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jjamison — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:09:34 CDT

- August 2009 We are still hard at work in the studio, updating this site!

The TGIF Cruises

jjamison — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:34:10 CDT

This is a template page

Use this template when you want to use photos and text to tell your story. Click EasyEdit, then highlight this text with your cursor and type over it with your own words: You can write as much as you want!

This sample photo is easy to replace with one of your own: Click the EasyEdit button, highlight the placeholder image at left and hit "delete." Then click the "image" button in the toolbar and use the "browse" button to find the image you want to insert from your computer. It's that easy.

The text can be wrapped around your image, or you can have the text start below the photo. You can also move the photo to the right side of the page. See your choices for photo and text placement by clickin on the photo with your mouse and then clicking "image" on the toolbar.

You can also change the size of your photo by clicking on it once to highlight it, then by clicking the "plus" or "minus" sign in the "Edit Image" toolbox. When you're all done, save your page.

Online Courses

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:30:04 CDT

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Individualized Custom Learning

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:29:29 CDT

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Two - Three Day Digital Culture Immersion Workshop

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:28:41 CDT

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The One Day Digital Culture Seminar

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:28:07 CDT

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The Tuesday Night Cruises

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:27:25 CDT

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The One Day Executive Immersion

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:26:37 CDT

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The Group SLemester Experience

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:26:05 CDT

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The Advanced SLemester Experience

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:25:41 CDT

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The SLemester Experience

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:25:05 CDT

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Programs in Second Life

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:20:23 CDT

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Programs On Your Site

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:19:42 CDT

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Presentations and Keynotes

jjamison — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:05:50 CDT

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Digital Immersion Module - Final Module

jjamison — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:09:34 CDT

Synchronicity

Allrighty then!

These initial modules are enough to get you started in the virtual world experience. Virtual Bacon is currently creating additional modules, including the next one that will introduce the scripting language of SecondLife that allows you to create simple scripts to give your objects animation and actions. Now that will be cool, huh?

But for now, let's take a moment and reflect on what we've done and experienced so far. Many traditional visitors to Second Life are disturbed by the 'strange' appearances and behaviors they see in-world during their first visits. They also wonder aloud about the actual value of the shopping, the clubs, the 'stuff'. The initial reaction is often that while Second Life may be 'fun' for many people, it is just too complex, and too shallow to have any broad and lasting value or impact. Much has been written along those lines.

The sad part of that view is that decisions are being made far too early. They have just gotten off the plane and see all the hotels and clubs around the airport...and haven't had the time to see the museums, theaters, beaches and the real treasures of the land. While Second Life does have it's challenges, it also provides very unique opportunities to create learning experiences not possible through other modalities. Even more interesting, I believe there is much to be learned about the cultural transition we are facing in the world by viewing the acting out of that transition in this virtual environment.

And it also helps to remember, the confusion, frustration and unease many of us feel in the virtual environment of the digital culture is basically the same feelings our digital learners have as they are asked to leave their culture in the hallways and enter our classrooms, built upon our cultural norms and expectations.

At this point, Virtual Bacon would really appreciate it if you would send him a brief email describing your first-thoughts.

Please send an email to: jjamison@imagilearning.com

In that email, tell VB about your experience....if it helps, you could copy and paste the following questions in your message and add your responses there.

- Overall, how would you describe your experience in the virtual world?

- Do you play digital games regularly, or was this one of your first intros to this kind of environment?

- What was the most difficult part of the experience?

- What was the best part of the experience?

- Do you have any specific ideas you would like to explore to use this technology in your teaching and learning?

- Do you have recommendations for improving the modules?

ONE LAST THING----

Virtual Bacon is interested in working with other educators who want to explore this environment for teaching and learning. Let him know if you would like to talk further about Secondlife, imagiLEARNING or are interested in membership in the imagiLEARNING Learners Group. Either use email, or send an IM (instant message) to Virtual Bacon the next time you are in SecondLife.

"IM? You didn't teach us about IM!"

Nope, that's a future module. But as an act of discovery-learning give it a shot......

In real life, Virtual Bacon is currently doing Phd research on virtual game-based environments for learning, and is the director of a Gaming and Simulation Program for a major university.

Return to the Introduction

Resources for Digital Worlds, Games and Learning

2. Digital Immersion Module - First Visit to SL

jjamison — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:54:09 CDT

Keep Your Arms Inside the Vehicle At All Times...!

When you run the Second Life software you have installed on your computer, after a few suspenseful moments you will find yourself standing at one of the Orientation Centers, most likely in the middle of a crowd.

DON'T PANIC!

Most of the folks you see around you are friendly. The others? Ahh, just ignore them for now.

