second life

Have found it difficult getting into second life…maybe there is a trick to it?

Any science teachers might like to look at virtual mine on there as it talks about environmental science…

Prezi

LOOOVE Prezi, can’t recommend it enough! I encourage everyone to have a go! If I can do it, anyone can… Goodluck and have fun!

Second Life

Experiencing the virtual world of Second Life was surreal to say the least. Initially I found it difficult to work out how to gain access and how to create my virtual self let alone a ‘physical’ environment and to navigate around the place. I tried to visit a place called Ormond Island where RMIT had constructed a virtual building of an architectural design I have been following where people are encouraged to live in houses that are supposed to stave off death. It’s like living in a Macdonald’s playground which I thought ties in with our learning about 21st century classrooms. Instead, I found myself blocked and without access, so that raised issues in relation to content when using this tool for the classroom. I then found myself in someone’s house which gave what Freud called the ‘unhomely’ feeling, and it was like being in a nightmare on elm street set where I was left feeling quite vulnerable because I don’t understand the possible consequences of virtual reality…

It raises questions around the implications of student safety in such a space, especially when as a teacher we are responsible for student welfare. It takes it all to another level: safety in their ‘real’ environment, and safety in a non-reality that can have real consequences…

I think as a pedagogical tool Second Life offers infinite possibilities, I will just have to become well versed in how to use and apply them before bringing them to the classroom. In relation to my KLA english, it would be great to visit Shakespeare’s Globe theatre; have students grafitti their poerty on to city spaces as activists; participate in performance poetry; and so on (I can see I need to become more imaginative with how else to apply it).

Interestingly, it was funny to see how we were all still worried about how we looked in a virtual reality…

Outcome 11.14 of the NSW english syllabus suggests students need to learn about ways of managing information and communication technologies for effective learning. Dabbleboard and Onenote are two useful pedagogical tools for providing for and encouraging such action. Dabbleboard was useful in the creation of concept maps and by encouraging students to research and add to a concept map you not only teach them about effective learning management, but also encourage a community of learners in line with constructivist pedagogy. As for onenote, I wish I had access to it at the start of my BA. I’m looking forward to learning more tools out there to engage the students in their learning.

Week 1 response

I am really inspired by what teachers and students are doing to change the traditional physical learning environment structures, however, I have to say I’m a little cynical about the reality of it all when it appears that classroom sizes are actually being cut, and the cost of scrapping existing stuctures and starting anew seem as close to reality as travelling to Mars…

However, coming from an early childhood background, I have to say we have been doing this for years now. I was the room leader of a 0-2 year old room and it was designed around the prinicpal that children need small areas such as quiet book nooks; construction areas; corners with big pillows to rest on; poky areas of different sizes to explore and develop spatial awareness, and so on. The areas were divided by low shelves and so it still appeared open. The room consisted of plants (something I noticed was continually mentioned in the weeks clips), and aesthetically beautiful. It was something I took pride in as well as giving security and comfort to the children and their parents. A lot of the parents would come in their lunch break to just hang out which is unusual in such a setting. I ended up with a parents group that met each day.

For an english classroom (my KLA), I guess I would like similar small areas and aesthetics, with a craft area fro students who are experiencing emotional crisis or just need a break. Small areas could also provide the opportunity for student directed learning, a point in the NSWQTF.

Let’s hope it does all become reality oneday…