by Meredith Wesolowski
A 40 min. SL/RL simulcast (with audio) on SL's history and uses in education will be presented at the EduIsland auditorium, Friday 22, 9 am EST (6 am SLT) (SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland/156/126/22/).
The presentation will be lead by Meredith Wesolowski (SL: Meredith Snookums) and will occur in-world for SL users & in-real-world for University of Delaware faculty. All are welcome to attend! Please note an RSVP is appreciated, but not at all necessary.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Article about learning possibilities in SL (Spanish)
by Ruth Martinez Lo
This is a first article about learning possibilities in SL, as administrator of a virtual community in Spanish about learning activities in SL (http://www.neurona.com/second-life-educativa_1.html)
I have received a lot of questions about the real possibilities of learning in 3-D virtual world, so I compiled those examples aren't like translating the RL to SL: a classroom with its blackboard where avatars just listening...
SL Research
by Aleks Krotoski
A few colleagues and I are holding a discussion about SL/virtual world research ethics at the Social Simulation Research Lab in conjunction with the London Games Research group
(http://playhouse.wordpress.com/london-game-research-group/).
Kick-off is 12:30pm GMT (4:30am SLT).
All are welcome! Please RSVP Mynci Gorky in-world so I know how many chairs to rez. Thanks!
Details here:
Ethics and Internet Research
Time and place: 12.30 pm UK time, Monday June 18th in
Second Life
For our June meeting, Aleks Krotoski (http://socialsim.wordpress.com) will lead a discussion on the theme of 'Ethics in Online/Social World research'. We are meeting at Aleks' place in Second Life (social simulation research lab - there are chairs!). Please dust off your SL avatar, and put that date in your diary. You can get there directly (if you've got an SL account) here:
http://tinyurl.com/y3wlat
We thought that this paper might be a good place to begin the discussion: http://aoir.org/reports/ethics.pdf (Ethical decision-making and Internet research: Recommendations from the AoIR ethics working committee) Copyright (c) 2002 by Charles Ess and the Association of Internet Researchers
A few colleagues and I are holding a discussion about SL/virtual world research ethics at the Social Simulation Research Lab in conjunction with the London Games Research group
(http://playhouse.wordpress.com/london-game-research-group/).
Kick-off is 12:30pm GMT (4:30am SLT).
All are welcome! Please RSVP Mynci Gorky in-world so I know how many chairs to rez. Thanks!
Details here:
Ethics and Internet Research
Time and place: 12.30 pm UK time, Monday June 18th in
Second Life
For our June meeting, Aleks Krotoski (http://socialsim.wordpress.com) will lead a discussion on the theme of 'Ethics in Online/Social World research'. We are meeting at Aleks' place in Second Life (social simulation research lab - there are chairs!). Please dust off your SL avatar, and put that date in your diary. You can get there directly (if you've got an SL account) here:
http://tinyurl.com/y3wlat
We thought that this paper might be a good place to begin the discussion: http://aoir.org/reports/ethics.pdf (Ethical decision-making and Internet research: Recommendations from the AoIR ethics working committee) Copyright (c) 2002 by Charles Ess and the Association of Internet Researchers
PhreakEDU information (16 JUNE; 10am - 11 pm SLT)
by Beth Ritter-Guth (from Vengence Opus)
Educators and Researchers:We wanted to let you know about a new radio stream concept that Phreak Radio has initiated, and one that we feel will benefit the non-profit and education crowd. Our goal is to build a radio station wholly devoted to education and research centered around Second Life.
By scheduling free access to a stream for educational institutions and playing pre-recorded content at designated times during the week, we think that this could open up a lot of doors for researchers and institutions. We want to build this stream up until one could tune in at any time and get either a live broadcast of something being held in SL or a pre-recorded session that would provide instruction and also clue that person in on what institutions are providing teaching.
Also, because this stream would have only educational content, it's a concept that we're interested in introducing on the Teen Grid at some point. Giving teens the ability and training to provide and direct content is the next phase of development that we'd like to see in this stream, and we've talked to a few people about the possibilities. Finally, we're also interested in short, 15 second ads for upcoming specific events.
We think that this could assist institutions in raising awareness about the research and training being conducted in SL, and it could provide a method for those new residents interested in these topics with a user-friendly way to tune in and get that information. Eventually, with the Registration API, Phreak Radio hopes to drive traffic from this station outside SL and into directed areas that educators assist us in defining ( i.e. your island).Expand your classroom to the real potential of virtual worlds.If you or anyone you know is interested in using the stream for any educational events, please contact me via one of the methods listed below.