This is an important key in your future ratio of fun to frustration in Second Life, so take some time to explore the orientation materials. Hey...there is no hurry. The orientation modules will teach you how to move, to fly, to 'fix up' your avatar, to use your Inventory..in other words, GO SHOPPING!!! Consider orientation time to be a new learning experience and soak up as much as you can. But don't worry about memorizing a bunch of things...there is no quiz. Besides, if you get too good at everything we won't get to see you fall in the water a log when you get to my islands...and that is one of our favorite sports. Besides, we will revisit many of these skills once we all get to the imagiLEARNING Islands.

Move around the area using your cursor keys, doing your best to avoid running into other people. If you do run into people, just say "Oops". They will smile, call you a "Noob" and move on. Congratulations...you have now been branded as a full member of the virtual society!

If someone says "Hi", you can talk back by typing your comments in the chat window at the bottom of your screen and hitting the ENTER key. If you don't see the chat window, click the CHAT button at the bottom of the screen and the chat window should appear. Keep in mind that the CHAT feature only works with people within 20 meters or so. If you are talking and they aren't responding it doesn't mean they aren't listening...maybe.

Feel free to walk around and explore, there is a lot to see at the orientation centers, and the wandering around will help you come to grips with learning how to get your avatar to navigate properly. It is an acquired skill.

Did you know you can fly? Click the FLY button at the bottom of the screen and its up, up and away. Use your cursor keys as before, only now you can travel more ground.

IF YOU GET LOST, or WHEN you get lost, you can return to your original spot by clicking the WORLD menu at the top of the screen, and then clicking TELEPORT TO HOME LOCATION. We'll change that location later, but for now it will take you to where you first entered SL.

One reminder. The virtual world is made up of the same diversity as the real world. You are probably going to see and hear many different, uh, kinds of avatars during your orientation. Just keep in mind that while you may have to deal with them in this very public place as you begin, once you are in-world you will have more control over who you spend your time with. AND, once in-world you will find out how to turn your own avatar into one of those funky looking chicken/shrimp/frog things sitting under that tree. Uh, only if you want to, of course.

When you are ready and have completed your orientation, Virtual Bacon would like you to come to the island of imagiLEARNING, where it is safe for you to explore, bump, crash, create, break...all of those things. One easy way to get there is to click the MAP button at the bottom of your screen. In the map window that appears, find the SEARCH space over on the right side near the middle, enter the word: imagiLEARNING and press SEARCH. The map should recenter on imagiLEARNING island. Just click the TELEPORT button and...Welcome!

Once on the island, you will find the rest of the steps for the Immersion Module there. One small hint...bring a towel.

If you chose to continue reading the module without actually entering Secondlife, you may continue viewing the modules here, and then complete the activities by loggin in at a later time.

Continue the next step without entering Secondlife.

or, go back to the Account Setup page

or, go back to the Module Introduction - don't you like all these choices I'm giving you?

5. Digital Immersion Module - Lord, I Was Born A Travelin' Man

jjamison — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:39:43 CDT

An Educator's Tour of Secondlife

So far, we've spent our time in the wonderful paradise lovingly known as imagiLEARNING Island. But there is more to Secondlife! Really!

So, it's time to go out into the big wide virtual world and see what we can see.

WARNING WILL ROBINSON!!

Ok, I just dated myself there, and several of you are sitting there going, "Huh? What's that danger Will Robinson stuff?" Unless you saw the movie version of the Lost in Space thing...but the movie wasn't anywhere near as good as the original TV show, I mean it was corny but really cool at the same time, and I especially liked the program where the professor went in cahoots with this giant robot alien thing and they.....oops, sorry.

Anyway, I do want to WARN you about the realities of the virtual world. Just like the real world, there are all kinds of people and places out there. Keep in mind that Secondlife is a virtual expression of what all kinds of people want to express, and while you are never forced into something you don't care for, you can stumble across it quite by accident. SO DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU....oops, another slip back to grade school and the 'talk' I got after the time I threw the walnuts over the fence at Roger Lauder and.....man, there I go again.

So, let's get started. The kiosk back where you first entered imagiLEARNING has a list of sites you might want to visit for now. The notecard contains a list of 'teleports' you can click on and that will 'zap' you directly to that spot....or at least nearby it. Remember that anytime you get lost, just click on WORLD and then TELEPORT HOME and you will be right back in imagiLEARNING.

Here's how the teleport thing works. Find the location on the list you want to visit and left click on the link. A small window should appear near the top of your screen listing the location, with a button that says: TELEPORT.

Click it.

BUT WAIT!!! When you want to return to imagiLEARNING, just open your Inventory and find the LANDMARK folder. Inside you will find the landmark back to imagiLEARNING...the one you created back in Module 2 or so. You DID create that didn't you?

