Education@Edunation Session V - Saturday 17th May 1.30am SL Time

April was so busy that it came and went without a chance to organise an Education@Edunation event. However, I am very excited about the next one, which will feature Nick Noakes (Corwin Carillon in SL), who is a very active educator in Second Life.

Corwin will be leading a discussion - Here's how he describes the event:

Come join us for a discussion of self-directed team learning in Second Life where we will share ideas and practices for giving learning teams greater control through inquiry-driven projects.

Because Nick is based in Hong Kong, we've rearranged the time and date. This time it will be on:

• Saturday 17th May at 1.30am SL Time (PDT), which is 8.30 GMT

Come and join us if you can - Space is limited, so please sign up now by visiting the sign-up stands at Edunation III (see photo below).



Hope to see you there!

Education@Edunation - Friday 29th February

Educational Games in Second Life - 29th Feb (12.30-13.30 PST)

Join us for the third monthly session of Education@EduNation on Friday February 29th from 12:30 - 13:30 PST for a special session on educational games in Second Life with Jeremy Koester (Jeremy Braver in SL)

Here's Jeremy's biodata:

I am first of all an educator. My heart is to work with learners in interactive learning environments. I am the Founder and President of Gaming and Learning in Second Life. I consult with educational entities regarding learning and technology. I am currently working on my graduate degree in Instructional Technology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (ant. '08). Gaming and learning is a passionate interest of mine. I regularly present my educational technology findings at large conventions such as SLBPE, SLCC, TCEA and CAMT. I want to be a part in shaping the future of education and how America addresses it's educational needs going into this digital, global environment.

I will be talking about Gaming and Learning in SL as an organization. Participants will learn about what GaLiSL is, what we do, and also get a chance to play a game that Jeremy Braver (Jeremy Koester-RL) designed. The game is called 'Windbag'. It's a whimsical game of social bluffing where everyone has a good laugh and learns at the same time.

Be sure to sign up beforehand at Edunation III

Education@Edunation - Teen Grid Angst

Later this month will be the second in a monthly series of educational talks, visits and other events to be held at the island of Edunation III in Second Life

Sunday January 27th
12.30 Second Life Time (20:30 UTC, 21:30 CET)

Teen Grid Angst

In this session,I'll be talking about the differences between running educational projects on the Teen and Main Grids of Second Life and will be sharing my experience so far of being involved in setting up a three-island virtual self-access centre for language learners

I'll be looking mainly at the project that I've been involved with for the British Council, which recently opened in beta on the Teen Grid. We have just started running a trial with EFL students and I should be ready to report on the first impressions and have their feedback for this session.

More Info here:
http://www.theconsultants-e.com/edunation/educationedunation.asp

Second Life and Language Learning discussions - part 2

Here's the transcript of the second discussion that took place, on Saturday, in Edunation, during the IATEFL Conference :

Background: To demo Second Life at the British Council stand at IATEFL, I (Baldric Commons) had to squeeze into a closet (for various connectivity reasons that aren't worth going into). As I took part in the chat, a small crowd of people would appear, and so I'd come out of the closet to talk to them, and then pop back in to chat with the participants in SL. The chat drew a lot of observers at IATEFL. Kyle Mawer (Frank Spearmann), my colleague, was in an Internet cafe in the centre of Aberdeen, and he also drew a crowd of interested onlookers - many people in the cafe who'd seen Second Life on TV and wanted to know what it was all about.



[2:35] A group member named Baldric Commons gave you EduNation - An Education Island , EduNation (96, 215, 22)
[2:37] Fim Fischer: Hi! Frank
[2:38] Baldric Commons: hi frank
[2:38] Frank Spearmann: hi baldric
[2:38] Frank Spearmann: Hey!
[2:38] Baldric Commons: I am in the closet at the British Council stand at IATEFL
[2:38] Baldric Commons: Hi Dennis
[2:38] Kita Coage: hello Frank
[2:38] Osnacantab Nesterov: Hi one and all. I am only virtual. No haggis for me.
[2:38] Kita Coage: now what is IATEFL
[2:39] Frank Spearmann: we've always suspected. Was it the gay gordons last night?
[2:39] Baldric Commons: you don't know what you're missing, Dennis
[2:39] Osnacantab Nesterov: I do, ut my bank manager was unhelpful.
[2:39] Baldric Commons: IATEFL is the largest teacher organisation in the UK for ELT
[2:39] Baldric Commons: what do you teach, Kita?
[2:40] Frank Spearmann: have you got a crowd there?
[2:40] Osnacantab Nesterov: I joined (I)ATEFL in its first year of existence.
[2:41] Baldric Commons: wow, dennis - that was 41 years ago
[2:41] Osnacantab Nesterov: Look, you seated ones. It is a right click for gettings rears on chairs, isn't it?
[2:41] Baldric Commons: did you go to the first conference?
[2:41] Frank Spearmann: right and sit here
[2:41] Kita Coage: I'm an elementary teacher in norway, which means i can teach from grade 1 - 10 in all subjects, but now I work at a school - welding school , were students are in 11 - 12 grade, and I do ict classes, norwegian and english - and welding
classes
[2:41] Baldric Commons: that's right, Dennis
[2:42] Kita Coage: but looking for a job at the moment
[2:42] Baldric Commons: welding and English, kita?
[2:42] Osnacantab Nesterov: I didn't attend the first conference, and I have been a member on and off - not the whole period.
[2:42] Baldric Commons: are you teaching at the English village in Second Life?
[2:42] Kita Coage: yes - as a substitute, I used to be a shieldworker
[2:42] Frank Spearmann: I work for a British Council young learner centre in Spain
[2:42] Kita Coage: me - no
[2:43] Baldric Commons: that's me too - I am ICT coordinator and teacher at the Barcelona Young Learner Centre
[2:43] Baldric Commons: here comes Chris
[2:43] Frank Spearmann: nice to see you dropping in chris
[2:43] Chris Eggplant: hiya everyone
[2:43] Kita Coage: was there just now this morning for the first time, didnt get to see much before I got the message of this meeting and teleported here
[2:44] Kita Coage: hi chris
[2:44] Baldric Commons: chris, are you wearing your fab t-shirt?
[2:44] Chris Eggplant: Hiya everyone - t-shirt - yes - Unfortunately only last week I realised what was on it! But hey - I'm small, green and ugly so what the heck :o)
[2:45] Chris Eggplant: so what's the gossip then!
[2:45] Frank Spearmann: so what,s on the agenda for today then?
[2:45] Frank Spearmann: formal informal register there
[2:46] Baldric Commons: Frank, could you lead the discussion?



