Ramapo IslandsRamapo IslandsA New Dimension

in LearningA New Dimension

in Learning

SLEDcc 2008 Tampa

The Lens...The Lens...The Lens...The Lens...“A MILLION

COMPUTERSCANNOT REPLACE

ONE GOOD TEACHER”

The Road-MapThe Road-MapWhy: A brief rationale…

How: How we are using it at Ramapo Central…

Something’s Happening…Something’s Happening…

SHIFTED LITERACY SHIFTED LITERACY

As Technology EvolvesLiteracy Evolves

As Technology EvolvesLiteracy Evolves

The “SHIFTED LEARNER”The “SHIFTED LEARNER”

• moves at “twitch speed”

• graphics before text

• learning is no longer “linear”

• parallel/random accessing

• active vs. passive (Just Do It!)

• “Engage Me or Enrage Me”

• connectivity is their birthright (Prensky, 2005)

• moves at “twitch speed”

• graphics before text

• learning is no longer “linear”

• parallel/random accessing

• active vs. passive (Just Do It!)

• “Engage Me or Enrage Me”

• connectivity is their birthright (Prensky, 2005)

Shifted LearningShifted Learning

Sensory-basedPersonality-basedAptitude-basedMedia-basedActive learning based on immersive experiencesIn school “powered-down”

It’s Automatic...It’s Automatic...

SHIFTED INSTRUCTIONSHIFTED INSTRUCTION

• balance of experiential learning

• guided mentoring

• collective reflection (Dede, 2007)

• decision making

• real life context

• fluency vs. literacy

• balance of experiential learning

• guided mentoring

• collective reflection (Dede, 2007)

• decision making

• real life context

• fluency vs. literacy

THE ARGUMENT IS SIMPLE...THE ARGUMENT IS SIMPLE...THE ARGUMENT IS SIMPLE...THE ARGUMENT IS SIMPLE...

““To prepare people for To prepare people for life in an information life in an information society, they need to be society, they need to be taught with the taught with the technology of an technology of an information society.”information society.” -Tilfen, 1995-Tilfen, 1995

““To prepare people for To prepare people for life in an information life in an information society, they need to be society, they need to be taught with the taught with the technology of an technology of an information society.”information society.” -Tilfen, 1995-Tilfen, 1995

EngagementEngagement

EdutainmentEdutainment21st Century Literacy21st Century Literacy

Traditional LiteracyTraditional LiteracyBut....HOW?But....HOW?

• MULTI…USER…VIRTUAL…ENVIRONMENT

• SUPPORTS CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING

• NETWORKED (POTENTIALLY GLOBALLY)

• INTERPRETING, ANALYZING, DISCOVERING

• EVALUATING, PROBLEM SOLVING,

• REFLECTING!!!REFLECTING!!!

• MULTI…USER…VIRTUAL…ENVIRONMENT

• SUPPORTS CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING

• NETWORKED (POTENTIALLY GLOBALLY)

• INTERPRETING, ANALYZING, DISCOVERING

• EVALUATING, PROBLEM SOLVING,

• REFLECTING!!!REFLECTING!!!

Here’s One Way…GET A M.U.V.E. ON!

Here’s One Way…GET A M.U.V.E. ON!

RAMAPO ISLANDSRAMAPO ISLANDS

Suffern Middle School in Teen Second Life

WHATWHAT ?WHATWHAT ?

Purchasing an IslandPurchasing an Island

• 16 acres of virtual space, 15,000 prims

• secure “intranet” space

• or open and public

• Private Island: $700 + $147.50 monthly maintenance

• 6 or 12 months prepayment

• http://secondlife.com/land/privatepricing.php

• 16 acres of virtual space, 15,000 prims

• secure “intranet” space

• or open and public

• Private Island: $700 + $147.50 monthly maintenance

• 6 or 12 months prepayment

• http://secondlife.com/land/privatepricing.php

• a unique and flexible environment

• globally networked virtual classroom

• a supplement to traditional classroom environments

• private Islands create secure "intranet" spaces

• a unique and flexible environment

• globally networked virtual classroom

• a supplement to traditional classroom environments

• private Islands create secure "intranet" spaces

SL For EducatorsSL For Educators

SAFETY & SECURITYon Ramapo Islands

SAFETY & SECURITYon Ramapo Islands

private islands: no on or offadults have LL background clearanceno access to TG residents or contentconstant adult supervision

private islands: no on or offadults have LL background clearanceno access to TG residents or contentconstant adult supervision

Teacher IntroTeacher Intro• teachers created Main Grid accounts

• orientation island

• edit appearance (shop)

• communication options (chat, IM, voice)

• tour educational locations

• join groups to develop network (ISTE!)(ISTE!)

• a second Ramapo Island Teacher Avatar

• teachers created Main Grid accounts

• orientation island

• edit appearance (shop)

• communication options (chat, IM, voice)

• tour educational locations

• join groups to develop network (ISTE!)(ISTE!)

• a second Ramapo Island Teacher Avatar

Student IntroStudent Intro

• peer mentorspeer mentors

• trained in world trained in world

• edited appearanceedited appearance

• joined groupjoined group

• exploredexplored

• builtbuilt

• peer mentorspeer mentors

• trained in world trained in world

• edited appearanceedited appearance

• joined groupjoined group

• exploredexplored

• builtbuilt

ScienceScience ScienceScience

MATHMATHMATHMATH

SOCIAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIES

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

• read novel

• assign roles & responsibilities

• research

• conduct trial

• reflect

• read novel

• assign roles & responsibilities

• research

• conduct trial

• reflect

Body ImageBody Image

Health and Wellness 8th-grade studentsinclusion classfour 55 minute classes

Health and Wellness 8th-grade studentsinclusion classfour 55 minute classes

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www.campaignforrealbeauty.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U&feature=related

CustomizeCustomize

AssignmentAssignment

Create self-portraitCreate Media BeautyCreate media beauty: (TWIST)Select final versionDiscussion/reflection

The Discussion Pods...The Discussion Pods...