Ok, let's just assume you did not create it, and you are now standing in the middle of a crowd of very tiny, furry little creatures all waving little pickles at you. Here's how you escape. At the bottom of your screen, click on the MAP button. In the map window that appears, on the right side near the middle, you will see a spot to enter a SEARCH phrase for a location. Enter: imagiLEARNING and press SEARCH. The map should center on imagiLEARNING...and you just press the TELEPORT button. Leave any pickles behind please.

I suggest you grab that piece of paper you have been writing all of you great ideas down on...you have been writing them down haven't you?....and keep notes of the sites you like and the new ideas that come up.

Oh yeah, one other neat thing. When you find a place you really like and might want to come back to, click on WORLD and then on CREATE LANDMARK HERE, and it will create a personal teleport location for you and add it to your inventory. Find it later in your inventory, double click on it and the teleport opens on your screen. That inventory thing is getting cooler all the time, isn't it?

So, go explore. Have fun. Don't worry about me back here working. I'm just happy I could give you the help I never got when I started out. I had to walk five miles back and forth, each way up-hill and in the snow just to get......oh, go play.

When you are ready, move on to the next module.

Module 6: So, who do you want to be today?

or, go back to Module 4.

or, go back to the Introduction

3. Welcome to imagiLEARNING

jjamison — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:33:05 CDT

Surf's Up, Dude!

Welcome to imagiLEARNING!

We're going to assume that you are standing on the small island located at the entry port to imagiLEARNING Island. You are standing on the middle of the three islands that make up imagiLEARNING. To the West is the creatively named imagiLEARNING West...and to the East...yep, imagiLEARNING East.

If this is your first visit, please feel free to wander around and just explore the resources of the three islands. If you are also still new to Second Life, you may end up spending a good amount of time underwater...as the pathways take some time to learn to navigate comfortably. No worries...we all started out in the water. Allow yourself to be a learner and just carry a towel with you for a while.

Crossing the bridge to the East takes you to the Wharf area, where you will find a collection of buildings and the boatdocks. Just across the bridge, on the right side of the boardwalk, is a small kiosk containing virtual newspapers with interesting information about what is happening in Secondlife regarding education. Feel free to click a copy. Oh, now this is important. The first building you come to across the bridge...with the balcony...that's the little freebie store. Stop in and grab some of the free 'stuff' that is lying around. Right click on it, and in the menu that appears either click TAKE A COPY, or BUY it for $0. We'll talk about what to do about those goodies in the next module.

If you cross the bridge to the North instead, you will find the imagiLEARNING Conference Center. This building holds meeting rooms and the Unlimited Possibilities Theater. The theater is frequently used by groups in Second Life...but feel free to explore. At the far end of the conference center is Hang Ten, a local nite spot where you can go up on stage and try your hand at some scripted musical instruments. Don't be shy if others show up...it's just a jam session.

Beyond the Conference Center, at the Northern edge of this island is Pat's Cay, with the Infamous North Beach Tiki Bar. This is where you will often find some of us relaxing at the end of a busy day, talking education, surfing, dancing...just being. Dress is casual.

When you are ready, fly to the SouthEast corner of the island, over close to the wharf boat docks. There you will find a large raised island that is the home of some of the imagiLEARNING group members. This is space provided to educators who join the group to do some serious exploration of using virtual environments for learning (more about the group later). The contents of this space change frequently as members do their creating and re-creating in search of new learning tools. Feel free to explore, and if you see someone working there, be sure to say "hello".

Next is the far NorthEast corner of the island where you find the imagiLEARNING Lighthouse. This is the area to explore some of the interesting games and other elements built and scripted by creative Second Life developers. These are examples of the application of programming, math and Physics, and collaboration that we seek to get our learners involved in. The games are all free...so play!

As you have noticed, the largest area of the island is not island at all, but beautiful blue water. This may change over time as projects increase, but the open space and crashing waves creates a nice, relaxing environment for the creative work we are involved in. Plus, it lets us hop in a sailboat or on a surfboard once in a while at let off some steam! That's important too, you know.

The other two islands are worth some exploring as well. While we will talk more about them later, imagiLEARNING East is a wide-open area where some of our courses and workshops hold their activities. Just what you will find there completely depends on what is on the schedule at the time. But there is plenty of great beach and water to explore...just be careful around the sharks found in the deep water at the North end of the island. They are NOT friendly.

And, as you will see, imagiLEARNING East was the home of the first in-world surfing championships held by the Second Life Surfing Association in June. The large pipeline waves are scripted to have physical interaction with the scripted boards, which also include animations to control your avatar. Great examples of how to make learning real, meaningful and fun.

Before you leave imagiLEARNING island, there is one very important thing you should do. Go back to the starting point...the little island in the SouthEast corner of the island where you see Alex still hanging around. Once there, click on the WORLD menu at the top of your screen and then click "SET HOME TO THIS LOCATION". Now, anytime you are in SecondLife, you can return to this spot by clicking WORLD, and then clicking TELEPORT HOME. Now you never need to worry about getting lost.