[2:46] Frank Spearmann: well . . .
[2:46] Baldric Commons: I have to speak to some real life people (lol) here at the stand, to explain what is happening
[2:46] Osnacantab Nesterov: Sorry for walking on the table..."Sit here" only occasikonally appears when I right click. But let's eave that topic. Dennis Newson, retired, formerly University of Osnabrueck, Germany. Hi.
[2:46] Frank Spearmann: we were having a great chat last niight about uses of SL for education
[2:46] Frank Spearmann: is that going on the moodle baldric?
[2:47] Kita Coage: that chat made me realize the potensial sl have in learning
[2:47] Frank Spearmann: I see from Chris,s profile that he,s very interested in community based education and social inclusion
[2:48] Frank Spearmann: I'd like to know if he has anything to say on that
[2:49] Chris Eggplant: well interesting - most of my 'educational' career has been with very informal education, often with those most disenfranchised from the formal educational 'establishment'. I have also been leading in Becta on how technology can support the personalisation of learning and obviously SL has some huge opportunities - my only real issue at the moment is the technology requirments for both learners and staff etc.
[2:50] Chris Eggplant: I am just now putting together a space to think more about how the 'informality' and 'skills' required in SL could be adopted as perhaps SL's first 'qualification framework'.
[2:51] Frank Spearmann: hi geolder
[2:51] GEOELDER Clary: hello
[2:51] Osnacantab Nesterov: Do you see SL as playing just a supplementary role in language learning, or could languages be learned on SL?
[2:51] Kita Coage: hello Geoelder
[2:52] Frank Spearmann: perhaps to fill up the 'dead air' abit we can introduce ourselves
[2:52] GEOELDER Clary: Kita, good to see you.
[2:52] Kita Coage: you too :O)
[2:52] Frank Spearmann: in between talking that is
[2:52] Osnacantab Nesterov: OK. Dennis - an Englishman from Germany
[2:52] Kita Coage: brb - daughter assistance .O)
[2:53] Frank Spearmann: Hi, teach English to young learners in Barcelona and also setting up an island through the British Council on the teen grid
[2:53] GEOELDER Clary: I am interested in the immersive nature of language learning in SL. I work as an online teacher at an cyber language institute. I from the USA, but live in Costa Rica, America Central.
[2:54] Chris Eggplant: Hiya -- I guess to some extent I am the odd one out. My profile says more, but basically I am working across curriculum, primarily within Post 16 sector and specifically looking at how technology can support leraning and teaching
[2:55] Frank Spearmann: Costa Rica great! camped at the base of an active volcano there.
[2:55] GEOELDER Clary: Nice to meet you all.
[2:55] Frank Spearmann: How long have you all been in SL?
[2:56] GEOELDER Clary: Grea! the volcanos have been even more active recently.
[2:56] GEOELDER Clary: A few months now.
[2:56] Frank Spearmann: I'm celebrating a year
[2:56] Frank Spearmann: How busy are you all here?
[2:56] Mabel Steinhoff: thank you
[2:57] Frank Spearmann: hi mabel
[2:57] Chris Eggplant: come and have a seat!
[2:57] GEOELDER Clary: I spend time inworld, but really just looking around and playing.
[2:57] GEOELDER Clary: Hello
[2:57] Mabel Steinhoff: hi, everybody, sorry to be late
[2:57] Baldric Commons: hi Rita
[2:57] Mabel Steinhoff: hi, Graham
[2:57] Frank Spearmann: To what extent has your play been educational geoelder?
[2:58] Frank Spearmann: Hey!
[2:58] GEOELDER Clary: Some what . A lot of looking around thinking about how these different places could be used as educational tools.
[2:59] Frank Spearmann: and what conclusions have you arrived at?
[2:59] GEOELDER Clary: Hold on a moment. I am afraid I have a call.
[3:00] Baldric Commons: have any of you tried to teach or learn languages in SL?
[3:00] Mabel Steinhoff: that would be interesting to see
[3:00] Osnacantab Nesterov: I have tried to find someone teching language on SL, but have not been successful.
[3:00] Baldric Commons: or do any of you have strong opinions, either for or against about the
effectiveness of this?
[3:00] Baldric Commons: hi Elf, come and join us
[3:01] Lyr Lobo smiles
[3:01] Frank Spearmann: come and sit down lyr
[3:01] Lyr Lobo: hello baldric...Frank..everyone
[3:01] Kita Coage: hello Lyr
[3:01] Baldric Commons: Dennis, I think we are going to see an explosion of language teaching and learning here soon
[3:01] Chris Eggplant: hiya
[3:01] Lyr Lobo: i saw an instructor outside the main building..was not sure if the last seat was for her *smiles*
[3:01] Baldric Commons: hi Lyr (sorry - I just called you Elf)
[3:01] Lyr Lobo: that's ok *grins*
[3:02] Lyr Lobo: ii was at an elven fundraiser for Relay for life
[3:02] Osnacantab Nesterov: That's good, Baldric.
[3:02] Chris Eggplant: I think you are right Baldric - it does seem that there are a lot of people on a steep learning curve with SL 'preparing' the way and getting their own 'heads' straight on how it could be use.
[3:02] GEOELDER Clary: Well, without sound, I feel language learning is very limited, but I do spend time in world in the Spanish speaking community which is in a way learning language.
[3:02] Mabel Steinhoff: not that I have strong opinions for or against SL instruction, I'd like to
see a class to have a better understanding myself
[3:02] Baldric Commons: relay for life, that was a very interesting event I'm sure
[3:02] Lyr Lobo: cancer research *smiles*
[3:02] GEOELDER Clary: I am really looking forward to the addition of sound.
[3:02] Lyr Lobo: we raised over $41,000 US dollars last year in Second Life
[3:02] Mabel Steinhoff: Skype is not working ?
[3:02] Baldric Commons: yes, Mabel, there are classes going on that you can observe at the English Village
[3:03] Frank Spearmann: wow congrats



[3:03] Lyr Lobo smiels
[3:03] GEOELDER Clary: Yes, it works, but not many people use it.
[3:03] Lyr Lobo: hundreds of wonderful folks help out
[3:03] Baldric Commons: I too think that integrated voice will make SL a much better tool for language learning
[3:03] Osnacantab Nesterov: Baldric, you mentioned last night that there would be integrated sound in SL in Jujne/July. Is that correct?
[3:03] Lyr Lobo: hmm, at the English village?
[3:03] Baldric Commons: that's right, Dennis - it has been promised in June or July
[3:04] Lyr Lobo: the spatialized sound currently in beta testing sounds great.... 20 voices, all clear....not unlike crowd sounds, moving around your body
[3:04] Baldric Commons: it will work in the same way as chat does I think
[3:04] Baldric Commons: have you tried it out, Lyr?
[3:04] Chris Eggplant: but will it be able to be used by a large percentage of residents - purely thinking of bandwidth issues and whether it will become the new chaos as to some extent chat is now?
[3:04] Baldric Commons: can anyone try it?
[3:04] Lyr Lobo: in beta, a green wavelength bar appears above the speakers head, but a smaller symbol will be used in implementation, I am told
[3:04] Lyr Lobo: yes
[3:04] Lyr Lobo: I love it
[3:04] Baldric Commons: sounds wonderful - how do we get involved?
[3:05] Frank Spearmann: I think social norms will adapt to problems
[3:05] Lyr Lobo: well it requires a beta client of a different sort..the NMC folks... coordinated one test and spaceport alpha participated
[3:05] Lyr Lobo: both sites were copied to a special server, I think
[3:05] Baldric Commons: I'm sure some diehard SL residents will also choose not to use it
[3:05] Frank Spearmann: I was thinking of passing the conch (lord of the flies)
[3:05] Lyr Lobo: I'll get the name for you of yourcontact
[3:05] Lyr Lobo grins
[3:05] GEOELDER Clary: I think if you look in the Linden blog you will see some instructions on how to use it on the beta grid.
[3:05] Baldric Commons: thanks, I appreiate it
[3:06] Baldric Commons: Would the people who haven't already done so like to introduce themselves?
[3:06] You: Lyr you are a game designer in SL, are you thinking of using those skills for educational purposes?
[3:06] Osnacantab Nesterov: Baldric. What about Ventrilo. Does that work here?
[3:06] Baldric Commons: I'll be posting this chat later to a Moodle site for the conference, and it'd be nice to have everyone's details
[3:06] Baldric Commons: Lyr, have you worked on any language learning games?
[3:07] GEOELDER Clary: Hmm... I have used all of the second life sound features, but have not had too much time using them since there are not that many people around using them. I have second life talk, but I do not think I have ever used it inworld since no one I have meet has it also.
[3:08] Baldric Commons: good point, Geoelder
[3:08] Lyr Lobo: hmm I helped with Fire Centaur's roleplaying scavenger hunt
[3:09] Chris Eggplant: in Education UK, we have set up ventrillo and each space - has its own 'channel'. This means that, for example 'classroom 1' has a classroom 1 channel - which is password so only those in the class can communicate and we don't end up with the cast of Ben Hur trying to get in!
[3:09] Baldric Commons: I see, Lyr
[3:09] Lyr Lobo: at the English village...and I helped with Of Mice and Men..the enactment of the Steinbook book on Ramapo..the teen grid
[3:09] Lyr Lobo: with 100 8th graders
[3:09] Baldric Commons: we are startuing to commission people to write language learning games for the British Council, Lyr
[3:09] Lyr Lobo: excellent *smiles*
[3:09] You have offered friendship to Lyr Lobo
[3:09] Baldric Commons: I'd love to chat to you about this sometime later
[3:10] Lyr Lobo: I gave fire some of my robot resources that I wrote
[3:10] Lyr Lobo: sure
[3:10] Lyr Lobo is Online
[3:10] Lyr Lobo smiles
[3:10] Baldric Commons: great
[3:10] Chris Eggplant: are there not already a wealth of 'content' out there that can be contextualisd for SL - for example resource banks like www.aclearn.net
[3:10] Lyr Lobo: I teach computer science and usability... in SL, but am interested in all subjects, including language studies *smiles*
[3:10] Lyr Lobo listens to the group
[3:11] Chris Eggplant: Hiya susan
[3:11] Baldric Commons: welcome, Susan!
[3:11] Lyr Lobo: by content, what kind do you mean in particular, chris?
[3:11] Lyr Lobo: hello Susan *smiles*
[3:11] susan Williams: hi there veryone
[3:11] Baldric Commons: would you like to sit down?
[3:11] susan Williams: please
[3:11] Kita Coage: hello susan
[3:11] Baldric Commons: As a gentleman, I'd be happy to give you my chair
[3:11] GEOELDER Clary: Could you tell me a little about the games you have developed, Lyr.
[3:11] Kunika Yoshikawa: thank you for join me
[3:11] susan Williams: no its fine baldric
[3:12] Baldric Commons: please take a seat
[3:12] GEOELDER Clary: hello, susan
[3:12] Baldric Commons: you look tired - must have been all that teleporting
[3:12] susan Williams: hi everyone
[3:12] Frank Spearmann: hi susan
[3:12] Kunika Yoshikawa: mai take your seat?
[3:12] Chris Eggplant: well, the use of technology to support language learning already exists and teachers have created many materials. I am sure that there is already content that can be translated and re-contextualised. - basically do we need to comission new content - or just contextualise existing - pedagogically sound content
[3:12] Baldric Commons: please do, kunika
[3:12] Frank Spearmann: could you introduce yourself to the group
[3:12] Kunika Yoshikawa: thanks
[3:12] Baldric Commons: that is a good point, Chris
[3:12] Lyr Lobo: hmm, well a maze game (my software design class did), and another planned a world domination game... and a series of amusement park attractions (not a game, but a nice set of what students can do in 5 weeks)
[3:12] You: hi kunika
[3:12] Kunika Yoshikawa: ok
[3:12] Lyr Lobo: hello Kunika
[3:13] Lyr Lobo smiles
[3:13] Kunika Yoshikawa: i can hear about talking
[3:13] Mabel Steinhoff: well, maybe I should
introduce myself, ... I'm Mabel in SL, Rita in FL, from Argentina, EFL teacher
[3:14] Baldric Commons: wow, what was that?
[3:14] Kunika Yoshikawa: english a little .. sorry
[3:14] Lyr Lobo: hehe sorry, my hot air balloon
[3:14] Baldric Commons: that's ok, kunika
[3:14] Lyr Lobo: wrote one and used my seat in it
[3:14] Kunika Yoshikawa: (^^v
[3:14] GEOELDER Clary: I have tried to get up an sit on the floor to allow others to sit on the seats but that does not seem possible.
[3:14] Baldric Commons: are you learning English in Second Life?



