For many, it is nearly impossible not to be excited about the potential of Second Life in education after exploring its various educational spots. Without a doubt, I was one of those people (or is that avatars?). As a former high school English teacher, it only took seeing the various Literature Projects for me to see the classroom potential.
Looking back, I now realize that what I was really seeing was the potential of virtual worlds NOT the potential of SL. Sadly, I had fallen victim to the Kleenex Syndrome (i.e. thinking that the only tissue is a Kleenex).
The reality is that Second Life is just a brand of virtual worlds with TOO MANY problems for it to be anointed as the Kleenex of virtual worlds in education.
The Five Most Pressing Issues
1. High End System and Network Needs
Plain and simple, Linden Lab requires a fairly strong machine (recommending an even more powerful one) in order to run efficiently and effectively not to mention what some would consider pretty robust network demands.
For some schools and educators, this might not be an issue but there are many in which this would pose complications. In fact, Second Life may only perpetuate the digital divide where the schools with the high end systems and networks have access to Second Life and the rest go without.
2. Stability
Last week, I spent hours trying to enter Second Life only to get on and freeze, get on and freeze, and yes, get on and freeze. This isn't the only time or issue. In fact, problems with Second Life's reliability are frequent and common to many. From crashes to bugs, Second Life simply IS NOT stable enough to be a reliable tool in the classroom. Honestly, how many teachers are there that would tolerate being unsure daily whether or not a tool will work?
3. The Missing Grid
Within a short time period of being on Second Life, one thing became quite clear to me: Linden Lab needs to invest in an Education Grid if they really want SL to be successful within K-12 education (at least, 6-12 education for now). Today, my feelings have not changed but there still remains no Education Grid and the problems and limitations of educators trying to work in SL to its fullest continue.
4. Extremists
Quite frankly, there are those that go to extremes in defending Second Life and often turn a blind eye to the plethora of issues. Sadly, these extremists need to come come to the realization that it isn't SL we should be fighting for. We should be fighting for virtual worlds and critically examining all of them to determine which one best fits our needs.
5. Safety
By no means an issue isolated only to Second Life, it is obviously an issue and one that will undoubtedly arise as more and more articles appear in the news about controversial issues and content within SL.
With these and many other problems, it seems obvious to me that SL simply is the wrong choice right now in K-12 education but remember not to throw the baby out with the bath water because virtual worlds DO have a place in education.
Farewell
With these realizations, Existential Paine is saying goodbye to his weekly writing for Technology & Learning and in his place is Ryan Bretag who will begin writing on a variety of instructional technology topics and tools that have a bit more hope and a little less hype.
Second Life in Education: Dip, Cliff, or Cul-de-Sac?
While sitting in Atlanta Airport after NECC awaiting my flight, a small gathering of educational technologist gathered to continue discussing all things education. With a whirlwind of ideas and thoughts being expressed, one technologist brought out Seth Godin’s book The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (And When to Stick)” as strong read. Not one to pass down a good read, I went out and bought the book only for it to gather dust on a pile of “must reads”.
Just this past week, I finally got a chance to read this book and it couldn’t have been at a better time given the recent discussions about Second Life in the blogosphere.
The general premise of Godin’s book is that successful people recognize what is worth the investment and what is worth quitting: “Quit the wrong stuff. Stick with the right stuff. Have the guts to do one or the other” (2007, p.4). To do this, Godin describes three curves that a person must recognize in making such a decision: The Dip, Cliff, Cul-de-Sac.
As Second Life has reach a point where many educators are now familiar with this virtual world and have even begun exploring it, the time is right to ask the question of whether or not Second Life in education is in the Dip, Cliff, or Cul-de-Sac.
Curve One: The Dip
According to Godin (2007), The Dip is both fun and exciting at first including a lot of people expressing support for the move. Soon there after, engagement peaks as learning and growth occur rapidly sustaining excitement: “the rapid learning you experience keeps you going. Whatever your new thing is, it’s easy to stay engaged in it” (p.17).
However, eventually there comes a dip, the challenging part where some give up and others push through leading to success. As Godin states, “The Dip is the secret to the success” as it forces people to drive harder to the next level where few exist, a place beyond mediocrity.
