David W. Deeds: Virtual Education Roundtable: Avatars Don't Steal Souls

Avatars Don’t Steal Souls

David W. DeedsVirtual Worlds Education RoundtableJune 20, 2013



Goals: Provide overview of what I’ve

been doing with Second Life (and other “serious games”) for the past 7 years (3 higher ed, 4 K-12), also plans for the future

No DBP (Death By PowerPoint), so please interrupt me with questions and/or comments!


Opened first Second Life cybercampus for South Korean university back in 2006


Was professor for new International Business Department, Chinese and other students couldn’t speak English


Big success with everyone but teachers and administrators, decided to switch to international schools in 2009


Students too young for SL, so switched to OpenSimulator via ReactionGrid


IT Manager/Teacher for Changchun American International School in China:Focused on OpenSimulator, but

as of 2010 used SL for IB DP ITGS course

Introduced Quest Atlantis, MinecraftEdu, Alice/Scratch; flirted with Unity/Jibe

Presented at 7 international edtech conferences during 2011, 6 in 2012


Now Technology Integration Specialist for Colegios Peterson (Peterson Schools):Use SL for IB DP ITGS courseOpenSimulator for Computer

Workshop, later all kids 3-15Tried Alice and Quest Atlantis,

results have been mixed, different reasons

Big success with Scratch 2D and 3D


Peterson Schools SL Cybercampus:http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching%206/237/211/25/


Genome Island Tour


Example Project: NAIS Challenge 20/20Partner school in Athens, GA, USAUsed SL cybercampus as

headquartersStudents studied global warming,

started virtual education centerCross-curricular lesson plansWill continue next year, expand on

programming

Avatars Don’t Steal SoulsThings happening next school year:Presentation to Tri-Association on

creating “3D Global Village” via OpenSimulator (SL for students/teachers)

Plan to introduce World of Warcraft (maybe Guild Wars too)

3D printing, tying together SL and other creations

Maybe Unity/Jibe with computer course

Avatars Don’t Steal SoulsThings happening next school year:

Emphasis on “everything online,” 2D/3D

Sudden fascination with Games-Based Learning, MinecraftEdu big eye-opener

Expansion to younger kids using the cool stuff too

Switch to iPads, mobiles versus laptops


Fits in with “21st century teaching/learning”:

Students being in charge of their own learning process/experience

Collaboration/cooperation (project management)

Ultimate problem-solving (task-oriented) environments


Quest Atlantis


MinecraftEdu


Alice/Scratch (2D and 3D)!


World of Warcraft


Guild Wars


Cultural comparisons/contrasts:

Biggest factor is private versus public

Next is International Baccalaureate versus other systems

Asian kids terrified at first, then get used to it; Others love it at first, then realize it’s a lot more work!


Cultural comparisons/contrasts:

Students get it, teachers don’t…yetStruggling with government

regulations here, not a factor in China

Some fears related to online in general

Biggest fear is loss of control


Follow my Scoop.it page: http://www.scoop.it/t/3d-virtual-worlds-educational-technology


Thank you! Questions/Comments?

Contact me:[email protected]@yahoo.com