[3:14] GEOELDER Clary: Lyr, the games sound really interesting.
[3:15] Lyr Lobo: those ideas were designed by students... I just guide and weave the course concepts into them *grins* backing into the instruction
[3:15] Chris Eggplant: In terms of language learning
materials - we are working on the concept of 'Virtual Quests'. Basically, moving the idea of Bernie Dodge's webquests into SL. One example for language learning could well be 'shopping in the mall' and buy stuff. Am just writing stuff and will be available shortly etc
[3:15] Lyr Lobo: while they go thru the process of designing them
[3:15] Frank Spearmann: Interesting how people follow RL conventions in SL
[3:15] Lyr Lobo: quests are great
[3:15] Kita Coage: Baldric may I ask you how you get your picture in the profile - RF
[3:15] susan Williams: very Franksk
[3:15] Baldric Commons: Chris, that sounds excellent
[3:15] Baldric Commons: yes, kita
[3:16] Baldric Commons: you need to upload a jpg image from the file menu
[3:16] susan Williams: Someone last night was mentionin something relarted Baldric
[3:16] Chris Eggplant: will have something detailed in next week
[3:16] Frank Spearmann: I hear role playing is used here in language learning. Anyone know any more?
[3:16] susan Williams: on using treasure hunmts
[3:16] Baldric Commons: then you can drag it onto your profile
[3:16] GEOELDER Clary: Chis, those are the type of activities I have been thinking about.
[3:16] Lyr Lobo smiles
[3:16] susan Williams: but I think Chris' idea of applyiong webquest structure is potentially more interesting
[3:16] You: really?
[3:16] Lyr Lobo: just walk to wheree you want to sit, baldric
[3:16] Kita Coage: ok - I'll try that
[3:16] Baldric Commons: thanks lyr
[3:17] Chris Eggplant: well - I already developed a WebQuest toolkit at: www.quests2teach.net - will be translating into SL
[3:17] Baldric Commons: that's great
[3:17] Mabel Steinhoff: I like the idea of Webquests, the environmnet allows for lots of possibilities
[3:17] Lyr Lobo: yes
[3:18] Chris Eggplant: susan - and lets not forget that the pedagogy should lead the technology and not the other way around
[3:18] Mabel Steinhoff: true, Chris!
[3:18] susan Williams: Its important I think to exploit the potentail of the new environment rather than replicate practices from RL teaching
[3:18] Kita Coage: oh I see, that costs money
[3:18] Osnacantab Nesterov: Webquests in SL sounds an exciting idea. You could hide clues all over SL.
[3:18] Baldric Commons: this is a very important point, Chris
[3:19] Baldric Commons: one that is easy to forget if we get dazzled by technology
[3:19] Chris Eggplant: exactly Osnacantab - am half way developing one call 'learning spaces'
[3:19] GEOELDER Clary: But at the same time, technology might open learning spaces not thought of by those less technological evolved.
[3:19] Chris Eggplant: will release in next week or so - and will have details etc on eductation UK
[3:19] Mabel Steinhoff: will you bring it here, Chris?
[3:20] Kunika Yoshikawa: discussion ?
[3:20] Chris Eggplant: Geoelder - definately - and that is where SL comes in! Lets have a learning space in a Sauna - you would find it hard to replicate in RL - but in SL - what a breeze and very infromal
[3:20] You: yes kunika
[3:21] Kunika Yoshikawa: ok
[3:21] Chris Eggplant: Mable - yes - will get it out widel when finished
[3:21] susan Williams: I think the potential of virtual quests is in some ways more exciting than that of simultations
[3:21] You: on language learning in SL, feel free to join in
[3:21] Kunika Yoshikawa: how about talking?
[3:21] Chris Eggplant: will also launch it at the may
confernce
[3:21] susan Williams: simultaion development requires either cost or specialist expertise
[3:21] Osnacantab Nesterov: Or a Jakuzzi. Every time you solve a clue you must take a photo of where you found it.
[3:22] susan Williams: whereas virtual qyuests could be designed and built by practitioners at all stages of technical expertise
[3:22] Chris Eggplant: yes! exaclty - that's the spirit eveyone - glass of wine all around!!!!!!!!!!!!
[3:22] susan Williams: and by learners for their peers
[3:22] Lyr Lobo grins
[3:22] Chris Eggplant: distruptive pupil
[3:22] Chris Eggplant: :o)
[3:23] Mabel Steinhoff: lol
[3:24] Chris Eggplant: right - I must do a runner - food shopping calls :o(. Will get the Virtual Quests written up by end of next week and will have at least one sample for y'awl
[3:24] GEOELDER Clary: I also think that simple things like field trips can be fun.
[3:24] Lyr Lobo: sounds lovely
[3:24] Mabel Steinhoff: will we get to know somehow, Chris?
[3:24] Osnacantab Nesterov: As someone said earlier, or implied, we, the tutors, educators whatever need to get to know SL as it is very well. I still cannot walk properly or sit down reliably. We culd do with an educational tour of the island.
[3:25] Frank Spearmann: how do people here address sceptics in RL of SL?
[3:25] Baldric Commons: great you could join us, Chris
[3:25] Kunika Yoshikawa: glass of wine?
[3:25] GEOELDER Clary: There are interesting museums to visit with plenty to stimulate speaking.
[3:25] Kunika Yoshikawa: i saw in my land
[3:25] Chris Eggplant: yes [Mabel] - will use Graham [Baldric] as a conduit for dissemination and webheads group etc etc
[3:26] Kunika Yoshikawa: very small ...
[3:26] Osnacantab Nesterov: Convincing people of the potential of SL is very difficult indeed.



