techniques and created a stool, fountain head and lamp. For those who missed it, the notes are in a notecard giver within the lamp sculpture in front of the building information signs. (See the example at the top left). Click the lamp to get a copy of the notecard. It has instructions, textures and a sample of the finished product.

We also distributed texture folders (through stone), four sound folders, vehicles and the Lyr scripts folder. In the scripts, the tip jar/genie bottle script has examples of how objects can interact with the local chat log or via instant message.

If you did not want the chat log to spam the data collected to the test subject, you could have the object instant message the test conductor privately with the data collected. This is not required for our projects, but good to know. Another method is the llOwnerSay() function. Objects then communicate only with the owner or avatar that rezzed the object.

We are going to hold another Second Life class on Saturday, May 9, 2009, so look for it on the Calendar. The Breeze recordings will be posted on Moodle on Friday.

Have a great weekend!

CS 820 Spring 2009 - Classes 1 and 2

Greetings to our CS 820 Usability and Interaction class. Paul Thor and I are delighted to share this class with you.

We have met twice using Adobe Acrobat Connect (Breeze) and Second Life in April 2009. Our second SL class session was smooth as we moved from our Breeze discussion to building skills in Second Life.

Our first class focused on these Second Life skills:

• creating a Second Life account
• using voice in Second Life
• movement and camera controls
• introduction to the build menu
• introduction to sitting on objects (right click and sit/relax)
• tour of a device that rezzes new scenes (like a holodeck)

During our tour, we visited a coffee shop, the solar system, a Japanese tea room and we returned to the ground to remove and rebuild the castle in about 15 seconds or less. The tour device kept removing content too fast for comfort. *blinks and grins* I need to reset the scripts before we use it again.

During our second class, we used the Build button in the bottom center of the display to learn how to rez or create a primitive shape (called a prim), name our box, set the permissions for it, create a simple script, color it and take it into the inventory. We also noted how content that is returned to us is returned to the Lost and Found folder in the Inventory.

Our class building activities included:

• create a box
• name it using the General tab
• set the permissions to copy/mod/transfer
• used the Contents tab to create a New Script
• used the Texture Tab and color white icon to color the box
• copied our box using the shift key and one of the green, red or blue arrows
• used the shift key to left click both boxes
• used control L to link both boxes into a single object
  

Once we were finished editing the box, we clicked it and noted that it stated in the local chat log that the box was touched. This feature is handy for collecting automated measurements during usability tests.

With this script, we can collect a log that lists the interaction objects that are touched. In the preferences menu (ctrl P), and the Communicate tab, you can display the time in the chat log and store it for later use.

We also tested a student project from a past class. Students received a copy of the procedure for the test plan by touching a box that gave them a notecard with the test cases and instructions on it.

Notecards are Second Life content files that allow us to add text, and drag objects, images, landmarks and other content from the Inventory to the card for easy distribution.

As time progresses, we will examine different types of interfaces, how to texture your creations, how to prototype your class project and conduct usability tests with our class. In addition, you will receive freebie folders of content, including vehicles, tools, a touring HUD, a notecard with landmarks for visiting other sites, more texture folders, scripts, sounds and access to an online tool that writes scripts for you.

See you at the residency and online! *cheers*

Defense GameTech User's Conference

Many thanks to Peter Marion, Director, Kent Fowler, Karen Cooper and the Defense GameTech User's Conference team for inviting me to give a presentation and two tutorials at their conference.

The Defense GameTech Users' Conference was held 9-12 March, in Orlando, Florida. The conference plays a key role in enhancing the training of Warfighters. The topics were excellent and both keynote luncheons featured fascinating content.

John Gresham, (spelled with an 'e') is a renowned scholar, game designer and researcher of content for Tom Clancy. He presented a historical retrospective that made the international state of affairs come to life. What an eye opener!

