Second Life for Engagement, Outreach,

and Building Interdisciplinary

Communities of LearningPatricia F. Anderson1, Emerging Technologies Librarian,

<pfa@umich.edu>; Sharon Grayden, Instructional Learning Senior, Dental

Informatics; Marc R. Stephens, Multimedia Services, Medical School

Administration; Gillian Mayman1, Informatics Librarian; Anne Perorazio1, Infopoint; Mark P. MacEachern1, Liaison Librarian; Jane

Blumenthal1, Director 1Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,

MI

Patricia F. Anderson1, Emerging Technologies Librarian, <pfa@umich.edu>;

Sharon Grayden, Instructional Learning Senior, Dental Informatics;

Marc R. Stephens, Multimedia Services, Medical School Administration;

Gillian Mayman1, Informatics Librarian; Anne Perorazio1, Infopoint; Mark P. MacEachern1, Liaison Librarian; Jane

Blumenthal1, Director 1Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,

MI

Background: What is Second Life? Buzzwords

Virtual World MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environment)

NOTE: Not a game, although may include game activities

Major relevant activities Education (“killer app”) Social networks --> support groups Professional meetings, presentations,

seminar series, discussion groups, etcetera

Background: Why librarians in Second Life?

Jason Griffey (via Twitter): “It’s not the tool, it’s the training. Re. SL. We need to get used to that sort of interaction, because it’s coming.”

Background: Why are we in Second Life? Vision

Ted Hanss, UM Medical School

Jane Blumenthal, UM Health Sciences Libraries

Timeline March 2007 - purchase Spring & Summer -

planning August 2007 - building September 2007 -

Wolverine Island opens to select group of faculty and students

Phase One: Engagement Context: Wolverine Island “a gleam in the

eye” Library develops team with Second Life (SL)

responsibilities 1. Build SL skills 2. Discover relevant SL locations & resources

Libraries Health & healthcare Science Education

3. Make connections in SL with possible mentors/partners

4. Facilitate discovery and connection for our faculty and University community.

SL: Libraries

SL: Health & healthcare

SL: Science

Phase Two: Outreach

Context: Wolverine Island in active development, portions open to restricted group, not open to campus community

Library team members collaborate with health science schools To promote Second Life opportunities To inform interested faculty about SL To disseminate Second Life skill base To develop a campus cohort with skills & interest

Initial outreach and collaboration focused on Medical School and School of Dentistry

Phase Two: Presentations

What’s a Nice Library Like Yours Doing in a Place like This?: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whats-a-nice-library-20070731

Phase Two: Podcasts

Why Work & Teach With Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/why-work-teach-with-second-life

Phase Two: Orientations

Getting Started in Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/getting-started-in-second-life

Phase Two: Really the Real World Face-to-face Consultations

Private On-demand In offices In Second Life

Classes Single sessions for faculty & staff Student cohort class taught as four

session elective in Medical School

Phase Two: Video / Machinima Science

Learning Opportunities in Second Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsSGBraUhc

Phase Three: Interdisciplinary Learning Communities Context: Wolverine Island open to

campus community, alumni, and invited guests Wolverine Island highly secured, so

access must be requested even for authorized visitors

Focus on community building & engagement

Phase Two activities continue Phase Three activities add to activity

mix.

Phase 3: Dec 07 - Open

Wolverine Island open for community events

Phase Three: Dec 07 - Brownbags Begin Every Friday at noon local time,

9am SLT

Phase Three: Events - Speakers JJ Drinkwater -

SL Community Building

Joop Zuhal - SL Teaching, Pros & Cons

Jenny Levine @ ALA

Caia Alter - Pharmacy Research Labs

Phase Three: Events - Tours Dante Project InfoIsland International Nursing Education Simulator (NESIM) Play2Train

Phase Three: Classes & Professional Presentations

Basic Clothing Design Class: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/basic-clothing-design-in-second-life

Enriching Scholarship 2008 S’Lang Health event: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/sl-healthy-

slang Virtual Worlds, Libraries, Education, Museums:

http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whatcha-gonna-do-an-academic-health-sciences-library-in-second-life-embraces-new-roles-298438/

Phase Three: Opening the Library Ground Level: Freebies, Food Court Main Level: Service Desk, Guides,

Casual Seating, Fireplace, Games Mezzanine: Exhibits Top Level:Small Group Study Space

with Public Slide Viewers / Social Space, Dance Floor

Phase Three: Outworld Community building with other social

technology & media tools Flickr Blogs Wiki Google Calendar

Assessment: Metrics

Dec 07 - Apr 08 18 events >190 participants Largest group = ~20 Smallest group = 7 Usual group = ~11 Usual group is mostly regulars - repeat

visits

Campus Communities in Collaboration Health programs

Medical School (SL/RL) School of Dentistry (SL/RL) Kinesiology (SL/RL) Public Health (SL/RL) Pharmacy School (SL/RL) School of Nursing (RL)

Non-health programs Computer Sciences Dearborn Campus Distance Learning Literature, Sciences & Arts (Foreign Languages, Writing) Libraries School of Information Unspecified

Real Life Patrons (est.)

Second Life Patrons (est.)

Assessment: Survey

Sent through all channels for event announcements Email group Second Life groups Blog & wiki Reminders

27 responses Survey composition: 48% faculty / librarian;

41% staff; 11% alumni 78% attended SL events; 22% had not Results interesting, but not reliable

Survey - Communication Best communication methods

#1 - Email group (does not include alumni)

#2 - Word of mouth #3-4 - Second Life groups #5 - Blog

Survey - Popular Events

#1 - Discussion (Second Life research methods & issues)

#1 - ALA’s Jenny Levine on Gaming in Libraries

#2 - Tour (Genome) #2 - Tour (JS Vavoom, Nursing ACLS) #3 - Joop Zuhal (Pros/Cons SL Teaching) #3 - Tour (InfoIsland) #3 - Tour (Play2Train) Note: All events were listed as favorites by

some; average score was 6, with range from 3 to 10

Survey - Suggestions Orientation / rank beginner classes Schedule more help for newbies in real world venues Use SL to deliver more RL content Resource sharing - what have you learned, how did

you learn it More focus on research & funding options More focus on health care consumer communities More hands-on activities (scripting / building) Collaborate with Alumni Association Organize a campus wide day-long conference about

SL Use SL to build more patient communities in support

of clinical care

Concerns

“Presentations are good, just don’t often hit the sweet spot of my particular interests”

“I usually miss these. How are they announced?”

“This forum is not of interest to me or my primary clientele”

“I wish I could participate, but I just do not like Second Life at all”

“I’d love to participate, but can’t at the current time”

Kudos

“I look forward to attending every week.”

“This is an amazing group and effort!” “Many thanks for organizing the SLUM

events. I find all the topics quite interesting”

“An incredible job” “A big THANK YOU for … time and

effort”