Last thing.....before you end your visit to imagilearning take a piece of paper or open your word processor and jot down your first reactions to the experience, as well as any ideas that have come to mind about how you might use virtual worlds in your teaching.

Ok, that's it for now. Take your time to explore and play around a bit, and come back anytime. When you are ready, move on to the next module.

Module 4: Inventory Management

or, return to Module 2.

or, go back to the Introduction

4. Digital Immersion Module - Inventory

jjamison — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:31:30 CDT

Hey, You've Got Stuff!

During the last module, we encouraged you to stop by the freebie store and collection some 'stuff'. So, just where did those things go?

In your Inventory, that's where.

Also, while traveling around the island you may have found some of the other free stuff available for you to collect, or some of the group members may have given you things personally. Let's look at where those things are and what you can do about them.

If you click on the INVENTORY button at the bottom of your screen a window will appear on your screen showing you all of the virtual 'stuff' you own. You will notice two tabs, one that says ALL ITEMS and the other RECENT ITEMS. The 'recent' tab shows you only the things you have done something with recently (makes sense, doesn't it?), while the the 'all' tab shows you everything you have. Sometimes life can be very simple can't it? So, click the ALL ITEMS tab.

First thing, enjoy the cleanness of what you see. After a few sessions in Secondlife your inventory will become so cluttered with 'stuff' it will almost be funny. So, it is wise to begin now with some kind of organizational structure.....some has been started for you. As you play with it, you'll see that you can create folders for anything and rename them however you want to, so have at it! You can always change things around later, but start with something.....trust me on this one.

The basic idea of the Inventory is that you can drag things from it and place them somewhere; either on the land, on your avatar, or even on another avatar (that's how you give things away).

IMPORTANT POINT: You can only drag things to the ground (it's called rezzing) on ground that you own or that has been set to allow guests to rez on. Those places are called 'sandboxes' in SL. The notecard you got from the first greed pedestal should tell you where to find a sandbox on imagiLEARNING. We have plenty of sand, so it shouldn't be too hard to find......that was a joke....ha ha. Ok, nevermind.

Somewhere in your inventory you will find one of the objects you've collected. Cool, huh? Go to the sandbox area and drag one of those objects from your inventory and onto the ground.

POOF!

Did it go poof? Visually, I mean? If you are inside the sandbox and dragged the object onto the ground it should have gone poof....and appeared right in front of you. Cool, huh!

One other quick thing....when an object first appears it is 'selected', and is highlighted and has some arrows sticking out of it. If you click on one of those arrows, and hold down the mouse you can drag the object around and put it wher you want it. Also cool, huh? More about that later.

Finally, although sandboxes clean themselves automatically every couple of hours, it is always best to clean up after yourself when you are finished. To do that, right click on your object again so it is selected, and from the pie-shaped menu that appears just select TAKE, and it goes right back into your inventory.

That's it for now. Go find more free stuff and practice in the sandbox. When you are ready, move on to the next module.

Module 5: Traveling Around Secondlife

or, return to Module 3.

or, go back to the Introduction

6. Digital Immersion Module - So, who do you want to be today?

jjamison — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 18:36:37 CDT

Changing your avatar's appearance!

I'll show you how to get this one started, and then you are on your own. This is where you get to express your inner self...and no one will ask questions!

I need you to get where you can see your own avatar. That makes this a good time to talk about viewpoints a bit. No, not that political stuff. Come on, you knew better than that. We're talking about the view you have of the world on your screen.

There are two basic points of view; third person and first person. In third person view, it looks like you are standing outside of you avatar...which is where I need you to be for this activity. But before we begin, let's say a few more things about views. First person view (also called mouselook) is what you see if you are inside your avatar...like it is really you, or you are really it, or you are you, or.....man, this virtual stuff gets confusing.

Anyway, to change to first person view, click on VIEW on the menu at the top of the screen and then on 'MouseLook'. Now you should be seeing the world through the eytes of your avatar. In my not-so-humble opinion this is the best way to move around SL. To leave MouseLook view, just spin the old mousewheel if you have it, and if not, click again on the 'MouseLook' item in the VIEW menu.

One comment about movement. When you are in first person (mouselook) view, use your cursor keys to move, but 'aim' by using your mouse....you will move forward in the direction you are looking. Much easier for navigating those tight areas.

But back to why we are here this time.

So, go into third person view and right click on your avatar. In the menu that appears, click on 'Appearance'.

Now the fun begins.

Your avatar takes this really weird position and a window appears on the screen in which you can change most any part of its appearance. Click the buttons and slide the slides and create!

Click save when you are done, feel free to go back and re-create at any point, and when you are ready, move on to the next module.

Module 7: Don't just sit there, build something.

or, return to module 5

or, return to the Introduction