Curve Two: The Cul-de-Sac
The Cul-de-Sac is quite simply a dead end where “you work and you work and you work and nothing much changes. It doesn’t get a lot better, it doesn’t get a lot worse. It just is” (p.19). Obviously, these situations or projects are a waste of time and it is where Godin’s idea of quitting comes into play. By strategically quitting these dead ends, it allows for more time and energy for The Dips.
Curve Three: The Cliff
The Cliff, like The Cul-de-Sac, is another curve that one should get out of as quickly as possible. However, it seems to be the most challenging because The Cliff seems to have an unlimited upside or growth scale making it harder for a person to quit the longer they stay with the situation. The problem comes when eventually the cliff suddenly appears and “you fall off and the whole thing falls apart” (p.21).
Second Life in Education
For many, there is little doubt that Second Life is a Dip but I’m not convinced. In fact, I’m seriously beginning to believe that Second Life is far from a Dip and more of a Cul-de-Sac if not a Cliff. However, this thinking leads to a problem! It means I must quit, something I’m not use to doing as I’ve always seen it as a sign of failure.
However, Godin sees quitting as an intellectual strategy, an addition by subtraction theory. In fact, he sees it as “smart and represents real insight and bravery” if someone quits a situation that is a Cul-de-Sac or Cliff. In fact, he says, “the biggest obstacle to success in life is our inability to quit these curves soon enough” (p.22).
So I’m seriously pondering whether Second Life in Education is in a Dip that will have a serious impact on education if more time, energy, and effort are put into it, a Cul-de-Sac where we are spinning our wheels and making excuses on how it has potential and will get better, or if it is an exciting situation with the Cliff right around the corner.
Thus, if Second Life in education isn’t a Dip, what is the point of sticking with it?
What are the Seven Wonders of Second Life? With my excitement peaked and my wheels spinning with all the creative (and freaking weird) locations in SL, I've been revisiting places I've found great and a thought came to me. Why should I be creating this list? How selfish to think I should be the one creating the Seven Wonders of Second Life?
What to do... well, that is easy. It is time to open it up to all of you regardless of your time in SL. Therefore, these are my nominations and I encourage you to do the same here so that we can come up with a community created Seven Wonders of Second Life.
Determining The Seven Wonders of Second Life
Criteria: The criteria is really quite simple (and, yes, subjective). The Seven Wonders of Second Life are the most creative and unique builds in SL that are well done and mind blowing. Not asking to much, eh? They don't have to be educational but let's keep it clean ;-)
Steps:
1. Review my nominations
2. In a comment or Trackback, add your list of seven including any of mine or others that have posted their nominations using the simple form below in My Nominations
3. After an extended period, I'll calculate the locations receiving the most nominations to determine The Seven Wonders of Second Life.
Most importantly, have fun with this and enjoy experiencing some amazingly creative minds that exist within this virtual world (it is also a great time to ponder some educational possibilities... I know... I couldn't let one post go by without saying ponder the possibilities in education)
My Nominations
Nomination One: Greenie's Home Rezzable
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Greenies%20Home%20Rezzable/147/187/61/
Brief Description: I've yet to experience a more creative sim in all my time in SL. Each time I visit this place, I'm more amazed at what I've just experienced. Don't let the photo full you. That is just the starting point! Be ready to think and wonder as you "grow" to find it is a smaller world that you think.
Nomination Two: The Pot Healer Adventure
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Numbakulla/214/17/2/
Brief Description: Time after time, this place continues to shine. I've gotten lost in the moments with this build as I literally and swept to another world (what that be a virtual world within a virtual world, a play within a play?)
Nomination Three: The Wizard Alley
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Oahu/206/78/29/
Brief Description: I admit I'm a Harry Potter fanatic but the power and precision of this build will excite even the most admant antiHP people out there (you know who you are... those two people that are really closet Potter fans). Be sure to explore every nook and cranny as you'll never know what you'll find especially a little Quidditch.
Nomination Four:
S.S. Galaxy Boarding Gangway
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Galaxy%20AFT/65/53/21/
Brief Description: Pure realism. It blows me away to wonder around the various levels of this boat as it almost feels as though the builders replicated every facet to the point of the amount of time it would take someone to go from the front to the back of the boat. Warning: You'll find yourself ready to book a cruise after this.