[3:26] Mabel Steinhoff: love the idea of using "museums", Goelder
[3:26] Baldric Commons: would you like to do a chat about this siometime chris?
[3:26] Mabel Steinhoff: thanks, Chris
[3:26] Baldric Commons: the virtuaol quests I mean
[3:26] Baldric Commons: for the webheads
[3:27] Chris Eggplant: yes Baldric - ok bye bye for now
[3:27] Lyr Lobo: bye Chris
[3:27] Baldric Commons: the potential for using exisiting areas of SL for field trips and building
tasks around this is very interesting
[3:27] Baldric Commons: bye chris
[3:27] You: bye chris
[3:27] Mabel Steinhoff: bye, Chris
[3:27] You: oops too late
[3:27] Kunika Yoshikawa: see you
[3:28] You: hi misha
[3:28] Baldric Commons: it's coffee break here at the conference in Aberdeen
[3:28] Misha Writer: hi - have I missed it?
[3:28] Baldric Commons: lots of people are starting to mill around
[3:28] Osnacantab Nesterov: Bye for now. Some
stimulating ideas th think through. Thak you all.
[3:28] Mabel Steinhoff: bye, Dennis!
[3:28] Baldric Commons: we can continue for a while longer if you like
[3:28] Lyr Lobo: bye Oscnacantab
[3:28] Baldric Commons: bye Dennis
[3:29] Flight Band: All Go
[3:29] Misha Writer: no, doesn't matter, not just for me - but will there be a transcript of last night & this morning?
[3:29] GEOELDER Clary: I froze
[3:29] Baldric Commons: yes, there will - I am going to post transcripts in the IATEFL Moodle
[3:29] Mabel Steinhoff: sorry I coudnt attend yesterday, got my message, Baldric?
[3:29] Baldric Commons: or I can email you them if you like, Misha
[3:30] Frank Spearmann: has anyone got a coffee drinking HUD mine seems not to be working
[3:30] GEOELDER Clary: Is IATEFL another list serve in SL?
[3:30] Lyr Lobo: not a hud, but a cup you can drink
[3:30] Mabel Steinhoff: I like the idea of Fied Trips and Webquests here..., very appropriate
[3:31] susan Williams: Can I just say
[3:31] susan Williams: Chr5is and I have arranged a virtual quest space in education UK
[3:31] Misha Writer: Baldric - email would be good - perhaps I could use some of it in an e-learning seminar next week
[3:31] susan Williams: and intend to invite everyone for and informal conference ion the next couple of weeks
[3:32] Mabel Steinhoff: good, susan
[3:32] susan Williams: to look at what has been
created and stimultae discussion around virtual quests
[3:32] susan Williams: would anyone be interested in attending
[3:32] susan Williams: we will post to webheads
[3:32] Baldric Commons: I am just going to go away for a wee while
[3:33] Frank Spearmann: ok baldric
[3:33] Baldric Commons: I won't close sl down, but won't be able to talk for about 5 mins
[3:33] Lyr Lobo gave you Beach Coffee with Steam.
[3:33] Misha Writer: Susan - yes pls - sounds interesting - what woiuld the quest consist of?
[3:33] Hot Coffee whispers: Ahhhhh, nice and hot too!
[3:33] Mabel Steinhoff: ok, people, will be waiting for news, bye for now
[3:33] Frank Spearmann: thanks lyr
[3:33] susan Williams: well we are creating two separately
[3:33] Lyr Lobo: you are most welcome
[3:33] Cup of Coffee whispers: Mmm... delicious fresh brewed coffee.
[3:33] susan Williams: we have created a template for anyone to use
[3:33] Frank Spearmann: I'm actually in an internet cafe in aberdeen and I'm attracting a bit of attention
[3:33] Lyr Lobo gave you Cup of Coffee.
[3:33] susan Williams: and I am creating one on Physisvs of spaceflight
[3:33] Lyr Lobo gave you Hot Coffee.
[3:34] Lyr Lobo gave you Topeka Coffee mug.
[3:34] susan Williams: Chris is creating one on learning spaces
[3:34] Mabel Steinhoff: bye, all
[3:34] Lyr Lobo: that's great
[3:34] Misha Writer: Frank - I should think you would, dressed like tjat ...
[3:34] Lyr Lobo: *smiles*
[3:34] Lyr Lobo: bye Mabel
[3:34] Coffee whispers: aahh coffee
[3:34] susan Williams: and I may ask a colleague to create one on learning english
[3:34] Kunika Yoshikawa: i can not drink ... alcohol
[3:35] susan Williams: so the purpose of the virtual gathering /conference
[3:35] susan Williams: would be to look at each of these as models
[3:35] Misha Writer: Susan - what would a quest consist of?
[3:35] susan Williams: try them out and stimulate others to create their own virtual quests
[3:35] susan Williams: task
[3:35] Cup Of Green Tea whispers: Ah! Steaming Green Tea!
[3:35] susan Williams: process
[3:35] GEOELDER Clary: Are people planning on attending the inworld conference on Best Practices?
[3:35] susan Williams: output
[3:35] susan Williams: evaluation
[3:36] Lyr Lobo: would anyone like a beverage?
[3:36] Baldric Commons is Offline
[3:36] You: sounds very interesting
[3:36] Lyr Lobo: yes it does
[3:36] Kunika Yoshikawa: thank you for cup of tea
[3:36] Lyr Lobo: you are most welcome *smiles*
[3:36] susan Williams: well if youre all on webheads group we will econtact everyone through that
[3:36] susan Williams: if not
[3:36] Kunika Yoshikawa: (^^v
[3:36] susan Williams: i can let people know individually
[3:37] GEOELDER Clary: I best join Webheads.
[3:37] susan Williams: ok Id better go now
[3:37] Misha Writer: can you email me when you've got the details?
[3:37] You: we should definitely feedback on these projects
[3:37] susan Williams: if anyone does want to contact me separately
[3:37] Kunika Yoshikawa: ok see you
[3:37] You have offered friendship to susan Williams
[3:37] susan Williams: email is susan.kozicki-at-niace.org.uk
[3:38] susan Williams: Its been great talking to all of you
[3:38] Baldric Commons is Online
[3:38] Misha Writer: thanks susan - I'll email you
now before I forget!
[3:38] susan Williams: have fun for the rest of the session
[3:38] susan Williams: ok misha
[3:38] Kunika Yoshikawa: exactry .. simple is best ithink so
[3:38] Lyr Lobo: bye Susan
[3:38] Frank Spearmann: on these quests? treasure hunts, how would you use audio and text?
[3:38] susan Williams: hopwe to see you all at the virtual quest meeting
[3:38] susan Williams: frank
[3:39] susan Williams: we had anticipated using tese olly if the quest was a collaborative one
[3:39] GEOELDER Clary: I am going to have to leave. I have to resolve if I am actually teaching at five CA time.
[3:39] You: would there be a prize? reward other than the task itself?
[3:39] GEOELDER Clary: I appreciate meeting everyone.
[3:39] susan Williams: so we intend to create a couple of different types as well as different
subjects for demonstration
[3:39] Kita Coage: bye geo :O)
[3:39] susan Williams: so communication tools are used between tutor and group at start then between members of quest group
[3:40] susan Williams: could be
[3:40] GEOELDER Clary: Susan, and is the bewwt way to find out about them through webheadS?
[3:40] You: bye
[3:40] susan Williams: probably
[3:40] GEOELDER Clary: Hope to see you again Kita.
[3:40] susan Williams: but as I said, if you want me to email you individually please do contact me
[3:40] Kunika Yoshikawa: try and error is learnig way ...
[3:40] Kita Coage: yes - next time online maybe
[3:40] GEOELDER Clary: could I have the email again. It got by me.
[3:41] susan Williams: susan.kozicki-at-niace.org.uk
[3:41] susan Williams: or IM in 2nd life
[3:41] susan Williams: ok I have to go
[3:41] Frank Spearmann: what do people here hope to learn from these sessions here? just out of curiosity
[3:41] susan Williams: Baldric
[3:41] susan Williams: many thabnks for the invite
[3:41] susan Williams: see you soon
[3:41] GEOELDER Clary: Good bye everyone!
[3:41] susan Williams: bye
[3:41] Lyr Lobo: bye *smiles*
[3:41] GEOELDER Clary: Hope to run into you all inworld.
[3:41] Kita Coage: bye susan
[3:42] susan Williams is Offline
[3:43] Kunika Yoshikawa: see you
[3:43] Misha Writer: Frank - I'm hoping to get an idea of how people think the SL environment can be used in Language Learning - approaches, activities ..
[3:43] Lyr Lobo: definitely
[3:44] Kunika Yoshikawa: babbler?
[3:44] You: besides building a community of english speakers how do people see that being achieved?
[3:44] Kita Coage: sorry for not being very
contributive in the conversation, I'm just sucking in everything .O)
[3:45] Kunika Yoshikawa: say word ... it' simple like me
[3:45] Lyr Lobo: do you mean class activities and approaches or for researching new ways to teach languages?
[3:45] Lyr Lobo: for class activities, SL is a natural way to interact, communicate, write, even
speak over skype with visuals here
[3:45] Lyr Lobo: gesture, animation... interaction
[3:45] You: I think research comes from events like these
[3:45] Lyr Lobo: hello Annie
[3:45] Kunika Yoshikawa: learning Launguage ...
[3:45] You: hi annie
[3:46] Lyr Lobo: I am sorry... I need to leave
[3:46] Lyr Lobo: pardon me... I must dash... 4:44 am here... *smiles*
[3:46] Annie Sani: sorry for my lateness
[3:46] Lyr Lobo: have a lovely day *smiles*
[3:46] Kita Coage: thanks Lyr
[3:46] Lyr Lobo grins and waves
[3:46] Kita Coage: you too
[3:46] Misha Writer: bye Lyr - continue conversation another time
[3:47] Frank Spearmann: I think quests are a good way
[3:47] Frank Spearmann: community
[3:47] Frank Spearmann: teaching SL skill sets in English
[3:48] Frank Spearmann: how would grammar be approached
[3:48] Frank Spearmann: just on the spot correction or perhaps something more game like
[3:49] Frank Spearmann: inventory sorting could be a vocabulary task
[3:49] Misha Writer: I also wonder whether it's feasible to set up role play activities - that
students could dip in and out of - but many questions as to how this could be done
[3:49] Frank Spearmann: notecard role cards
[3:49] Frank Spearmann: if someone left the roleplay and someone else TPed in
[3:50] Frank Spearmann: then another player could cut and paste chat history
[3:50] Frank Spearmann: hey presto a reading
[3:51] Misha Writer: Baldric - are you shooting at me?
[3:51] Kunika Yoshikawa: ok
[3:51] Baldric Commons: sorry, Misha
[3:52] Baldric Commons: just showing someone here some facilities
[3:52] Kunika Yoshikawa: imust go home ... see you aain nice meeting
[3:52] Baldric Commons: Frank, can you email me this transcript?
[3:52] You: how about mini presentations on notecards?
[3:52] Kita Coage: bye Kunika
[3:52] Baldric Commons: to blogefl@gmail.com
[3:52] Baldric Commons: when we finish
[3:52] Kunika Yoshikawa: thank youvery much
[3:52] Baldric Commons: I have just realised I didn't save it when I logged out
[3:52] You: yep on it baldric
[3:52] Baldric Commons: thanks
[3:53] Kita Coage: how can you save the chat?
[3:53] Misha Writer: question - can I save a transcript myself?
[3:53] Misha Writer: same question!!
[3:53] Kunika Yoshikawa: arigatou gozimashita
[3:54] You: I think having a set of notecards with explanations using graphics (timelines etc) could be useful
[3:54] Yenamous Boa: hello everyone
[3:54] Baldric Commons: kita, in preferences, you can turn on 'chat log'
[3:54] Kunika Yoshikawa: thank you verry much
[3:54] Baldric Commons: or you can copy and paste from the 'history' tab
[3:54] Misha Writer: where do you pick up the chat log?
[3:54] Baldric Commons: I think I am going to have to go now folks
[3:55] Kita Coage: thanx Baldric
[3:55] Baldric Commons: there's another session here starting soon
[3:55] Frank Spearmann: ok
[3:55] Yenamous Boa: at what time ?
[3:55] Baldric Commons: great to meet you all here
today, and it was a very interesting chat
[3:55] Frank Spearmann: I'm going to go and see baldric in RL
[3:55] Baldric Commons: in 15 minutes I think
[3:55] Misha Writer: thanks for setting it up - been v useful
[3:56] Frank Spearmann: I just look for someone who looks like your avatar, right?
[3:56] Baldric Commons: a pleasure, Misha
[3:56] Misha Writer: bye all
[3:56] Baldric Commons: that's right, Frank