Maj. Gen. Lessel, a visionary force in the Global Learning Forum and Air Force game simulation activities in Second Life, gave a keynote address that made me feel as if he had taken me by the hand and we were touring the Air Force virtual world activities and game simulation research together. It was an amazing journey.

Another conference highlight were the talks given by Dr. Andrew Stricker on the Global Learning Forum's Game Simulation Kit and Erica and Sam Driver's virtual session on the interactive tools and mind mapping capabilities of Second Life. They presented from within Second Life. Check out their document on How to Give New Users a Good First Experience on how to foster great immersive Internet experiences.

After enjoying Erica and Sam's session, I left the auditorium and ran back to my hotel room to present my session on Teaching in an Avatar World as my avatar Lyr Lobo in Second Life. By presenting it virtually, I could rez demonstrate some tools, give meeting spaces and related content to the SL participants and interact with both the live and virtual audience comfortably.

Earlier in the conference, I offered two tutorials that featured basic Second Life skills, designing content and creating activities.

My compliments to the Defense GameTech 2009 team for hosting an excellent conference!

CS 820 Spring 09 Begins

Greetings to CTU's CS 820 Spring 2009 class on Usability and Interaction!

You've heard of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition? No? Well, for those who are not fans of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, they are a humorous set of rules that offer bits of wisdom. I jotted down a few to guide our discussions early in the course.

Calongne's Rules
(for Usability and Interaction)

Rule 1: Uncertainty is not our friend.
(or the user's friend, for that matter!)

Rule 2: The "change your mind task" is the most commonly performed task. We should see a "change your mind" task in each usability test and final project.

Rule 3: Save time and number your discussion contributions. It is easier to tell when content is missing.

Rule 4: When in doubt, the general rule for every assignment is to "describe 3-5 of ...."

Exceptions include the number of user classes in your user profiles activity (2) and the number of pages required for your informal lessons learned paper (2-3).

Rule 5: We get very excited when a student makes a mistake or demonstrates a lack of understanding. It is an opportunity for learning. Points are not deducted until the activity is complete (or we grow tired and the course ends).

Rule 6: Learning comes first. It just looks like rule 6.

Rule 7: Check back for more rules! Don't hesitate to propose new rules. *grins*

You're a SlideShare RockStar!

Wow, many thanks to the SlideShare Team and the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education 2009 (VWBPE09) for hosting my presentation on Teaching in Virtual Worlds: Identity and Culture!

Punk'd, doh! *laughs*

Well, despite the grand April Fool's joke, the session was full and we had a grand time playing a trivia game while exploring identity and culture during the conference session.

During the session, an enthusiastic group of educators answered trivia questions while the presentation viewer tracked their responses and provided feedback in whispers. I created the game using Sendao Goodman's 2007 trivia viewer for several presentations this month, including the Game Simulation Kit presentation for the New Media Consortium Symposium on New Media and Learning.

Visit Lyr Lobo's SlideShare area to see my other presentations and visit the SlideShare Education page to enjoy more educational content. I have also embedded a Slideshare viewer on my site for easy access to the Game Simulation Kit content and notes below from the Teaching in Virtual Worlds: Identity and Culture session.

Identity and Culture in Virtual Worlds

View more slideshows from Cynthia Calongne.

Slideshow Notes

Slide 1 An avatar dances with a robot that looks like her avatar on the first two slides, representing the freedom of the curious mind.

Slide 5 depicts Eric McLuhan on his first day in a virtual world, presenting his research on hieroglyphics as an early form of animation. He presented it in context, dressed as a pharaoh. Eric McLuhan in Second Life - Playing Media Ecology.

Slides 8 and 10 depict Sarah Robbins-Bell (Intellagirl Tully), AJ Brooks, and the Linden Lab educational representatives, Claudia Linden (teen grid) and Pathfinder Linden (main grid, SLED).

While anonymity offers great potential for roleplay and self expression, students and educators need to recognize each other, especially when recognizing accomplishments via end of term grades.