Nomination Five: Tombstone
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Broken%20Rose/19/121/22
Brief Description: Set in 1897, this location will take you back to the times of the Wild Wild West where you can watch from a distance or even get involved. What attracted me to this build was the feeling that I got upon entering it. The overall feel was straight out of an Old West movies
Obviously, there are some unbelievably creative builds out there ranging from remaking a real life place to unique builds limited only by the minds of the creators. What have you found? What are your nominations? Let the fun begin!
Is it Time to add SL to your Personal Learning Landscape?
As hard as it is to believe, Second Life isn’t the big picture for me. School 2.0, secondary reform, pedagogy, leadership, and professional development and adult learning drive my professional interests. While SL obviously has a part in those things, it is just one piece of my personal learning landscape that is helping me to formulate a better understanding of this digital society as an educator.
To me, Second Life is an exceptional addition to my Personal Learning Environment or Landscape puzzle but only now that I’m using it correctly. By this, I mean that there are many places and groups in SL focusing on its instructional and networking potential. While important, I felt there was something missing, a more powerful use for SL.
After engaging in some of the most powerful dialogue I’ve experience in my professional career during NECC, I realized what was missing. Second Life had become a place focused solely on itself and missing the power that it holds to connect educators from around the world as a means to engage in the type of dialogue that was occurring at NECC but in a 24/7, 365 days a year virtual environment.
It is because of this, and the like minded thinking of Jen Wagner, that I committed my land to The Bloggers’ Café to help others utilize a virtual environment to “continue the conversation” about education and educational technology. While there will inevitably be discussions about SL as it is a part of education and educational technology, the focus of The Bloggers Café in SL is to discuss everything and anything that those gathering wish to discuss.
Since opening, I’ve had discussions about School 2.0, the future of education and reform, a national curriculum debate, the best approaches to professional development, Twitter (go figure), and blogging as an instructional tool with people from a number of continents. In all of these, Second Life was just the environment not the discussion (i.e. SL was the means in which the conversation could take place NOT the conversation). You see, that is the power that SL offers beyond its classroom use: the power to “explore, discover, record, and share life’s lessons” together in a virtual face to face (Cross, 2007).
As Atwell said, “The ‘pedagogy’ behind the PLE is that it offers a portal to the world, through which learners can explore and create, according to their own interests and directions, interacting at all times with their friends and community”. Many of us talk about Second Life as a powerful networking tool but most gatherings have primarily focused on SL itself. Isn’t it time that we begin using it as a tool we claim it to be: professional development and networking?
I know I’m ready for it. I’m ready to have more and more conversations about safety and ethics in education, web 2.0 and any other 2.0 that comes to mind, pedagogy, and much much more. I’m ready to start talking less about Second Life and more about education and educational technology in a way that leaves me "confused on a higher level" (Johnson). How about you? Are you looking to “continue the conversations” in a virtual face to face in much the same way you do when you read blogs, listen to podcasts, and participate in wiki development?
If so, it might be time for you to consider adding Second Life to your Personal Learning Landscape and joining others interested in “continuing the conversation” at The Bloggers’ Café in SL, an exceptional area for such learning.
References
Atwell, G (2007). Personal learning environments. Retrieved July 11, 2007, from Slide Share Web site: http://www.slideshare.net/GrahamAttwell/personal-learning-environments-46423/
Cross, J (2007). PLEase. Retrieved July 10, 2007, from Informal Learning Blog Web site: http://informal.com/?p=753
Buckle Your Seatbelt Dorothy; Kansas is Going Bye-Bye*
"How can I get there?" asked Dorothy.
"You must walk. It is a long journey, through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm,” replied the Good Witch.
Ah, the Wizard of Oz… always a great metaphor for whatever journey one is on in life. This is especially true as we begin the long journey through the “pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible” world of Second Life!
Currently, there are just a few schools (early adopters) implementing SL but the recent buzz at NECC is sure to send us all on a wild ride out of Kansas as more and more schools look to be on the leading edge. However, how do we begin this journey down the yellow brick road and get back to Kansas, our ultimate goal of SL being a transparent part of our school culture?
Second Life School Implementation Framework
Phase I: Research & Evaluate Second Life - You’re Not in Kansas Anymore
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!"
Overview:
When the SL Tornado grabs you, there is no turning back. You are launched into a world of the unknown with full-blown excitement mixed with reservations on just what this all means. The key is to harness this energy into researching and evaluating SL with a critical eye so that you become the Resident Expert that can facilitate others along the journey towards determining whether SL is right for your school and district.