[3:56] Baldric Commons: lol
[3:56] Frank Spearmann: great
[3:56] Baldric Commons: well, folks, bye for now
[3:56] Baldric Commons: see you again in SL I hope
[3:56] Yenamous Boa: that like a needle in a hay stack
[3:56] Yenamous Boa: lol
[3:56] Baldric Commons is Offline
[3:56] You: the sandals will be a dead giveaway baldric
[3:56] You: bye all
[3:57] Yenamous Boa: bye frank

Second Life and Language Learning discussions - part 1

We had two interesting discussions in Second Life on Friday evening and Saturday morning, as part of the IATEFL Aberdeen Conference proceedings. The discussions were held at Edunation, on the subject of language learning and Second Life.



First, the Friday session.

Background: Held at 21.30 GMT, Kyle and I ended up having to share one avatar, and were in a great Aberdeen cafe/wine bar in the centre of town (Beans). There we were, wine in hand, in the back of the cafe with my laptop, and in SL, as people started coming in and taking up the seats, enjoying the live jazz music and generally cool ambience of the place. Apologies for the abrupt exit, after an hour-and-a-half of stimulating discussion - my laptop batteries could take it no more, and died on me. With all that in mind, here is the transcript, with photos to give those who haven't been in Second Life a better idea of the experience:

[13:29] Misha Writer: I thought it started half an hour ago - so I
took a seat & waited. I think Link has gone for a shower ...
[13:30] Kita Coage: hi ingrid
[13:30] Misha Writer: hi - welcome to the session!
[13:30] Ingrid Lindman: Hi Kita!
[13:30] Ingrid Lindman: Hi everybody!
[13:30] You: hi everyone
[13:30] Kita Coage: hi
[13:31] Misha Writer: Baldric - are you here?
[13:31] Kita Coage: are you here for a meeting too Ingrid
[13:31] Misha Writer: there you are!!
[13:31] Ingrid Lindman: Yes, I have read about the meeting on the
Learning english website
[13:31] Ingrid Lindman: about iatefl aberdeen
[13:31] Kita Coage: i see
[13:32] You: hi everyone
[13:32] Kita Coage: what will be going on then?
[13:32] You: great you could all come
[13:33] You: I am sitting in an Aberdeen Internet cafe with Kyle
Mawer (Frank Spearmann in SL)
[13:33] You: we are sharing this avatar tonight
[13:33] You: we are sharing this avatar tonight
[13:33] You: we have just come back from a vigorous Sots dancing session
[13:34] You: erm...Scottish dancing
[13:34] You: lol
[13:34] Misha Writer: are you suggesting the Scots are sots ??
[13:34] Kita Coage: two right hands I suppose ... :O)
[13:34] You: sorry...slurring my words - tooo much whisky
[13:34] You: I met a couple of webheads tonight
[13:35] You: Valentina dodge and Ana Falco
[13:35] Misha Writer: you both did?
[13:35] You: lol
[13:35] Kita Coage: where?
[13:35] You: at an old dance hall in Aberdeen
[13:35] You: we are having a lot of fun
[13:35] Kita Coage: oh - good
[13:35] You: thanks for coming tonight
[13:36] Kita Coage: fun is good
[13:36] You: the idea is to have a conversation about language learning and SL
[13:36] You: perhaps we can start with introductions
[13:36] You: I am going to post the chat trasnscript later
[13:36] You: on the Moodle
[13:37] You: so, who wants to start?
[13:37] Osnacantab Nesterov is Online
[13:37] Misha Writer: I'm Michael Shade, I teach Spanish at Uni of Brighton, UK
[13:37] Ingrid Lindman: I'm Ingrid Braband, I am a teacher trainer at
the German government language school.
[13:37] You: encantado, michael
[13:38] Webhead Link: hola
[13:38] Kita Coage: I'm Jeanette Tranberg from Norway - just here for
exploring, but a substitute teacher in english now and then, and I'm
an ICT teacher
[13:38] Webhead Link: Vance Stevens, a webhead and computing teacher
in Abu Dhabi
[13:39] You: I am Graham Stanley, teacher and ICT co-ordinator at the
British council in Barcelona, Spain
[13:39] Webhead Link: graham are you still holding your eflbridges skypecasts?
[13:40] You: And also Kyle Mawer, teacher also at the Barcelona Young
Learner Centre, and we are setting up a self-access centre for the
British council on the SL teen Grid
[13:40] You: Vance, I am going back to that as soon as I get back from Aberdeen
[13:40] Webhead Link: great
[13:40] Redaktisto Noble is Offline
[13:40] You: not this sunday, but the week after
[13:40] You: I have had chats about that with people here
[13:41] You: I met Pete Travis of Flo-Joe here, and talked to him about it
[13:41] Ingrid Lindman: Can everybody participate in your skypecasts, Graham?
[13:41] You: he is giving a skypecast and language learning session tomorrow
[13:41] You: http://www.flo-joe.com
[13:41] You: yes, Ingrid, anyone
[13:41] You:
href="http://www.eflbridges.net/" target="_blank">http://www.eflbridges.net
[13:42] Ingrid Lindman: supe!
[13:42] Ingrid Lindman: super!
[13:43] Webhead Link: sounds like a really fine conference up there
[13:43] You: hi dennis - come and join us
[13:43] Kip Yellowjacket: ah
[13:43] Kip Yellowjacket: That's better.
[13:43] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[13:44] Kita Coage: your on fire!
[13:44] Kip Yellowjacket: Hi everyone. ;)
[13:44] You: hi kip
[13:44] You: it's great you can join us
[13:44] Kip Yellowjacket: Thanks for the invite. ;)
[13:44] You: please can you intrioduce yourself
[13:44] You: please can you intrioduce yourself
[13:44] Kip Yellowjacket: Well, I'm Kip Yellowjacket from Second Life English.
[13:44] Jonny Hubble: Can I join you?
[13:45] Osnacantab Nesterov: Thanks Baldric
[13:45] Kip Yellowjacket: I currently reside in Germany and work as a
language instructor.
[13:45] Kita Coage: hi Jonny
[13:45] Kip Yellowjacket: My wife and I have a language school in Germany.
[13:45] Jonny Hubble: Hello again
[13:45] Kita Coage: sit down
[13:45] You: well, everyone, our discussion tonight is about
'language learning and Second Life' - can it be done?
[13:46] Osnacantab Nesterov: Kip. Where in Germany?
[13:46] Bunny Barbarossa is Offline
[13:46] You: hi Dennis - please come and join us - take a seat
[13:46] Kip Yellowjacket: I have tons of thoughts on this topic, but
I'd like others to give their comments. ;)
[13:47] Webhead Link: offhand I'd say yes
[13:47] Kip Yellowjacket: ...don't wish to pig the talk.
[13:47] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[13:47] Jonny Hubble: I haven't trained with SL but using chat rooms
so I assume it works the same
[13:47] Jonny Hubble: except for the added advanatges of SL
[13:47] Jonny Hubble: I wish I'd used it when running a distance course
[13:48] Kita Coage: is there an easy way to voices? - in SL?
[13:48] You: what do you think it would have added, Jonny?
[13:48] Webhead Link: voice is coming to SL
[13:48] You: Kita, voice is coming in June
[13:48] Kita Coage: oh really :O)
[13:48] You: integrated voice that is
[13:48] You: yes, quite exciting
[13:48] Jonny Hubble: I just love the extra paralinguistic stuff with
SL that makes it more like a real seminar instead of the coldness of a
chatroom
[13:48] Kita Coage: yes - good
[13:49] You: I agree, Jonny
[13:49] Kita Coage: then there is a big potensial i think
[13:49] You: there is a sense of space, of presence that I love
[13:49] Webhead Link: do any of you sit in on Fire Centaur's classes?
[13:49] You: but what about actual teaching of languages?
[13:49] You: good question, Webhead
[13:49] Webhead Link: (speaking of paralinguistics)
[13:49] Kip Yellowjacket: I teach at the English Village.
[13:49] You: Kip is one of the teachers
[13:49] Bunny Barbarossa is Online
[13:50] You: could you tell us about that, kip
[13:50] Webhead Link: i don't know about it, so do tell
[13:50] You: I think you have more experience than anyone else
[13:50] Kip Yellowjacket: Sure...
[13:50] Kip Yellowjacket: There is so much to say. Each lesson
teaches me something new.
[13:50] Kip Yellowjacket: ...about the challenges
[13:50] Kip Yellowjacket: potential
[13:50] Kip Yellowjacket: etc
[13:50] Kip Yellowjacket: logistics is often a big problem
[13:50] You: hi bunny, please come and take a seat
[13:50] Bunny Barbarossa: hi everyone
[13:51] Kip Yellowjacket: getting i think sl is highly immersive and
can be seen as a great component
[13:51] Kip Yellowjacket: an add-on
[13:51] Kip Yellowjacket: to the esl/efl experience
[13:51] You: kip is just telling us about his experience teaching in SL
[13:51] Kati Voss is Offline
[13:51] You: please introduce yourself, though, for the benefit of everyone
[13:51] Kip Yellowjacket: i dont think it can replace real life teaching
[13:51] Kip Yellowjacket: there are too many limitations at the moment for that
[13:51] You: I agree, kip
[13:52] Bunny Barbarossa: that sounds interesting, I'd like to know more
[13:52] You: but it can augment rl teaching
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: but as a highly immersive chat environment
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: absolutely
[13:52] You: good for e-learning and autonomy
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: it can absolutely augment the rl
teaching/learning experience
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: i use it to compliment my rl lessons
[13:52] You: kip, what kind of reaction have your students given you?
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: have students from rl in sl
[13:52] Kip Yellowjacket: mostly all positive
[13:53] Webhead Link: they must have first rate computers
[13:53] Kip Yellowjacket: there is a certain wow effect bc of the
coolness of sl anyway
[13:53] Webhead Link: good bandwidth
[13:53] You: what do they say to you about their experience of learning in sl?
[13:53] Bunny Barbarossa: sorry if you've already asked this
question, but what kind of activities do you do with your students
Kip?
[13:53] Kip Yellowjacket: and students find it very interesting
learning in such an environment
[13:53] Kip Yellowjacket: k
[13:53] Kip Yellowjacket: bunny
[13:53] Kip Yellowjacket: i do a variety of things and am slowly expanding
[13:53] Kip Yellowjacket: so far
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: private, small group (1 teacher) and
team-taught lessons
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: have been offered
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: role-playing
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: is nice
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: and chat sessions
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: with active correction
[13:54] Kip Yellowjacket: of mistakes
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: use a blog to compliment the sl lessons
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: to follow up lessons
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: for ex
[13:55] Bunny Barbarossa: do your students come with their own ideas
about what they'd like to do?
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: well...
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: for the most part they dont
[13:55] You: it's good to use elements outside of SL then, Kip?
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: i try to get feedback from them
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: and we r in the process of doing more evaluation
[13:55] Bunny Barbarossa: how do you do that exactly?
[13:55] Kip Yellowjacket: i am working witha professor at a univ in france to
[13:56] Bunny Barbarossa: get feedback from them?
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: implement actual evaluation methods
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: to judge our performance
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: for teachers and students
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: and student progress
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: bunny..
[13:56] You: questionnaires?
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: its rather informal
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: i use a forum for ex
[13:56] Kip Yellowjacket: post questions
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: and ask for responses
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: but many students send me emails
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: or IMs
[13:57] Bunny Barbarossa: do you think you're getting it right? It's
a massive new area
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: providing feedback
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: well...
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: i will not settle
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: for what has been done so far
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: its not perfect
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: so smth new is being learned in each lesson
[13:57] Kip Yellowjacket: so progress can surely be mmade
[13:58] Kip Yellowjacket: sorry baldric...missed your questions
[13:58] You: how about taking us through a typical lesson, kip?
[13:58] Kip Yellowjacket: hmmm
[13:58] Kip Yellowjacket: well bc it's all so new...i have bee trying
various things
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: so i dont have a typical yet
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: but i can give u an impression
[13:59] You: I think you have changed the way you are doing things at
the English Village, for example
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: i tried to get out of the classroom
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: originally i did that
[13:59] You: now you do less in a classroom in SL, and more
role-playing, is that right?
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: and acted...as i read somewhere online...as
