+

A Beacon in the Storm – A New Perspective of Technology

Use in Education

Dr. Maryanne Maisano

Dr. Deborah Anne Banker

+Two Methods of Instructional

Delivery in Universities:

Traditional Methodology

Professor is expositor of information

Face to Face instruction

“Stand and Deliver” mode of content delivery

21st Century Skill Methodology

Professor is facilitator of information

Online or Hybrid instruction

Alternative learning environments for content

delivery

+Alternative Learning

Environments

“Flipped” Classrooms

Blogs, Wikis, Journaling, etc.

Immersive World Environments

+Immersive World Technology

In Teacher Preparation Programs

Part of a hybrid methods course

Initial intent was to meet in synchronous format

Initial intent was not to replace current physical classroom but to enrich content with visual realm

+

Merging Second Life with

Teacher Preparation

Programs:

+Virtual Classroom Development

…”teacher, as well as the students, continuously „modify the

classroom.‟ “

~ M. A. Maisano (2013)

+ Subject-Area Availability and Integration

…”teach children a shared body of knowledge…” (intellectual capital)

~E. D. Hirsch, 1996

+

Practice Teaching Simulations and Role-Playing

+Distance Learning Opportunities for Developing culturally

Responsive Teaching

+Simulated “Field Experiences

+And then…..the Storm Happened!

Known as “Frankenstorm”

+Students getting to class…..well, not

so much……

+Students getting to class…..well, not

so much……

+Students getting to class…..well, not

so much……

+And….a shark in the front yard!

+Through the methodology of a focus

group, the students commented…

“We can’t help natural

disasters so I think the use of

technology (Second Life)

really helped all of us to stay in

touch and be on target with

our studies and connected to

our classmates.”

“Second Life was a bit

challenging at first

however, seeing how

convenient it became in the

aftermath of the storm I was

drawn to it because it brought

us all together when we

couldn’t be together in real life!

I wish all my courses had the

option of using Second Life..”

+

“Actually, the bad storm

brought us closer together as

a group because we were able

to still have class online in

Second Life.”

“I find it interesting how you

can put up lessons and see

the same things we would see

in our face-to-face class even

in a virtual learning

classroom.”

+Perhaps the best one that sums it all up! (and

provides a wonderful conclusion )

“I absolutely feel the integration of technology

into this course is vital to our career development.

It broadens our teaching strategies and prepares

us for the ever-changing classroom that is

becoming more geared toward Smart

Boards, tablets, and iPhone apps. Though some

professors may not agree with the use of Second

Life, I find it very beneficial to meet the needs of

students while still meeting the standards for this

course.”

+Thank You!!

Questions?