Informational Meeting - There will be an informational meeting held at Phreak Isle on the 16th of June, 2007, between the hours of 11am to 10 pm SLT. This will be a time during which any educators, students or researchers are welcome to drop by with questions about PhreakEdu, Phreak Radio's new endeavor into free educational programming. Myself and Nethermind Bliss will be available throughout the day to address your issues, or, if you'd just like to stop by and check out our facilities on Phreak Isle, feel free! We will be tying this into the AIDS Memorial Quilt Kick-Off Bonfire.
"Light Up The Dark" is an event that is being hosted by Phreak Isle, kicking off a week's worth of events, the culmination of which will be the official ceremony and unveiling of an in-world AIDS Memorial Quilt, spanning many different sims. We will have three hours of live music, four DJs, a bonfire, and a quilting tutorial "bee" hosted in the Warehouse. During this time, we'll have some spoken word presentations and other things that raise awareness about the AIDS Memorial Quilt build going on that next week. Feel free to stop by and join us!
Educators and Researchers:We wanted to let you know about a new radio stream concept that Phreak Radio has initiated, and one that we feel will benefit the non-profit and education crowd. Our goal is to build a radio station wholly devoted to education and research centered around Second Life.
By scheduling free access to a stream for educational institutions and playing pre-recorded content at designated times during the week, we think that this could open up a lot of doors for researchers and institutions. We want to build this stream up until one could tune in at any time and get either a live broadcast of something being held in SL or a pre-recorded session that would provide instruction and also clue that person in on what institutions are providing teaching.
Also, because this stream would have only educational content, it's a concept that we're interested in introducing on the Teen Grid at some point. Giving teens the ability and training to provide and direct content is the next phase of development that we'd like to see in this stream, and we've talked to a few people about the possibilities. Finally, we're also interested in short, 15 second ads for upcoming specific events.
We think that this could assist institutions in raising awareness about the research and training being conducted in SL, and it could provide a method for those new residents interested in these topics with a user-friendly way to tune in and get that information. Eventually, with the Registration API, Phreak Radio hopes to drive traffic from this station outside SL and into directed areas that educators assist us in defining ( i.e. your island).Expand your classroom to the real potential of virtual worlds.If you or anyone you know is interested in using the stream for any educational events, please contact me via one of the methods listed below.
Informational Meeting - There will be an informational meeting held at Phreak Isle on the 16th of June, 2007, between the hours of 11am to 10 pm SLT. This will be a time during which any educators, students or researchers are welcome to drop by with questions about PhreakEdu, Phreak Radio's new endeavor into free educational programming. Myself and Nethermind Bliss will be available throughout the day to address your issues, or, if you'd just like to stop by and check out our facilities on Phreak Isle, feel free! We will be tying this into the AIDS Memorial Quilt Kick-Off Bonfire.
"Light Up The Dark" is an event that is being hosted by Phreak Isle, kicking off a week's worth of events, the culmination of which will be the official ceremony and unveiling of an in-world AIDS Memorial Quilt, spanning many different sims. We will have three hours of live music, four DJs, a bonfire, and a quilting tutorial "bee" hosted in the Warehouse. During this time, we'll have some spoken word presentations and other things that raise awareness about the AIDS Memorial Quilt build going on that next week. Feel free to stop by and join us!
Article about SL & Education in THES (UK Higher Ed Newspaper)
by Emma Duke-Williams / Art Fossett
Black sun rising
Stephen Phillips
Published: 15 June 2007
http://www.thes.co.uk/current_edition/story.aspx?story_id=2037150
Black sun rising
Stephen Phillips
Published: 15 June 2007
http://www.thes.co.uk/current_edition/story.aspx?story_id=2037150
First Spanish University in Second Life
by Giulio Prisco
Opening of the Universidad Publica de Navarra in SL on Mon 18 12.00 (= 6am EST, 3am PST) with a mixed reality conference on education in SL. I will give the introductory talk on education in the Metaverse, covering SL but also other metaverses such as Open Croquet. They have a quite ambitious program and will open the SL space to other Spanish universities.
http://metafuturing.com/
http://tinyurl.com/3dqp69
http://tinyurl.com/3bch8v
UniversidadSL
El próximo lunes, 18 de junio, a las 12 del mediodía, tendrá lugar el acto de inauguración de la UniversidadSL La Universidad SL será la primera universidad de Hispanoamérica que impartirá clases en el mundo virtual Second Life. Patrocinada por la Universidad Pública de Navarra en colaboración con la empresa Metafuturing.com, la Universidad SL es el proyecto fin de carrera de la estudiante de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación Elisa García Anzano, que ha sido dirigido por David Benito, director del Centro Superior de Innovación Educativa de la UPNA. Los principales objetivos de la Universidad SL son fomentar la utilización de mundos virtuales en la comunidad universitaria española y explorar las múltiples posibilidades que ofrecen.
El Pais: La Upna, primera universidad virtual hispanoamericana: "Giulio Prisco, director de Metafuturing, empresa que trabaja en proyectos de mundos virtuales, impartirá una conferencia sobre realidad virtual en la inauguración de la Upna".
