Post on 14-Jan-2015
description
The AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community in Second Life
Presented by Lisa Perez (Av: Elaine Tulip)Chicago Public Schools Dept of Libraries
ISTE SIGMS Chair
AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community
• Chosen as a PD delivery technology because
–ISTE & ALA already use SL extensively
–Synchronous–Immersive environment supports a
sense of community
AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community
–Non-geographically dependent–Easy to learn for this purpose–Can provide sustained, frequent PD
in a learning community environment.
Learning Community Format
• Monthly drop-in orientation meetings to learn basics of SL
• Monthly learning community meetings featuring guest facilitators who are recognized leaders in school librarianship– One hour, 15 – 20 min
lecture followed by group discussion
– Hybrid voice/text chat
Joyce Valenza – Web 2.0 for Librarians
David Loertscher – “The New Learning Commons – Where People Win”
Rhonda Trueman – “Virtual Libraries in Second Life”
David Warlick – “Cultivating a Personal Learning Network”
Mike Eisenburg – “The Crisis Facing School Libraries and Librarians”
Chris Smith – “Keeping Current in a Global Environment” (Thailand)
Jon Mueller – “Assessing Critical Skills”
Will Richardson – “Googled Well: Helping Our Kids Lead Transparent Lives”
Marla McGhee & Barbara Jansen – “Keeping School Libraries Relevant in the
Age of Accountability”
Doug Johnson – “Are You a Format Bigot?”
Bernajean Porter – “Book Trailers – Seen Any Good Books Lately?”
Ernie Cox & Linda Braun – “Professional Communication Tools”
Banned Book Week – “School Librarian Discussions”
LIS Students in Second Life
Emporia State University - Rob Panache w/Rocky Vallejo, Cindy Elkhart and Elaine Tulip
University of Maryland – Meredith Dreamscape and Elaine Tulip
Winter Shopping Spree – Extreme Avatar Makeover
Our Students Are In Virtual Worlds
Source: http://www.kzero.co.uk/radar.php
TIPS for
Success
Making a Learning Community Work• Keep the focus on the profession, NOT the
technology• Set up a planning committee• Establish regular meeting patterns &
orientation sessions• Communicate broadly• Share responsibility, take breaks• Follow up with asynchronous discussion• Keep it fun and stay flexible
Locating and Preparing Guest Facilitators
• Go primarily with well-known guests who are leaders in the field.
• Help new guest facilitators set up an account and prepare their avatars
• Practice in advance• Set deadlines for receiving files and stage the
items in advance – slideshow, notecard givers/notecards, pictures
Marketing the Learning Community• Form appropriate organizational alliances• Create a communication plan to include
listservs, nings, wikis, and other social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
• Create expectation of future meetings• Enlist colleagues to spread the word• Take pictures of events and post to Flickr• Blog about the events – create a history
Technical Expertise Needed
Participants• Practice in movement and
communications in 2nd Life• Headset/mic; practice with
using voice• Understanding of how to
access chat history• Understanding of camera
movement
Organizers• Uploading slides and
inserting in slide viewer• Voice control options• How to take photos• How to create objects and
insert scripts to launch URLs and give notecards
• How to create signage• Understanding of groups
and group permissions
Measuring Our SuccessWhat worked…
• Meetings are usually a success – on topic and rich interaction
• Good documentation of our meetings
• Few technical problems• Strong support for
newcomers
What needs improvement…
• Spread leadership of virtual learning community
• Continue to increase attendance
• Look at holding other events
How to Join Our Learning Community
• Hear about our monthly meetings at– ISTE SIGMS listserv– AASL listserv– LM_NET– LinkedIn – sigms group– Twitter @ sigms and leperez1– Facebook group – sigms– ISTE Community ning (SIGMS group)– Teacher Librarian ning
Plans for the 2010-11 School Year
• Continue to engage the planning committee• Spread leadership more broadly• Continue to attract leaders in school
librarianship and educational technology to be guest facilitators
• Continue periodic orientation• Continue to expand the learning community
ContactLisa Perez
Chicago Public Schools Dept of LibrariesAvatar: Elaine Tulip
Twitter: leperez1FacebookLinkedIn
Blog: http://www.3dlibrarian.com