a sage on the stage
[13:59] Kip Yellowjacket: and now im trying to get out
[14:00] Kip Yellowjacket: and use the full potential
[14:00] Kip Yellowjacket: of sl
[14:00] Kip Yellowjacket: one of the last lessons
[14:00] Kip Yellowjacket: was called marketplace english
[14:00] You: how can you get more student involvement?
[14:00] You: is building a good idea?
[14:00] You: I always thought that asking students to build things,
you can see how much they understand you
[14:00] Kip Yellowjacket: we have had lessons which combined building
and english
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[14:01] You: how did they go?
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: we've done it...was good fun
[14:01] Misha Writer: can you tell us more about the marketplace idea?
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: but
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: the focus is then
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: not so much on language
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: but on building
[14:01] You: obviously, the students need to be familiar with the interface
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: as far as student is concerned
[14:01] You: ok, I understand
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[14:01] You: How about communciation games?
[14:01] Kip Yellowjacket: well...
[14:02] You: I would like to try playing games such as 'alibi' in SL
[14:02] Kip Yellowjacket: am planning to moving more in that direction
[14:02] Kip Yellowjacket: i would like to create instructional tools
[14:02] Kip Yellowjacket: which can be used for game-based learning
[14:02] Kati Voss is Online
[14:02] Kip Yellowjacket: in sl
[14:02] Kip Yellowjacket: this is a current plan
[14:02] You: such as?
[14:03] You: what about lesson plans?
[14:03] Kip Yellowjacket: well am in the brainstorming phase regarding that
[14:03] You: a lot of people in Aberdeen who we have talked to have
mentioned this
[14:03] Kip Yellowjacket: lesson plans...
[14:03] Kip Yellowjacket: we will soon begin using moodle
[14:03] Kip Yellowjacket: amd have an actual course structure in place
[14:03] Kip Yellowjacket: so that sl is only one component
[14:03] You: I think that this might make it a concrete thing to many
people who are not familiar with SL
[14:03] Kip Yellowjacket: of a bigger package
[14:04] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[14:04] You: yes
[14:04] susan Williams is Online
[14:04] You: one idea...
[14:04] Misha Writer: I'd still like to hear a bit about the
marketplace activity, Kip
[14:04] Kip Yellowjacket: sure..
[14:04] Jonny Hubble: sorry I have to go - thanks it was interesting
listening...bye
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: see u jonny
[14:05] Kita Coage: by jonny
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:05] Bunny Barbarossa: bye Jonny
[14:05] You: thanks Jonny
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: marketplace
[14:05] Ingrid Lindman: bye
[14:05] You: bye for now
[14:05] Kita Coage: hello susan
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: was basically intended to be a role-playing
environment
[14:05] susan Williams: hi there
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: the atmosphere was created using various stands
[14:05] Bunny Barbarossa: hi
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: at each stand
[14:05] You: hi susan
[14:05] Kip Yellowjacket: their was a learning task
[14:05] You: come and join us
[14:06] You: please introduce yourselfç
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: related to lanuage which would be needed
when buying things
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: for ex:
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: polite language
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: use of interjections
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: showing interest
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: disinterest etc
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: this was a team-taught lesson
[14:06] Kip Yellowjacket: involving multiple teachers
[14:06] You: kip, are most of your students in SL young adults?
[14:07] Kip Yellowjacket: young and older id say
[14:07] Bunny Barbarossa: I like the idea of that, although it's
probably not viable business-wise
[14:07] Kip Yellowjacket: 25-45
[14:07] You: do you have any students that are not your RL students?
[14:07] Kip Yellowjacket: bunny
[14:07] Misha Writer: loads of questions now - how are the stands set
up, how are student responses monitored, is it spoken language or
written ??
[14:07] Kip Yellowjacket: business was not my focus there
[14:07] Kip Yellowjacket: that is secondary in what i do
[14:07] Kip Yellowjacket: i am genuinely interested in teaching
[14:08] Bunny Barbarossa: sure, I was imagining a teach + student group
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: and seeing that learning occurs
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: ic
[14:08] Bunny Barbarossa: that is one teacher per student
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: yes...i do that as well
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: have 2 lessons lined up
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: tomorrow
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: basically just chat with active correcting
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: followed up by blogwork
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: and sometimes
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: skype
[14:08] Kip Yellowjacket: session
[14:09] Kati Voss is Offline
[14:09] Kita Coage: by blog work, do mean reflections?
[14:09] You: I suppose voice contact makes a big difference
[14:09] Kita Coage: you
[14:09] Kip Yellowjacket:
www.SecondLifeEnglish.com
[14:09] Kip Yellowjacket: or
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: www.BlogYourEnglish.com
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: basically various forms of exercises
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: using
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: text, audio and video
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: images
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: etc
[14:10] Misha Writer: this may be a sensitive question - but would it
be possible to see one of these lessons - sounds great but it's a bit
difficult to visualise
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: and providing correction
[14:10] Kip Yellowjacket: is always possible
[14:10] Webhead Link: can one drop by?
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: the friday lessons are open to everyone and
id be more than happy to open up other lessons to observation on
request
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: pls just let me know if u plan to come to a
lesson other than the friday one
[14:11] Misha Writer: that's brilliant!
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: so i can expect u
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: u can also participate
[14:11] Webhead Link: back in the days when we were introducing
studnets to text chat, ten years ago
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: i have the efl/esl team group
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: u can join and come teach
[14:11] Kita Coage: where at?
[14:11] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:11] You: I think it is great that you let people observe, kip
[14:12] Kip Yellowjacket: lessons take place at the english village
[14:12] Webhead Link: it was amazing how motivating it was to have
native speakers interested and interacting with the EFL students
[14:12] You: it's very generous of you
[14:12] Kip Yellowjacket: sure...i love seeing other people get involved
[14:12] Kip Yellowjacket: but i dont claim to do anything perfectly...lol
[14:12] You: I hope you receive positive feedback in return
[14:12] Kip Yellowjacket: there r still many kinks to get worked out
[14:12] Webhead Link: i think it would be great for the students to
interact with interested observers
[14:12] Kip Yellowjacket: thx baldric i tend to
[14:12] Bunny Barbarossa: isn't there always?
[14:13] You: of course, you are a pioneer in this brave new world
[14:13] Kip Yellowjacket: aren't we all? ;)
[14:13] Bunny Barbarossa: hahaha
[14:13] Webhead Link: suppose a month from now I got to thinking I
had time to drop by one of these lessons
[14:13] Webhead Link: how would I find the schedule?
[14:14] Kati Voss is Online
[14:14] Osnacantab Nesterov: Kip, can you give the URL for your
lessons again, please?
[14:14] Kip Yellowjacket: you can find it here: www.eslteacherlink.com
[14:14] Kip Yellowjacket: we use google calendar
[14:14] You: yes, I suppose we are...our project on the teen grid
will soon be launched...we aren't going to be teaching there (at least
not at the moment), but setting up language learning facilities
[14:14] Osnacantab Nesterov: Thanks
[14:14] Kip Yellowjacket: that's fire's site
[14:14] You: thanks for the references, kip
[14:14] Kip Yellowjacket: sure thing ;)
[14:14] You: we are thinking about a lot of interactive mysteries,
treasure hunts, etc
[14:15] Ingrid Lindman: I have already seen one of Kip's lessons and
it was very interesting!
[14:15] Bunny Barbarossa: yes, thanks. You're very inspiring
[14:15] Kip Yellowjacket: thx ingrid ;)
[14:15] You: using audio clips as clues, embedded in the island, etc
[14:15] Kip Yellowjacket: oh quests are fun! ;)
[14:15] Bunny Barbarossa: hide and seek?
[14:15] You: ingrid, what did you like most about it?
[14:15] You: hide and seek is a fun activity
[14:16] Ingrid Lindman: It was the first time I saw a lesson - I
liked the environment very much ....
[14:16] Kati Voss is Offline
[14:16] Ingrid Lindman: it was like real life - though only with
written language
[14:16] Bunny Barbarossa: kip, do you get students coming back on a
regular basis like in a rl class?
[14:16] Kip Yellowjacket: sure do...
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: and i could do more to ensure that
[14:17] Bunny Barbarossa: is that the majority?
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: well...i think many come when they can...
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: its that kind of a scenario
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: but we will soon be charging for lessons
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: at the english village
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: to help to ensure sincerity
[14:17] Kip Yellowjacket: on the part of the students
[14:17] Bunny Barbarossa: linden or US?
[14:18] You: I see...and the idea of using a holodeck - could you
explain what that involves, Kip?
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: sure baldric...one sec
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: bunny
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: both
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: will be possible
[14:18] You: ok, sorry...lots of questions!
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: although many of my courses will be for the
german speaking audience
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: bc i plan to offer packages
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: involving more than sl
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: e.g.
[14:18] Kip Yellowjacket: email correspondance
[14:19] Kip Yellowjacket: + editing
[14:19] Kip Yellowjacket: telephoning
[14:19] Chris Eggplant is Offline
[14:19] Kip Yellowjacket: sl lessons
[14:19] Kip Yellowjacket: etc
[14:19] Kip Yellowjacket: so they will cost more
[14:19] You: that sounds like a very well-thought out offer, kip
[14:19] Kip Yellowjacket: but the friday lesson will remain free
[14:19] You: good idea, to encourage participation and new people
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: well...seems like sl alone cant make enough
money to justify the effort
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: friday is to
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: encourage new teachers