Critical Steps:
1. Develop a blog to document your journey
2. Gather as many resources as possible on SL, supportive and critical
3. Fully immerse yourself in SL: join educational groups, observe and participate in classes, note pedagogical practices, perfect the art of building, and learn, learn, learn
4. Develop the breadth and depth of understanding SL
5. Develop a network of people critically evaluating SL
Benchmarks:
1. You experience the SL Waves of Existence: overwhelmed to extreme excitement to complete immersion to reality check (spending too much time in SL) to focused use
2. You have become a Resident Expert on SL
Potential Roadblocks/Errors:
- Failing to develop the breadth and depth of understanding needed to evaluate Second Life
- Not spending enough time in this phase
- Beginning Phase II before becoming the Resident Expert
- Looking at SL without a critical eye (i.e. letting those that are blinded by SL’s bells and whistle deter you from your vision)
Questions to Ponder:
- Why Second Life, why now?
- How does SL meet district, school, and classroom goals?
- Are you looking at SL with a critical eye or with pure excitement?
- With SL and your school/district/classroom, is it better to be bleeding edge, leading edge, following, or catching up?
- What are the ethical and safety concerns and how will you address these?
- What concerns will key stakeholders have in regards to SL? How will you turn these concerns into goals?
- How do standards, assessment, and instruction work in SL?
“The Road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick,” said the Witch; “so you cannot miss it. When you get to Oz, do not be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help you.”
Overview:
Like Dorothy, your goal is to get home, the place where Second Life is a transparent part of the school culture. To get there, you must see clearly the Yellow Brick Road, the plan of action you will take, and to present this to your key stakeholders to develop the needed support to move forward.
Critical Steps:
1. Develop a Proposal: timeline and plan of action
2. Create a buzz about Second Life (e.g. Water Cooler Sessions, Friday Fun Sessions, etc.)
3. Form a small support group in-house to show your proposal and gather critical feedback (librarians, network technicians, and teachers)
4. Discuss your proposal with SL network
5. Present to your stakeholders (e.g. administrative council)
Benchmarks:
1. Proposal Developed and Perfected
2. Administrative approval to begin the journey of implementing SL as a means of professional development leading to classroom implementation including financial support to purchase land on the Teen Grid as well as the Main Grid, if possible.
Potential Roadblocks/Errors:
1. Discontinuing your documentation of the journey
2. Failing to develop a support team or developing a bias support team
3. Developing a support team that lacks diversity
4. Administrative rejection of proposal
Questions to Ponder:
- Who will you invite to join your support team?
- How will you introduce SL to your support team?
- What components will be part of your Plan of Action and Proposal
- What is the best way to present SL to the Administrative Council?
- When will you begin discussing SL with IT and Network staff?
- How will you approach a rejection by your administrative team?
Recommend Time: 1-2 months
Phase III: Professional Implementation - Off to See the Wizard
“How far is it to the Emerald City?” asked Dorothy “I do not know, “ answered Boq gravely, “it is a long way to the Emerald City, and it will take you many days. The country is richand pleasant, but you must pass through rough and dangerous places before you reach the end of your journey.”
Overview:
Dorothy and her friends’ journey to see the Wizard was not an easy one. However, they learnd together, worked together, and grew together as they progressed towards their ultimate goal. Just like those four, this phase is all about working together towards the ultimate goal of Second Life becoming a part of the culture. While there will be many positive moments as well as trying times, this phase ensures that you are working together in an environment that is best suited to foster the needed growth in all stakeholders. After all, you can’t get to Emerald City all by yourself!
Critical Steps:
1. Contact and work with your IT and network department on setting up your infrastructure to handle Second Life
2. Contact and work with your C&I and instructional technology departments on developing an effective professional development plan to immerse teachers into SL as adult learners
3. Foster proactive thinking with your C&I and instructional technology department in terms of facilitating teacher growth with SL as an instructional platform
4. Contact and work with your administrative council on safety and ethics, modifying the acceptable use policy, and developing other pertinent policies
5. Determine where SL will be loaded on computers within the school for this phase while also being proactive on where SL would be loaded if used instructionally (dedicated lab, everywhere, mobile cart)
6. Develop your school’s presence on the Main Grid and Teen Grid
7. Offer adult learning opportunities using Second Life such as blended environment courses (Sloodle, Blackboard/SL/RL), guest speakers via SL, networking opportunities, and more. Remember, the goal is to immerse teachers into the environment as learners not teachers at this point – chances are, they will find the classroom potential on their own.