Designed by Decka Mah

Self PortraitSelf PortraitMedia Beauty”Media Beauty”Media Beauty”Media Beauty”ComparisonComparison

Self PortraitSelf PortraitMedia “Beauty”Media “Beauty”ComparisonComparison

“Psychosocial Moratorium”

“Psychosocial Moratorium”

“the suspension of accountability that allows internet users to explore alternate identities without the repercussions and dangers one might face in real life” (Gee)

Supports Erickson’s theory that teens need the opportunity to try on different roles while the consequences are minimal.

more info--Eric Erikson, James Paul Gee, Sarah Robins (Intellagirl Tully in SL)

A Sense of PresenceA Sense of Presence Deriving educational value

from putting kids in real-world environments is called “situated learning”.

Change the pedagogy to meet the skills of the student;

“Start with the learner” …Dede,

2005

Deriving educational value from putting kids in real-world environments is called “situated learning”.

Change the pedagogy to meet the skills of the student;

“Start with the learner” …Dede,

2005

What Students Say..What Students Say..“In Second Life, no one knows who has the Hollister clothing, or who came to school on a <little bus> !” “I can talk without being embarrassed or afraid of sounding stupid.”“I like it because I’m just as smart as everyone else and now they know it.”“In Second Life people think I’m an expert cause I act like one.”

“In Second Life, no one knows who has the Hollister clothing, or who came to school on a <little bus> !” “I can talk without being embarrassed or afraid of sounding stupid.”“I like it because I’m just as smart as everyone else and now they know it.”“In Second Life people think I’m an expert cause I act like one.”

YOUR QUESTIONS…

YOUR QUESTIONS…

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Shift HappenedShift Happened

• 3 additional islands (Foreign Language, Multimedia and Science)

• 1000+ student accounts

• 35 formally trained teachers

• participatory culture has emerged

• 3 additional islands (Foreign Language, Multimedia and Science)

• 1000+ student accounts

• 35 formally trained teachers

• participatory culture has emerged

Other ProjectsOther Projects

Poinkey’s PodsPoinkey’s Pods

DECKA DID IT AGAIN !

Multimedia IslandMultimedia Island

• Music Studio

• Soundstage

• Machinima

• Music Store

• *Storyworld*

• Music Studio

• Soundstage

• Machinima

• Music Store

• *Storyworld*

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Foreign LanguageForeign LanguageForeign LanguageForeign Language

• Cultural Investigations

• Voice Immersion

• Authentic Artifacts

• Shared Experience

• Cultural Investigations

• Voice Immersion

• Authentic Artifacts

• Shared Experience

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SCIENCESCIENCESCIENCESCIENCE

• Weather Center

• Catastrophic Events

• Ecology debates

• NASA Rockets

• Weather Center

• Catastrophic Events

• Ecology debates

• NASA Rockets

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• Get informed• Read Second Life Press and Forums • Read SL Education Wiki • SLED - educator’s email listserve

• Experience• Create a free account• Tour popular places• (ISTE ISLANDS!)• Join Educator’s groups (ISTE!)• Build simple objects

• Develop • Identify a learning objective• Build curriculum with appropriate pace

• Get informed• Read Second Life Press and Forums • Read SL Education Wiki • SLED - educator’s email listserve

• Experience• Create a free account• Tour popular places• (ISTE ISLANDS!)• Join Educator’s groups (ISTE!)• Build simple objects

• Develop • Identify a learning objective• Build curriculum with appropriate pace

Teacher PreparationTeacher Preparation

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Structure is good!Encourage feedback!Setting boundaries!Clear expectations!Teacher Training!

Structure is good!Encourage feedback!Setting boundaries!Clear expectations!Teacher Training!

Best PracticesBest Practices

Success with...Success with...

student investmentseriously engagedcollaboration level playing fielddeeper level of discoursesocial skills carry over to real world

student investmentseriously engagedcollaboration level playing fielddeeper level of discoursesocial skills carry over to real world

A Mom Writes...A Mom Writes...A Mom Writes...A Mom Writes...“What a change has occurred in Peter this year! Everyone remarks about how much his social skills have developed! Second Life has allowed Peter to practice much needed social skills in a non threatening environment. He has also found other students with similar interests and a whole new world has opened up for him. This has grown into friendships that carry on even outside the computer lab.Peter has also developed incredible technical skills on the computer. He uses terms like "scripting" and has even instructed some of the other Middle School students in this. Peter has developed his own websites and even has students asking him to set up websites for them. During Second Life, Peter also worked with a group of boys on a particular project. It required many skills including team work, organizational skills, social interactions, and decision making, just to name a few. “

CROQUET

http://www.opencroquet.org

WONDERLAND

http://www.nmc.org/keyword/wonderland

MEDIA GRID: IMMERSIVE ED

http://mediagrid.org/members.html

KEEP AN EYE ON...KEEP AN EYE ON...

Future VisionFuture Vision• extend our boundaries

• global consortium

• F2F exchange

• universal curriculum

• immersive language acquisition

• Inter-operability

• Open Metaverse….

Thank you!Thank you!

peggysheehy@mac.comhttp://www.ramapoislands.edublogs.org

See you in your Second Life…

Maggie MaratIn Second LifeMaggie Marat

In Second Life

Maggie & Coreina Maggie & Coreina