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: to become involved
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: and students as well
[14:20] Bunny Barbarossa: what time are the classes on Friday?
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: 11:30 sl time
[14:20] Misha Writer: my question too - what time?
[14:20] You: there is a company that thinks that SL alone can be an
alternative to RL language lessons - http;//www.languagelab.com
[14:20] Bunny Barbarossa: which is GMT?
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: yes
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: i know them
[14:20] You: have you all heard of this?
[14:20] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:21] You: what do you think, Kip?
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: ironically i have applied to work for them
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: but no response
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: lol
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: so
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: am not sure whats up...
[14:21] Misha Writer: are they the ones setting up a Spanish course -
Granny's Kitchen??
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: but i seriously doubt it can ever replace rl
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: would say it cant
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: until it frows
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: grows
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: develops more
[14:21] Kip Yellowjacket: and even then
[14:22] Kip Yellowjacket: doubt it
[14:22] You: i think thats www.languagelab.com- the granny kitchen
[14:22] Kip Yellowjacket: yea...they own like 6 sims
[14:22] Kip Yellowjacket: i think
[14:22] Kip Yellowjacket: if im correct
[14:22] You: 21
[14:22] Kip Yellowjacket: ohhhh
[14:22] Kip Yellowjacket: wow
[14:22] Misha Writer: sims = areas in SL ??
[14:22] Bunny Barbarossa: 21 or 12 Baldric?
[14:23] You: the first but i-ll have to confirm that
[14:23] You: sorry twelve
[14:23] Kip Yellowjacket: still
[14:23] Webhead Link: semantic check
[14:23] Kip Yellowjacket: quite a few
[14:23] Bunny Barbarossa: it must be the haggis!
[14:23] Webhead Link: I keep hearing this word sims
[14:23] Kip Yellowjacket: i hope to soon own 1
[14:23] Kip Yellowjacket: lol
[14:23] Webhead Link: what does it mean exactly
[14:23] You: sorry, I have seen both quoted
[14:24] You: a sim is an island
[14:24] You: there are 2 on one server
[14:24] Kip Yellowjacket: like the English Village
[14:24] You: we have now got three sims on the teen grid
[14:25] You: one is being developed and will be launched in May
[14:25] Kip Yellowjacket: how hard is it to teach on the teen grid?
[14:25] susan Williams: how is that going baldric
[14:25] susan Williams: where are you intending to recruit your students?
[14:25] You: it is more difficult as there are more restrictions, kip
[14:25] Kip Yellowjacket: right
[14:25] Kip Yellowjacket: have read
[14:25] Kip Yellowjacket: background check etc
[14:26] Kip Yellowjacket: but i can do that...just would need to go
thru the steps
[14:26] Kip Yellowjacket: i suppose
[14:26] Kip Yellowjacket: ?
[14:26] You: susan, we are creating an interesting environment for teens...
[14:26] You: and hope to attract teens already in SL...
[14:26] susan Williams: and are you intending to rent out or lend
space on your teen island for other projects?
[14:26] susan Williams: or just keep to one project
[14:27] You: and also will be promoting SL and our island in our 100+
centres over the world
[14:27] Kip Yellowjacket: very nice
[14:27] You: we are looking at collaborative projects at the moment,
discussing ways of getting teens involved in helping us, etc
[14:27] susan Williams: one of my colleagues wants to trry out 2nd
life as a way of teaching texual health issues to teens
[14:27] susan Williams: sexual even
[14:28] susan Williams: interesting ifddea
[14:28] susan Williams: perhaps by using teens to mentor each other
and lead discussions in small groups
[14:28] You: though, at first, we won't be teaching, just providing
extra self-access laguage learning opportunities, and a community for
chat, etc
[14:28] Bunny Barbarossa: on the teen grid, Susan?
[14:28] susan Williams: yes
[14:28] susan Williams: but has not yet set up their own space
[14:28] You: sounds interesting, susan
[14:28] susan Williams: hence my question to baldric
[14:29] Kip Yellowjacket: what sort of self-access language learning
do u have in mind?
[14:29] You: that is what we want to do, susan - set up a mentoring project
[14:29] You: I think there is a great opportnity for community
building, intercultural work, etc
[14:30] Bunny Barbarossa: yes, i agree it's very exciting
[14:30] susan Williams: very
[14:30] You: kip, we have got all sorts of things planned - a mystery
mansion, for example, which is a kind of game that involves clues
(audio and text)
[14:30] Kip Yellowjacket: wow...sounds great ;)
[14:30] You: we are grading the language depending on the area of the island
[14:30] You: yes, we are very excited about it
[14:30] Bunny Barbarossa: you know, I'm sure most of the stuff that's
being developed would be equally as interesting to adults
[14:31] You: then we'll have a village that will be full of buildings
with language games, etc
[14:31] Kip Yellowjacket: wow...would love to see that
[14:31] You: you are right bunny - we now have an adult island too
[14:31] susan Williams: what kind of games
[14:31] You: çwell, vocabulary games, but also games based on functions
[14:31] Bunny Barbarossa: me too, but it's impossible to go in
without breaking the rules
[14:32] Kita Coage: can you give an example of a function game Baldric?
[14:32] Misha Writer: it would also be great to have facilities like
you describe for learners of other langauges - to what extent is it
all transferable ?
[14:32] You: we are discussing specific content with developers at the
moment, trying to keep things open, so we can change them if possible
[14:33] You: functional language game? Well, for example, shopping language
[14:33] susan Williams: what are you using to develop the games? baldric?
[14:33] Kita Coage: oh, thanks, i see
[14:33] You: theyhave a shopping list and need to find them
[14:33] You: we are developing the games using an outside company
[14:34] Kip Yellowjacket: very cool
[14:34] You: specialised in building and scripting in Sl
[14:34] You: with experience in the teen grid too
[14:34] You: the company are Kim and the Magicians
[14:34] Misha Writer: sounds like a lot of expensive development work
involved ...
[14:35] Kita Coage: nice
[14:35] susan Williams: worth it however if the outputs are
transferable and can be re - used
[14:35] Bunny Barbarossa: quite
[14:35] Osnacantab Nesterov: Baldric, will adults be able to visit
(if not use) the island when it is complete?
[14:35] You: http://themagicians.us
[14:36] You: no, Dennis - the teen grid is only open to teens
[14:36] Bunny Barbarossa: unless you break the rules
[14:36] You: and educators who have been background checked
[14:36] You: yes, bunny, but then you run the risk of a police record in the US
[14:36] Osnacantab Nesterov: It's hard being old. :-)
[14:36] susan Williams: how straightforward is the background check?
[14:36] You: lol
[14:36] Bunny Barbarossa: exactly
[14:36] Misha Writer: how easy would it be to replicate what you have
described to the adult SL ?
[14:37] Bunny Barbarossa: hahahaha
[14:37] You: it's not easy, susan - you need to submit 10 years worth
of addresses
[14:37] Kip Yellowjacket: ive had a background check and would be
interested in checking out the teen grid...can also have another
background check done if needed
[14:37] Kip Yellowjacket: whats the step after that?
[14:37] You: fairly easy, misha
[14:38] Misha Writer: so the initial investment in development work
wouldn't have to be repeated?
[14:38] You: after that, it's 50 dollars per address
[14:38] Kip Yellowjacket: ic
[14:38] You: and then you need a project to work on
[14:38] Kip Yellowjacket: man...ive moved a lot
[14:38] Kip Yellowjacket: lol
[14:38] susan Williams: baldric would it be possible to take some
camtasia videos of the games in use
[14:38] You: you are limited to that project - cannot move off the island
[14:38] Kip Yellowjacket: ah ic
[14:38] You: lol, kip - I was lucky
[14:38] susan Williams: to demonstrate to educators in the adult grid
[14:39] You: yes, susan - we will be doing videos
[14:39] susan Williams: smashing
[14:39] You: I want to do some, but we are still at the building stage
[14:39] You: I have posted some photos on my flickr site of our island
[14:39] You: the games still have to be uilt
[14:39] You: built
[14:40] You: we have a long project in front of us
[14:40] Misha Writer: camtasia videos ??
[14:40] susan Williams: whats the timescale baldric
[14:40] You: in may, we will have the space (island 1) and some of
the mysteries, etc ready
[14:41] You: then, we'll be working on preparing the 2nd iland
[14:41] You: island
[14:41] You: that'll be June
[14:41] You: and the thrid one, and the adult island
[14:41] You: we are going to be kept very busy!
[14:41] Kip Yellowjacket: m sure ;)
[14:42] You: From what I have seen/heard, we will also be getting a
lot of teen visitors
[14:42] You: there are few interesting projects on the teen grid open
for visits
[14:42] Bunny Barbarossa: where did you get your info?
[14:42] You: lots of places, bunny - there are blogs of teen grid
projects, for example..
[14:42] You: I'll post one...hold on a mo
[14:43] Bunny Barbarossa: from teens?
[14:43] Kip Yellowjacket: nice slippers susan ;)
[14:43] Bunny Barbarossa: I can't stop looking at them!
[14:43] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:43] Misha Writer: can't see them from here ...
[14:44] Bunny Barbarossa: you don't know what you're missing! bunnies!!
[14:44] Misha Writer: no wonder you like them!
[14:44] susan Williams: thanks kip
[14:44] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:44] You: http://grahambluecoat.edublogs.org/
[14:44] susan Williams: there is also a panda slipper option
[14:44] Bunny Barbarossa: Sorry I didn't introduce myself when I sat
down, I'm a colleague of Balrdirc's at the British Council and have
been following the iatelf a little this week
[14:45] You: I set up a blog to document the project
[14:45] You: kyle says 'trust women to start talking about shoes'
[14:45] You: lol
[14:45] Kip Yellowjacket: well i started it
[14:45] Kip Yellowjacket: lol
[14:45] Kip Yellowjacket: ;)
[14:46] Bunny Barbarossa: hi kyle!
[14:46] Bunny Barbarossa: didn't know you were there!
[14:46] You: hi bunny
[14:46] You: im baldric too
[14:46] You: hi sus
[14:46] SusNy Foss: Hello !
[14:46] Webhead Link: hey sus
[14:46] You: come and join us
[14:46] Kip Yellowjacket: hi susny
[14:46] susan Williams: hiya sus
[14:47] You: sus, did you see what I wrote about you and our meeting
last year on my new blog?
[14:47] You: http://grahambluecoat.edublogs.org/
[14:47] SusNy Foss: I'll take a look:-)
[14:47] Osnacantab Nesterov is Offline
[14:47] SusNy Foss: oh yes I actually thin I read it some time ago
[14:48] SusNy Foss: we met in a cinema and you had your winter outfit
ready at hand
[14:48] You: that's right
[14:49] You: it was a lot of fun
[14:49] You: it was a lot of fun
[14:49] SusNy Foss: it was in my early days and I was really begining
to feel at easy by meeting old frinds
[14:49] SusNy Foss: now I begin to feel more like a veteran
[14:50] You: sus, do you know of anyone teaching languages in SL?
[14:50] You: and could you give us an intro too?
[14:51] SusNy Foss: well, I'm in Denmark and I help with teacher's
web 2.0 development in several projects at the moment
[14:52] SusNy Foss: I'm no language teacher myself, but as I've
followed Webheads in Action for the past six years...
[14:52] You: and an active webhead you are too
[14:52] SusNy Foss: I felt it was a natural thing to start here in SL
as did my online colleagues
[14:52] You: what about other language learning and teaching projects in SL?
[14:53] You: has anyone come across many non...

This is the point where we lost the connection. If anyone was there and has the rest of the chat, please can you post it? Thanks!