Benchmarks:
1. Infrastructure is ready for Second Life
2. SL presence is developed at a foundational level
3. Policy documents are in place
4. Teachers have become “confident, active, and visible users” (Jakes)
5. Potential pilot group for Phase IV identified
Potential Roadblocks/Errors:
- Discontinuing your documentation of the journey
- Infrastructure can’t handle SL requirements
- Teachers resist the use of SL even as adult learners
- Low turnout at professional development offerings with SL
- Moving too quickly with SL before infrastructure can handle it leading to immediate concerns and negative feelings by teachers
- Professional development offerings seem more like an advertisement or push for teachers to use it in the classroom rather than a means for adult learning.
Questions to Ponder:
- Who will help build the SL presence?
- What will be the main components of the SL presence?
- What is the most effective and efficient professional development plan for SL use?
- How will you make teachers comfortable with a program that has a high learning curve?
- How will you address teachers that lack interest or see no value in SL?
- When will you begin to determine a pilot group?
- How will you help teachers develop ownership of SL as an instructional tool?
“The four travelers walked up to the great gate of the Emerald City and rang the bell. … they passed a sleepless night waiting for Oz, each thinking of the gift [he] had promised to bestow.”
Overview:
When Dorothy, the Lion, the Tinman, and the Scarecrow realized they had everything they needed within themselves, the sky was the limit and they were ready to reach their ultimate goal. Because of Phase III, your teachers will have the vision, courage, heart, and brains to begin exploring SL in their classrooms. However, some will be more ready than others and those are the ones that are perfect to begin piloting SL in the instructional environment.
Critical Steps:
1. Develop Pilot Group
2. Develop a specific plan of action for Pilot Group
3. Develop SMART goals
4. Notify and present to parents on Second Life
5. Immerse students into SL
6. Begin instructional use of SL
7. Begin cycle of Observing, Questioning, Reflecting, and Acting
8. Present findings of Pilot Group and determine next steps (move to Phase V, continue Pilot Group, or discontinue SL)
Benchmark:
1. Qualitative and Quantitative data created at unit, quarter, and semester points
2. Determination by school, based upon data, on how to best use SL as a instructional platform
Potential Roadblocks/Errors:
1. Discontinuing your documentation of the journey
2. Parental Objections
3. Student Objections
4. Failing to develop a solid plan for implementation and evaluation
5. Focusing only on qualitative or quantitative data
Questions to Ponder:
- What are the specifics of the pilot: timeline, meetings, observations, goals, and evaluation times?
- How will you be proactive with parents and community members while addressing concerns?
- What types of evaluation tools will be used?
- Why SL during specific curricular moments?
- Who will develop the specific island components for the classrooms?
Recommended Time: 6-12 months
Phase V: Full Immersion - There’s No Place Like Home “ But you have not yet told me how to get back to Kansas.”
“Your silver shoes will carry you over the desert,” replied Glinda. “If you had known their power, you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.”
“But then I should not have had my wonderful brains!” cried the Scarecrow.
“And I should not have had my lovely heart,” said the Tinman.
“And I could have lived a coward forever,” declared the Lion.
“This is all true,” said Dorothy, “and I am glad I was of use to these good friends.”
Overview:
Reaching this point in the journey allowed Dorothy to see that her vision and commitment paid off for everyone. While she could have went home right away, the heart, brains, and courage would never have been there nor would her vision. Thus, she would have failed. Like Dorothy, you could dive right into Second Life without enduring the long and arduous journey but chances are you wouldn’t reach this phase where the school has the knowledge to use SL in the classroom, the heart to be fully vested, and the courage to remain committed to SL. If you are lucky, you’ll find yourself in this phase clicking your heels like Dorothy and heading home to a more enriched environment for learning.
