RichardOglebeeResearchPage

 **Conception from class: how is the private interest affecting SL? Backwards--privatized system. How is the social network affecting SL? The public sphere is gaining a hold over a privatized world through the use of SL as an educational resource/information exchange forum. In a world where everything is owned, the social community of users in SL are using the architecture of an online world for the free sharing of information.**

The educational aspects of SL, with a free and unrestricted flow of information, are advancing themes outside of market and social networking. The contrast of an world whose architecture is entirely permission, the community of SL users are using the architecture for a read/write information flow.

__What the virtual world offers for education:__ Ideal for distance learning Unlimited workshop/lab space 3-D models Emergent learning environments Collaborative networks Visiting lectures Educational adventure parks Avatar to avatar interaction

Colleges in SL: Ashworth University, Bowling Green State University, BYU-Hawaii, Bromley College (UK), Central Piedmont Community College, Clemson University, Colorado Technical University, Duke University, ENST Bretagne (France), Georgia Institute of Technology, Indiana University, McMaster University (Canada), Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology (Canada), Murray State College, Northern Illinois University, Nova Southeastern University, Ohio University, Pellissippi State Technical Community, San Diego State University, South Central College, Sprott Shaw Community College, Stanford University, Texas State University, University of Hertfordshire (UK), University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Southern Denmark, University of Tennessee, Vassar College, Woodbury University

http://www.english.ilstu.edu/bmthake/folio/docs/finalcj.html

"This is clearly the most culturally diverse area I've ever been to."- Mr. Lamoureux "More than 150 colleges in the United States and 13 other countries have a presence in SL." Sarah B. Robbins, doctoral student in rhetoric and composition at Ball State University, "Drawing from her teaching experience, she encourages other educators to use the virtual world for instruction, arguing that the platform makes many students more enthusiastic about learning. __Just as Netscape brought the Internet to a wide audience, she says, so Second Life introduces virtual worlds to people who might otherwise never have explored them."__ "Professors use SL to hold distance-education classes, saying communication among students actually gets livelier when they assume digital personae." -by Andrea Foster, //The Chronicle of Higher Education//, Sept. 21, 2007

"Libraries have since arrived on this site, complete with all the services one would expect to find in, well, a real library. Not only this, but these libraries are open all the time, there's never a squabble over policy (after all, services are virtual), but they also have every virtual thing a virtual heart could desire." "We tried at my library to see what could be done with Second Life. But after our tech guru spent the better part of a week investigating, we were nowhere closer to finding a use for it, without, of course, using real money to pay for a presence in an unreal world. I'm saying so long to Second Life for now, and if our library gets passed by, well, so be it. I believe it was Simonides who counseled that when people are wise, it's best to be otherwise. For now we'll concentrate on real services to real patrons by offering real information to their real inquiries."- Mark Y. Herring, Dean of Library Services, Winthrop University, published in //Library Journal//, 5/15/2007, "BackTalk: Get a (Real) Life!

Outside market and social networking: Klein: cultural transmission Lessig: hope in blogs (any information an individual puts on SL can be interpreted as a kind of blog) Community action from the inside out: the community creating the content they want by using the architecture of SL Residents are in control of content in SL (besides that of corporations) __Cultural transmissions in SL:__ chat, notecards, appearances, terraforming, video, information on posters, buildings, etc. SL is an online world medium where the residents are in charge of the world they create. This, much like the internet, are environments where the free flow of information can occur without the oversight of big government/media's censorship. Unlike the internet, SL is a virtual world, one that is vastly different from reading webpages.

Corporate control of information v. Individual control (mostly opinion) Would there be a problem if the media took a more unbiased view? Corporatist principles where Big government and Big business join forces to redistribute wealth upwards only further increases the need for more access to individual open opinions. Ownership v. Sharing Major technological changes (Second Life) brings new perspectives and opportunities In a United States where our freedom of speech seems dwindled, Second Life arises as the first online world to share ideas and thoughts without intervention or limitation. Counter: Although SL may be an unlimited place for information to flow (like the internet), to have an island or permenant structure it costs REAL money. Lessig: "A society that defends the ideals of free culture must preserve precisely the opportunity for new creativity to threaten the old." p.119 Modalities of constraint related to the flow of information in SL: Law- not much regulation in SL Norms- SL is a community where the users dictate the norms of the online world society Market- the cost of an island is enormous, only the wealthy and institutions can afford. the only true market in SL is the market for land and items created in-world. Architecture- users of SL can explore the limits of the program architecture by trying new things, again, not much regulation Norms, laws, and architecture all can be criminalized in real life; online there are no criminals, no threat of police Cultural transmission in SL: chat with other users (free), notecards (as far as I know free to create and hand out), control of your appearance (free), building an island ($$$), manipulating/posting on an island: video, posters, information terminals The use of groups in SL: users with common themes can band together How do real world motivations translate in SL: sex, violence, community, money, religion

Outline I. Education: the interest generated from colleges shows SL is becoming a part of education over 150 colleges now have islands; many general uses other uses: libraries, public domain works, unique presentations future uses: online courses, video lectures with attendance II. Constraints: cost $$$ (insert Linden dollar policy here- no real value, simulation-use fees) if you do have money you can create your own landscape, with no regulation (any information you want, any design you want) Cost constraints favor Big business with the means to create appealling landscapes to promote themselves Breaking free of constraints: chat, notecards, groups, blogging III. Future of online worlds: more regulation in real world= bigger demand for unregulated digital space

Welcome to the headquarters building of the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE).

http://www.vste.org

You can join the SL group and the RL group for free!

Above the foyer of this building, there are five floors. You can teleport or fly to each of them.

Floor 1: VSTE Partners - these are the organizations and companies that partner with VSTE. Floor 2: Outreach Central - learn abou the VSTE Conference and the other outreach initiatives with sponsor Floor 3: SIG Suite - VSTE's Special Interest Groups (includes TIVA, "Technology Integrators in Virginia") Floor 4: Meeting Room - A place to sit and discuss Floor 5: Executive Lounge - a place to relax and enjoy the view from above

Why the M&M's??

Come to our conference and find out!! 2008: Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, VA

OUR MISSION

The Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) was founded in 1986 as the Virginia Educational Computing Association and is Virginia's affiliate of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Serving the entire community of technology-using educators, membership is comprised of pre-service education students, teachers, principals, specialists, instructional technology resource teachers (ITRTs), superintendents, university faculty, parents, businesses, and others who are interested in promoting technology's role in education. From pre-service to in-service and continuing through post-service, Society membership is open to the contributions and involvement of educators and those supporting educational technology.

VSTE sponsors the only statewide annual conference devoted to all aspects of technology in education, with sessions and workshops ranging from specific curricular applications to administrative and management concerns. The VSTE Electronic Journal helps the community stay up-to-date with articles focusing on non-time-sensitive information and research. Our Edge is a source of information, ideas, and tips designed to help educators on a daily basis.

The Society is managed by a Board of Directors representing the various endeavors and constituents of the Society. Membership in the Society is free for all interested persons.


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