Slide 11 sets the scene for situated learning, diversity and how we articulate and share our thoughts and opinions during knowledge construction in a virtual world.

Through audience interaction, we learned that a sophisticated virtual world avatar is not required to implement change in a virtual world.

Slide 12 adds Seifert Surface, famous for his Crooked House and mathematics sculptures, and Peggy Sheehy (Maggie Marat of Ramapo), known for pioneering the first middle school in a virtual world (Suffern Middle School in NY).

The human barometer activity featured on slide 13 was adapted from the GlobalKids demonstration of it on slide 12.

Slide 14 refers to how simple avatars can influence growth in a virtual world. Pictured is the former CEO of Linden Lab Philip Rosedale and his avatar.

Slide 15 notes that virtual worlds are on the rise, and with it is avatar creation, identity and self-expression in virtual worlds.

Slide 17 looks inside two avatars to the wireframe view, noting that we meet minds in a virtual space. Avatar development, movement and gesture can be quite sophisticated, as noted on Slide 18.

Slide 19 Alan Levine (CDB Barkley) of the New Media Consortium and formerly with the Maricopa Learning eXchange is featured in his furry avatar amid a community of librarians, educators, administrators and instructional designers.

Slide 20 Only one avatar is seen, but three of the robots could be worn as an avatar. The name over an avatar is how we distinguish real people from objects, as evidenced by Slide 21 at the Life20.net conference sponsored by Dr. Dobbs Journal, Sun and IBM.

Slide 23 refers to the fantasy subculture (Middle Earth).

On slide 24, the lady on the right by Daden Limited is not real. She is a bot and can interact with avatars via a text-based conversation.

Slide 25 Howard Rheingold is a well-known educator and author on social media. This session is his first Second Life session at the New Media Consortium (NMC) in October 2006.

Slide 26 A Colorado Technical University (CTU) class interacts with content and creates 3D objects. On the right, the book that is floating in front of Lyr holds course content and moves with her avatar as she interacts with the class. Not all of the class members look human, noted by the charming box bot on the left.

We can experience life from the perspective of others, as noted during the usability tests conducted in class in Slide 27.

NOAA's Eric Hackathorn has dressed his avatar, Hackshaven Harford, as Grace Hopper in Slide 28 for a presentation to the NMC Symposium on New Media and Learning, March 25, 2009. He also disguised his voice using a voice changer, and then demonstrated the difference to the delight of the session's participants.

Slide 29 in Lyr Lobo on the far left and Slide 30 features Virtual Worlds designer Stella Costello of the NMC on the far right.

Slide 31 shows how graduate students set their appearance at the start of an MBA class in Second Life.

Slide 32 CTU students meet for the first time to roleplay as CEOs in a case study and problem-based learning activity.

Slide 34 offers links to additional content.

I'm off to work on the next project!

#bestofslideshare
April Fool's!

Last day of the VWBPE 09 Conference

Due to the phenomenal efforts of the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Committee, this year's conference was a great experience.

I was delighted with this year's conference. The huge turnout resulted in full sims and great conversation.
Lag happens, and still people connect, meet minds, share ideas and establish strong social networks. Highlights for me were Kim Pasturnak's session on Process Drama and my trivia game session on Identity and Culture.

See the Selkie in the photo on the left? Kim blends storytelling with generative drama to evoke strong opinions from each participant.

Both Kim Flintoff's slides and my Identity and Culture game slides are available on Slideshare. I'd like to say that I took a host of lovely photos, but I was preoccupied while chatting with the game participants. I had as much fun as they did! *grins*

Zana Kohime's tireless efforts during the conference were recognized at the Closing Ceremonies. A limited number of residents are seen on screen to increase performance, so you cannot tell from the photo that the sims were full.

Afterwards, we attended the closing ceremonies and a party. Again, thanks to LoriVonne, Phelan, Pooky and Marty as well as the many other conference staff who made this year a success. See you next year at Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education 2010! *cheers*

More information on my conference session follows in the next post.