Critical Steps:
1. Develop professional development plans for facilitating teachers with SL as an instructional platform based upon specific curricular and instructional SMART goals
2. Establish SMART goals regarding teacher use of the tool and learning growth
3. Continuous Cycle of Questioning, Observing, Reflecting and Acting
4. Shifting the focus away from SL and back onto the classroom as a whole
5. Present research findings to other schools looking to implement Second Life
Benchmark:
1. Second Life reaches a transparent state
Potential Roadblocks/Errors:
1. Failure to continue to strengthen use of SL
2. Failure to present findings to other schools
3. Failure to establish SMART goals
4. Second Life continues to be the focus instead of reaching a transparent state
Questions to Ponder:
1. What are specifics instructional goals teachers, departments, and the school wish to achieve?
2. How will you continue to build the school’s use of SL?
3. How will your land in SL continue to evolve?
4. What role will students play in the development of land in SL?
5. When do you stop evaluating SL and see it as a transparent part of the classroom?
6. When will your school share its research and journey with other schools?
Final Word from the Great and Powerful Ex… umm… I mean Oz.
There you have it – a beginning framework (I will break these down into detail in the coming weeks as well as reflect upon the Phases as I’ve gone through them) to work off as you prepare for the Journey of Second Life leading to full school immersion. What will you do differently? Where do you see problems with this approach? How will you avoid the roadblocks and answer the Questions to Ponder?
Right now, the educational technology community is full of people discussing the wonders of the Emerald City, Second Life. However, the discussions focus primarily on how great it is and how powerful of an experience it is for educators and schools. While I, too, believe in the power of Second Life, I’m fully aware of the journey it takes to reach that point: schools “must walk. It is a long journey, through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible.”
References
Baum, L.F. (1900). The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. New York: Dover.
Jakes, D. (2007). Making It Stick. The Strength of Weak Ties. http://jakespeak.blogspot.com/2007/03/making-it-stick.html Retrieved Online May 11, 2007.
* Title taken from a quote in the Matrix
"I am so busy doing nothing that the idea of doing anything -- which as you know always leads to something -- cuts into the nothing and then forces me to have to drop everything." George Costanza
I have a confession to make. I'm addicted to Seinfeld. I own all the DVDs, watch the reruns, and even own the Seinfeld and Philosophy book. What is it that draws me into and excites me about a show commonly referred to as a "show about nothing". Quite simply, it is life in its most mundane of moments to life in its most engaging of moments. Seinfeld is life and that is why I sat there late Wed evening in Atlanta watching a rerun of Seinfeld when it hit me: Second Life is Seinfeld.
Think about it! Pick any moment you've had in SL and I'm willing to bet it could have been a Seinfeld episode. In fact, I bet you could even pinpoint avatars you know and tie them into a Seinfeld characters or at least where they would fit into the grand scheme of the show as a new character. Why?
Well, SL is life in much the same way Seinfeld is life: no linear pattern, sometimes boring, sometimes stimulating, but always moving forward. This complexity leaves many of us pondering why we are drawn to it, excited by it, and confused by it – in other words, what is the point?
The Draw Seinfeld grew because of the buzz surrounding it. The more people became hooked and found themselves glued to the television, the more the word spread about this great sitcom. This is exactly what is happening with Second Life.
There is a buzz surrounding SL right now: blogosphere, media, and professional conferences. At NECC 2007, almost every session on Web 2.0 had a component addressing SL. In fact, David Warlick’s session on Contemporary Literacy in the New Information Landscape started with a number of slides SL leading to a group of what seemed like 20 people around me saying, “we have to get on Second Life”. The buzz grew stronger from just the mere mention of it by a leader in the field.
Beyond the presentations, there were playground areas for SL, informal learning moments, a Birds of a Feather session, and even an area dedicated to SL at the Aquarium with current SL members helping people setup their avatars. While early adapters were drawn to SL for other reasons, the current the draw is the buzz or hype about it right now, which is the evolutionary pattern of most “new” things.
All of these things have created this almost impossible expectations for Second Life leading to one of two things usually happening for new educators shortly after entering SL: confusion and excitement.
The Excitement
My first episode of Seinfeld had me hooked: The Stall. I couldn’t stop laughing and everything people told me about Seinfeld came to fruition the first time I watched. It is the “a ha” moments that build the excitement and confirms the hype. If you are lucky, it comes right away before the confusion hits and you question what is the point.
What are those “a ha” moments in Second Life? For many, it is the professional networking and connecting: that first time you find yourself surrounded by a group of educators from around the world engaged in mind-blowing discussions. Look at this way. If you had a chance to be at the Bloggers’ Café during NECC 2007, you know exactly the types of conversations I’m referring to and SL offers those at any given moment.
