Second LifeSecond LifeT&C Fall 2009T&C Fall 2009

MELANIE SZUMOWSKIMELANIE SZUMOWSKI

My avatarMy avatar

Name Melbert MetalunaName Melbert Metaluna These photos were taken in the MAT These photos were taken in the MAT

science centerscience center I was able to get my avatar to talk but it did I was able to get my avatar to talk but it did

not show up in the picture…not show up in the picture…

First science ISTEFirst science ISTE

I visited the INWorld Campus Free-ed.netI visited the INWorld Campus Free-ed.net

It is like a real college campus with many buildings It is like a real college campus with many buildings and places to sit and eat or get coffeeand places to sit and eat or get coffee

INWorld CampusINWorld Campus

As a first time visitor I could sign in and read As a first time visitor I could sign in and read the info boxthe info box

INWorld CampusINWorld Campus

The earth science floor had a section where The earth science floor had a section where

students could find a study buddy or mentorstudents could find a study buddy or mentor

INWorld CampusINWorld Campus

They could also click on a book about a subject They could also click on a book about a subject and be taken to an interactive and be taken to an interactive

webpage. I found the Dynamic Earth one to be webpage. I found the Dynamic Earth one to be very interestingvery interesting

INWorld CampusINWorld Campus

There was also a section to learn about There was also a section to learn about

seismic studies and download google earth to seismic studies and download google earth to participate in an activityparticipate in an activity

ExploratoriumExploratorium1.1. The second ISTE I visited was an Exploratorium. The second ISTE I visited was an Exploratorium.

It is an area that is similar to It is an area that is similar to

7.7. 8.8. a science fair. Many of the exhibits are a science fair. Many of the exhibits are

interactive.interactive.9.9. The problem was that it is a huge area and it is The problem was that it is a huge area and it is

somewhat hard to navigate aroundsomewhat hard to navigate around

ExploratoriumExploratorium

Here is a display of the big dipper. Here is a display of the big dipper.

ExploratoriumExploratorium

This displays some of the exhibits. These This displays some of the exhibits. These were all earth science related. It is hard to were all earth science related. It is hard to

read in the pic but they were about the read in the pic but they were about the expanding universe, a demo of an asteroid expanding universe, a demo of an asteroid hitting Mars, Foucault pendulum.hitting Mars, Foucault pendulum.

ExploratoriumExploratorium

This interactive demo showed the moon’s This interactive demo showed the moon’s orbit. You can actually walk the path of it orbit. You can actually walk the path of it

and see what happens at different points…and see what happens at different points…very kinesthetic. very kinesthetic.

Science ISTE’s in the classroomScience ISTE’s in the classroom

The INWorld Campus could be used by students to study The INWorld Campus could be used by students to study topics that were setup in the ISTE like the seismic study. topics that were setup in the ISTE like the seismic study. The textbook is also interesting because it turns a regular The textbook is also interesting because it turns a regular textbook into an interactive one.textbook into an interactive one.

The Exploratorium was so interesting I could spend hours The Exploratorium was so interesting I could spend hours there myself. For my students I would initially have them go there myself. For my students I would initially have them go to different experiments and answer questions about what to different experiments and answer questions about what they have experienced through the demo. I could then they have experienced through the demo. I could then eventually have them design their own experiment to be eventually have them design their own experiment to be put in SL although this could be difficult because it is easier put in SL although this could be difficult because it is easier to look at things on SL then to create them. to look at things on SL then to create them.

The dilemmaThe dilemma

Since Second Life is only available to those 18+ I Since Second Life is only available to those 18+ I could still incorporate either of these sites by going could still incorporate either of these sites by going to them using my avatar and showing different to them using my avatar and showing different parts on an overhead which connects to my parts on an overhead which connects to my computer. Students would not be working on their computer. Students would not be working on their own, we would be looking at things together. I own, we would be looking at things together. I think any of the interactive exhibits would be good think any of the interactive exhibits would be good because students would have a chance to actually because students would have a chance to actually visualize or experience something instead of just visualize or experience something instead of just reading about it.reading about it.