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ISTE Island

Jeff Hiles — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:17:23 +0000

On ISTE Island in Second Life, the International Society for Technology in Education hosts a Tuesday evening speaker series and Thursday evening Educator Socials. They have also provided a venue for a number of other activities, such as the online portion of the educators tracks for the Second Life Community Convention and for the National Educational Computing Conference.

ISTE also has a Second Life group you can join and an email list for announcements concerning educators in Second Life.

NMC Campus

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:20:24 +0000

Soon after the New Media Consortium (NMC) Campus opened in 2006, it became a hub of activity for educators in Second Life, hosting numerous seminars, discussions and exhibits.

The NMC rapidly added more islands to the archipelago, including several on which they rent spots to educators who want G-rated space amidst other educators. The New Media Consortium includes nearly 200 colleges, universities, museums, corporations, and other learning-focused organizations dedicated to the exploration and use of new media and new technologies.

You may want to avoid Second Life’s usually hectic orientation areas and enter Second Life directly at NMC Orientation island, a good place for educators and students to get started. To do that, create your Second Life account at the NMC’s Web site instead of at the Second Life site.

NMC Campus Observer (blog for news and events)
NMC Campus Wiki
Seriously Engaging, a video about the NMC Campus. (12.4MB QuickTime file)
Location: NMC Campus (128,225,42) Important: You must join the “NMC Guests” group before you can visit the NMC Campus. Just click your Search button and, on the Groups tab, search on NMC. Select the group “NMC Guests” and click Join.

Info Island

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:11:36 +0000

A team of librarians and other volunteers from around the globe have grown Info Island from a few buildings in early 2006 to a cluster of islands bustling with activities that explore roles libraries and librarians may play in 3D virtual worlds. Educators will particularly like the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Library on the main island. It houses a collection of scripts and other tools for teaching in Second Life. Be sure to explore the presentation tool demonstrations on the nearby plaza.

Info Island and the surround islands also host nonprofit organizations, a medical library, a science center, and more. A number of universities have claimed spots on Eduisland. Info Island was initiated by the Illinois-based Alliance Library System. You can read the latest news from Info Island on its Web site and in a weekly column in the Metaverse Messenger.

International Spaceflight Museum

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:29:11 +0000

Ride a Titan II rocket into low earth orbit. Stroll among towering replicates of the world’s major rockets. Watch live video from NASA. See how the planets were aligned the day you were born. The International Spaceflight Museum hosts exhibits and events about real-world spacecraft, rockets, and space travel. The museum is located on the island sim Spaceport Alpha, which has become the center of a growing archipelago of science-related islands, or “SciLands.”

NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:22:22 +0000

Brace yourself as a tsunami washes over you and knocks down the nearby village. Hitch a ride on a weather balloon. Fly through the eye of a hurricane. Stand on a real-time 3D weather map of North America. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory’s Virtual Education Demonstration includes a variety of fun and informative activities.

NOAA ESRL Web Site
Location: Meteora (177,161,27)

Exploratorium (Splo and Planetarium)

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:19:03 +0000

The Exploratorium, San Francisco’s “museum of science, art and human perception,” has created interactive science exhibits in several Second Life locations. Splo Island is the largest of these, with exhibits spread over the whole PG-rated island. A smaller version of the Splo and a planetarium reside at mature-rated Midnight City.

Splo Island (PG sim), Location: SploLand (182,75,25)
Splo in Midnight City (mature-rated sim), Location: Midnight City (224,88,27)
Planetarium in Midnight City, Location: Midnight City (97,48,27)

Svarga

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:09:53 +0000

Svarga’s lush landscape includes interdependent species of artificial life, complete with genes that sometimes mutate and produce new variations. Former Lionhead game developer and SL avatar Laukosargas Svarog programmed the weather, flora and fauna to influence each other as in a real-life ecosystem. At the entrance port, you can take a tour of the island aboard an automated flying tour pod or don a tour HUD that displays on a portion of your screen.

God Game, article on Svarga by James Wagner Au
Location: Svarga (199,127,21)

Boracay Island

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:56:30 +0000

With its podcast stations, art gallery, machinima theater, customizable seating, meeting rooms, sky platforms and teleporting kiosks, Boracay Island demonstrates many things Second Life offers for learning spaces. Hang gliding, kite boarding, boating, dancing and skydiving make this island a lot fun, too. It’s main purpose, says educational developer and researcher Nick Noakes (aka Corwin Carillon) on the Boracay Web site, is to “investigate the potential” of worlds like Second Life for “learning in higher educationâ€”particularly self-directed and informal learning.”

If you have any questions or would like a tour, please contact Corwin Carillon in Second Life or email him at corwin.carillon@gmail.com

Boracay Web Site
Location: Boracay (190, 77, 28)

Terra Incognita

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:00:01 +0000

The process of Action Learning includes reflection in small groups. A spot on this island called Decka’s Decks facilitates these breakouts by whisking groups away from the larger classroom–chairs, table and all–then whisking them back when time is up.

“The island is a place for learning that is growing and changing,” says educational researcher and Terra Incognita owner Lindy Mckeown (Decka Mah, in SL). “Explore the many places for small and large group interaction in a range of settings, including the beach and Surf Life Saving Club in Harlan Bay, the island getaway, Captain Zed’s Submarine or the gazebo at the top of the mountain on Poinky Peak.” And don’t miss the icebreaker area with mud wrestling.

To ask questions or request a personal tour, contact Decka Mah in Second Life or email her at Decka.Mah@gmail.com

Location: Terra incognita (156, 100, 33)

English Village

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:23:39 +0000

Teaching English as a second language, instructors at the English Village employ what they call “holoteaching,” using classrooms where you can completely change scenes with the touch of a button, like the holodeck in the TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The village’s mission is…

To create a positive environment for English teachers, researchers, and students.
To explore English language learning and pioneer new ways of teaching and learning, in Second Life, and real life.
To develop a community where we can collaborate and help each other in our pioneering efforts!
To have fun, and expand the ESL community!
To help people learn English!

For more information on the English Village, see its Web site or contact Fire Centaur.