For others, it is the direct tie-in to instruction that represents that “a ha” moment: seeing a class taught in SL, being a part of a simulation that has distinct possibilities for class, or participating in a class on building or instructional practices in a virtual environment (be sure to check out SLoodle).
Sadly, there are those that don't have that "a ha" moment soon enough leaving them confused by the buzz.
The Confusion Seinfeld is so pointless, a common statement heard even today when someone hears me make a reference to it. This is also what many people state shortly after entering SL. In fact, a common conversation at NECC between those catching the buzz and those that were already drawn in by the buzz but now confused went something like this:
The Buzz/Draw: “I’m so excited. I just created my avatar”
The Confused: “Really? Why? I did that a month ago and I just don’t see the point.”
This is understandable. The confused were drawn to Second Life because of the buzz. They expected to enter and be immersed into this world that would just be so easy to identify as a great tool for education and professional development.
Their expectations were built to an immense level by blogs, wikis, national speakers, and the media only to walk into something that isn’t a tool like web 2.0. They walked into something where the answer wasn’t staring them right in the face. They walked into a world where you could be bored as much as you are stimulated, alone as much as you are networked. In other words, they walked into an extension of real life and this took them by surprise as they expected it to be so clear given all the buzz.
A MUVE about Everything and Nothing
Between the buzz and the hype lies the truth. Second Life is a rich environment that offers a lot for education: networking, professional development, instruction for 21st Century skills, and more. The key is going in with the expectations toned down a bit and an understanding of exactly what it is you are about to embark upon when entering SL. It is a virtual world with everything that comes in real life without some of the limitations.
You can be bored, excited, happy, sad, and frustrated. You can find stimulating moments and moments you'd rather forget. You can spend hours wondering "what did I accomplish" and minutes wondering "why can't it always be this good". Once you get passed all the buzz, all the hype, you'll realize the most important thing about SL: it is what you make it to be. Nothing more. Nothing less.
It is 9:30am late in May and I sit glaring out the technology lab windows into the Library/IMC area where there is the typical whirlwind of excitement: teachers in the computer labs and students learning and working in various spots. The only thing different about this day is that I’m not right there engaged in the action. Today, I sit perplexed as my colleagues come in and out to participate in a virtual education conference within Second Life and I hear the questions regarding their first virtual conference: Is it better/worse than the traditional? Is it really a conference? Is there the same breadth and depth?
Right there, perplexed and focused on anything but the window I stare, I realized that I was being asked one question: why would anyone attend a virtual conference? They weren’t against it; they were challenging me to ensure that I had thought this one through!
Breadth and Depth
While each person has his or her own reason for attending a conference, there are three points that seem to stand out most or at least for me (I’d add vacation to the mix but that wouldn’t be professional now would it):
1. Networking
Obviously, this is one of the most powerful reasons for attending a conference. You can sit in a room, hotel, and conference center surrounded by people with similar interests, questions, and concerns. You can pull from these people, connect with these people, and develop relationships that may never have been possible without the conference. For instance, I had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with so many great professional at the Tech Forum in Chicago this year such as Vicki Davis, Steve Dembo, David Jakes, Meg Ormiston, and Gwen Solomon, and a host of ICE and NICE members. Would this, could this happen at a virtual conference?
The answer is yes! I had the opportunity to meet and interact with some amazing organizations, educators, and technology professionals from all over the world. Many of these new colleagues now interact with me daily through email, IM, blogging, Skype, Twitter, and Second Life. Why? We see each other all the time in Second Life. When a traditional conference ends, people return to their physical space in the world separated by miles unlike in the virtual realm where that separation only exists in terms of logging on.
2. Gathering Freebies
I have to admit that I carry a trait from my grandfather. He could never pass up anything free. He’d sit and listen to someone for hours as long as he knew that in the end he was getting something free. This explains why I often bring an empty suitcase to conferences ☺ I know I’m not the only one that does this because the tip was passed down to me. It is okay! Conferences offer freebies in bunches for us to explore, analyze, and evaluate. They offer free possibilities!
Virtually, I’ve yet to leave with a suitcase full of resources. However, I’m not convinced this won’t happen in the future as more and more vendors realize the opportunities that virtual conferences represent to their interests.
