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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 rich and 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:
- Contact and work with your IT and network department on setting up your infrastructure to handle Second Life
- 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
- Foster proactive thinking with your C&I and instructional technology department in terms of facilitating teacher growth with SL as an instructional platform
- Contact and work with your administrative council on safety and ethics, modifying the acceptable use policy, and developing other pertinent policies
- 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)
- Develop your school's presence on the Main Grid and Teen Grid
- 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:
- Infrastructure is ready for Second Life
- SL presence is developed at a foundational level
- Policy documents are in place
- Teachers have become "confident, active, and visible users" (Jakes)
- 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?
Resources: Jamie McKenzie's "How Teachers Best Learn Technology"
Recommended Time: 6-12 months
Go to Phase IV
Go to School Implementation Framework Homepage
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