SL-Labs at University of Derby

Successful Teaching Bid!

Great news! Our project 'Blended Learning Revisited: An Exploration of Undergraduate Experiential Learning in 3D Virtual Environments.' was successful in a bid to EducationUK’s Free Space Programme. We have been awarded a plot of virtual land and expert support for a year along with use of all the educational facilities on the island. The project will take a group of Derby Psychology students into the virtual world to enhance our existing e-learning module teaching. We are joined by several of our neighbour Universities so the collaborative atmosphere will be electric.

SL-Labs – University of Derby Virtual Teaching Space

The Derby Uni project is as much about developing new and innovative teaching methods as it is about immersing our students in the module content. Milton is supervising the build of a teaching and research facility on EducationUK Island that will serve as a hub for the students. Second Life will be offered as a supplementary component of the course and ideas and methods will be developed and refined over six in-world 50 minute sessions with small groups of students. These sessions will each be themed to focus on specific aspects of the module content.

This project will offer participating students a blend of enhanced educational student-led group sessions for learning alongside conventional e-learning material. Traditional text-based content will be blended with innovative student-focused methods, the result being a shift from isolated study and tutor-led instruction towards student-led socially interactive group learning. Students will be, overall, responsible for the final teaching methods used, whilst guidance will be provided by a facilitator in the form of materials and direction for group discussion and activities.

SLABS - Experiential Learning

The teaching will utilise a new learning concept 'SLABS' put together by Milton. This concept draws on a variety of teaching influences; from the ancient Greeks through to sound 21st century pedagogical research, 3D Gaming through to the innovative and experimental methods of the emerging 3D web and virtual worlds. One of several virtual 'slabs' of land suspended in the sky above the teaching labs forms the base from where student build-up their knowledge of module material and engage with interactive content and discuss the material in 3D real time. The teaching space is stripped back to the minimum needed so that all that is left are the essential components required for learning. So far in piloting these new methods students have responded well to the lack of distraction and direct engagement with the material. Oh, and of course it’s very fun! More on the project to follow.

If you have Second Life installed on this computer why not visit us by clicking here.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Education%20UK/36/145/23

Fellow-blog about Second Life Eduserve Conference

Here's a section from John Kirriemuir's excellent blog Silversprite.com about one of the question's I asked Stephen Downes, one of the speakers, at the Eduserve conference I attended virtually. See my blog of May 11 below.

"One of the more interesting questions of the day was directed to Stephen from Milton Broome (a lecturer in psychology at Derby University). In a difference from the Linden Labs speaker this morning (”Second Life is not a game”), Stephen drew analogies between SL and games, especially comparing the “create the best house you can” ethos of The Sims.
Milton asked: How can Second Life be a ‘game’ when at this conference alone I’ve made academic contacts and recruited participants for research. I’ve done all this on my wireless laptop at home laying in bed. Surely the platform is defined by usage." [Stephen Replied]
My inner thought is “Does it matter if it is a game or not? Define a game anyway - does the magic circle exist in an SL session?”. But this one will probably come up a lot in the next conference I’ll attend - this time in the flesh - that brings together Gamers, Librarians and Second Life users in Chicago in July. See you there."

It's a really nice description of the conference and illustrates well how we can all use virtual conferencing to full advantage.

Real Life Second Life

This is so funny. Thought I'd brighten up your day with some comedy about Second Life. Anyone who has spent any time in SL will find this hilarious. Watch the video.

Best Practices in Education Conference

I recently had the pleasure to attend the 'Best Practices in Eductaion' Conference in Second Life.

This was a great success and brought together over 1000 educators working across the field. I was particularly impressed with the quality of speakers at this event. Just goes to show how this kind of event can change the way we interact professionally and extend our global networks within education.

The poster sessions were very valuable and contained a wide range of topics. The poster session and vendors stands also served to showcase some of the latest in virtual education tools. The Schome (Open University) stand was of interest here.



One device in particular impressed me the 'SLinternet' tool. This is a tool that uses a familiar web-style browser to run active content and web-interface material from inside Second Life, it's programmable as well and show get prospects for development of educational uses. I managed to got hold of one of these an will review it here when I've had a chance to test it further.

Milton

Poster Sessions