Virtlantis

Just one more pointer to thinking about what different synchronous tools might offer language learners.  I receive regular updates on language lessons and discussions from the Second Life Virtlantis group and now some of you have dabbled a little, you might like to take a look here.

Note the regular timetable of live chat events which learners might attend. You can go straight into the Virtlantis Island from this page. If you have a wander round, it would be interesting to see what you feel this might offer, perhaps as compared to text based synchronous encounters.

Are you a resident or a visitor?

This is a great video exploring a new description of internet users. On the one hand, there are 'residents', those who have an online presence and leave a footprint on the web, whether personal or professional. On the other, there are those who use the web solely as a toolbox, accessing content and using it to fit the tasks they need to complete.

I think it's a good description of internet use and much better than Prensky's 'Digital Native v Digital Immigrant' dichotomy. It's about 20 mins long and well worth watching.

An anthropological introduction to Youtube

I can recommend this as a thought provoking introduction to the Youtube phenomenon.
Further grist to the debate about drivers and emerging digital literacy. Would be interested to hear reactions and whether this relates to your own positions on the role of technology in language curricula.



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Jigging in SL

Marco and Juli dancing along in SL:-) This was thanks to a 'Jigging bracelet' I gave to them for their inventories. When worn, this is the effect!

second life learning task

During our visit to Second Life on Monday we visited a couple of more places after the British Council. There are so many now: a Christmas market, winter wonderland (those who were there will tell you about the place I took them to by mistake:-); Barcelona; Eiffel Tower... the list goes on.
I described a possible task involving learners visiting different places, taking photos and returning to write about their travels. You might add specific outcomes at each of the places eg take a photo of the campfire in Sherwood Forest; collect a hat from the Christmas market (you can click on free hats and pick one up to wear); how many snowmen stand at the Ski run railway station? These questions could be targeted so that they eventually include such information in their writing. A cross between our scavenger hunt and webquest activities. Here are a few pics for the class album:-)

Spot Thuy sitting in the leaves?

Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the brain | Video on TED.com

Here is another interesting video (15mins) looking at why so many people get engaged with video games and how this can be used to benefit other aspects such as education.

Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the brain | Video on TED.com

Jesse Schell: When games invade real life | Video on TED.com

Jesse Schell: When games invade real life | Video on TED.com

I know we are all quite busy with homework, assignments, etc. but if you want to take a break for approximately half an hour, this is an interesting talk about the technology and games we have today and how they affect our life. Jesse Schell makes an interesting comment in that most of the things people are interested in nowadays is not as much fantasy games as real life ones or those most close to authentic lives.

Second Life interest group

Thanks to Richard for linking to Graham Stanley's blog and Youtube clip. Graham is actually a Manchester Edtech graduate and is now a recurring name in this area:-)

There is also a special interest group as part of the EuroCALL organisation at http://virtualworldssig.ning.com/
EuroCALL has headquarters in Second Life.
 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EduNation%20III/74/199/31

If we get time, we'll visit next week but otherwise add to your landmarks for later. Those doing further units with us will get to know these places better next semester.

Eurcall is actually just being 'rebuilt' so not all original features are yet there; however,it is a very useful place. You can meet for a chat; see video clips, pick up useful sites; if you do get into SL, you can also pick up lots of freebie objects, landmarks, clothes:-) If you land there, you can get a EuroCALL t-shirt just at the entrance for example. Here's me at the entrance.

A week in a Second Life

I've just come across an interesting blog article by Graham Stanley about Second Life, I thought it might be of interest before the sessions next week. His character is called 'Baldric Commons' and this is a diary of one week in the (Second) Life of Baldric in the VLE.

The article is here.

This is also an interesting video, though it's not exactly objective.

aMap

Hi, I have just been into amap.org.uk and had a look around there. I was attracted to it as in my last position a large part of the course I taught covered debating. Amap is simple to use, it looks cool and the result is fun but I am unsure how it could represent both sides of an argument/debate. When you go into amap, you fill in the topic of your debate. I used the example of 'Should we have school uniforms'. You then fill in which position you are taking followed by your arguments which are separated into because... as... supported by... When you have put in your arguments/reasons it publishes your amap. Obviously it is only one side of the argument so I think this is great for helping students to get their arguments down and to structure them well so that they have strong arguments. However, I am unsure of what you are supposed to do with the final product. I saw there was an option to invite friends to your argument and was wondering if the friends could then add their side of the argument to the amap, this would be great if that could happen, almost like a virtual debate but I'm not sure if it does...sorry!!

Here is the amap I made...