3. Increase knowledge
Just like networking, this is critical. When I look to a conference, I want to know that I will leave with a better understanding of topics that face my field, with more questions that challenge my thinking, and with needed resources that allows for reflection on my experience. In almost every traditional conference I’ve attended, this has happened.
Without a doubt, the same thing can be said virtually. At the Second Life Best Practices conference, there was a mental stimulation that rivals any traditional conference I’ve attended. Is this because the content is so new? Would it be the same if there was a virtual conference not focused solely on MUVEs but a general conference like NECC or Tech Forum? Only time will tell but my virtual gut says yes!
Professional and Collegial Recognition
It is clear that physical conferences are well-respected and often encouraged in the education world. If you are presenting at one, there is admiration amongst your peers and employer. However, what would they say if you asked to attend a virtual conference? How would you be perceived if you were presenting at one? Is the educational community ready to embrace a shift of this magnitude?
I can only speak from my school where they embrace forward thinking, but what about your school? What about your colleagues?
The Future Conference
Okay, open your blog or word processing software. List out the characteristics of attending a traditional conference session. If you want to get really bold, break these down by types of sessions and pros and cons. Got it? Good. For the most part, you can cross out traditional and add virtual to this list because they are that similar. Yes, there are some pros to attending the traditional that you can't get virtually and vice versa but it is wash for the most part.
By no means am I saying that virtual conferences will replace or should replace traditional conferences, I simply contend, or I hope, that there will be an explosion of virtual conferences and an increase in hybrid conferences: the blending of traditional and virtual. As budgets are cut and professional development monies shredded, fewer people will have the opportunity to attend the wonderful conferences that exist. This is a shame and virtual worlds are going to assist in resolving this issue. One prime example will occur in about one week at this year’s NECC where there are a host of opportunities for people to be a part of the NECC experience from the comforts of their home.
What does this mean for other local, state, national and international conferences? Will they embrace the possibilities of the virtual worlds? Will sponsors and vendors see the possibilities? What about your colleagues and administration?
Why Would Anyone Attend A Virtual Conference
A month later, I sit staring out the window as my dog runs through the yard my wife chasing her, the neighbor kids playing, and my family pulling in the driveway as I sit with my laptop no longer perplexed by this question. I’m engaged in two worlds peacefully balancing my professional and personal life and I know the answer to why I attend virtual conferences is rather simple: it is right outside my window and it is in knowing that the answer is simply the same as why we attend any conference.
Admit it. You have read an advice column before. We all have! Hey, you or someone you know may have even submitted a question to one of those columns. This simple truth is that we like to hear advice.
In fact, I bet you’ve even been asked the question before: what one piece of advice can you offer (fill in the blank)? Whether that blank is on new teachers, on assessing better, or maintaining your sanity as a Cub fan, it has undoubtedly happen to you.
For me, the question often asked is what one piece of advice can you offer new educators in Second Life (SL). For as long as people have been asking me this, the answer has never changed: read as many blogs as possible from those within SL!
Think about it. Why do you read blogs? Why do you interact with blogs? It surely isn’t just for the pleasure of reading. Chances are you read blogs to interact, to develop community and network, to garner new ideas and new insights, to challenge your current way of thinking and the ways of others, and to grow professionally and personally.
Hmm… sounds like exactly what many of us need with SL.
When I count the number of new avatars that have introduced themselves to me over the past month or so, it really is exciting to think about the new insights and questions that they will bring into the SL mix. Well, that is until I ask if they are blogging about their experience.
The truth is that many new avatars and even a proportion of older avatars are not blogging about their experiences within SL. What a shame and a waste of wonderful insights! Thus, I'm call you out avatars!
The Challenge
I challenge each avatar to develop a blog that addresses experiences in SL: new ideas, challenges, events, findings, milestones, evaluations, questions, concerns, and more. Once you’ve created it or if you already have one, leave a comment with your blog address and let’s begin this network today!
Why such a challenge? Well, it is simple. As I said earlier, we read blogs to grow and challenge us. That means the more blogs addressing experiences in SL, the better chance we all have at learning, growing, and networking as a community of learners. Things that are critical for educators and educational stakeholders!
Resources
No excuses! If you are in Second Life, you should be blogging and here are two tools that can help you really simplify the process by doing most of your blogging and tweets in-world: Blog HUD and Twitterbox
It seems that every day in Second Life there is exciting news that continues to build a better outlook for its future in education. However, nothing could prepare me fo