Opening of the Universidad Publica de Navarra in SL on Mon 18 12.00 (= 6am EST, 3am PST) with a mixed reality conference on education in SL. I will give the introductory talk on education in the Metaverse, covering SL but also other metaverses such as Open Croquet. They have a quite ambitious program and will open the SL space to other Spanish universities.
http://metafuturing.com/
http://tinyurl.com/3dqp69
http://tinyurl.com/3bch8v
UniversidadSL
El próximo lunes, 18 de junio, a las 12 del mediodía, tendrá lugar el acto de inauguración de la UniversidadSL La Universidad SL será la primera universidad de Hispanoamérica que impartirá clases en el mundo virtual Second Life. Patrocinada por la Universidad Pública de Navarra en colaboración con la empresa Metafuturing.com, la Universidad SL es el proyecto fin de carrera de la estudiante de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación Elisa García Anzano, que ha sido dirigido por David Benito, director del Centro Superior de Innovación Educativa de la UPNA. Los principales objetivos de la Universidad SL son fomentar la utilización de mundos virtuales en la comunidad universitaria española y explorar las múltiples posibilidades que ofrecen.
El Pais: La Upna, primera universidad virtual hispanoamericana: "Giulio Prisco, director de Metafuturing, empresa que trabaja en proyectos de mundos virtuales, impartirá una conferencia sobre realidad virtual en la inauguración de la Upna".
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Professors add life to courses through Second Life
by Milosun Czervik
Article from the DesMoines Register. Quote from the article,
"William Callahan, dean of the University of Northern Iowa College of Education, said Second Life is like a "quantum leap" from what professors in Iowa were starting to do a year and a half ago, uploading lectures online for students to download and listen to on their iPods."
http://tinyurl.com/2qcxjn
Article from the DesMoines Register. Quote from the article,
"William Callahan, dean of the University of Northern Iowa College of Education, said Second Life is like a "quantum leap" from what professors in Iowa were starting to do a year and a half ago, uploading lectures online for students to download and listen to on their iPods."
http://tinyurl.com/2qcxjn
2007 OLN Teaching and Learning Expo in Second Life
by Chang Liu (posted to list on 6/14)
Friday 10:30 - 3:00pm Eastern Time
Friday 10:30 - 3:00pm Eastern Time
The 2007 Ohio Learning Network Teaching and Learning Expo ( http://www.oln.org/LCI/lci_expo2007.php ) (6/15/2007) will have a presence in Second Life.
If you can't visit the real-world OLN Expo in Newark, Ohio, please feel free to stop by the virtual OLN Expo on the Ohio University Second Life Campus. For more information, visit http://vital.cs.ohiou.edu/index.php/2007_OLN_Expo .
More Handy tutorials for newbies
by Stan Trevena
http://pacificrimx.wordpress.com/learning
There are lots of links and resources on this page. I try to keep it up to date with new stuff. Just added a bunch about a month ago. Just another resource for SL'ers.
Brian Eno’s 77 Million Paintings in SL on Kula
by Jeremy Hunsinger
as seen on dan winkler's blog
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WritingMyNameInWater/~3/124843017/
Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings is a generative visual artwork, composed of many overlaid images forming a "slow-changing light painting." You can see a lesser demo version on the official site. On June 29th, 77 Mil will open in Second Life and real life simultaneously, to be seen via streaming video and in-world through a recreated version of the work by Angrybeth Shortbread.
Eno was moved by a desire to get his visual installation work out of the gallery, where few can see it, to a larger audience. (As someone who's studied his work, I would suspect that his thought process went something like: Hmm…people have great big gorgeous HD monitors and TVs now…maybe I should dust off the old screensaver idea…) Head to blueair.tv and longnow.org for SL coordinates and more info. Here's the press release:
The Long Now Foundation, a San Francisco non profit dedicated to fostering long-term responsibility, is pleased to announce the Second Life premiere of Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings, in partnership with metaverse services company blueair.tv.
The work will be both streamed via video at select locations inside Second Life, while a rendition of 77 Million Paintings has been created by blueair.tv creative partner Annabeth Robinson, known virtually as AngryBeth Shortbread.
Two evenings, June 29th and 30th, are open to the general public at multiple venues across Second Life, with the largest public area provided by Joi Ito (Kula Sims). The final night, July 1st, is a private event that will be held in appreciation for Long Now members worldwide (members.longnow.org) and hosted on the Leeds College of Art and Design's Digital Media Sim. Members of The Long Now Foundation staff and board will also be visiting the Second Life sims
throughout the weekend and during the member event on Sunday evening.
The North American premiere will be hosted by The Long Now Foundation at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Mr. Eno hopes to be in San Francisco for the event.
Questions regarding the Second Life opening, sponsorship of the event, Second Life-based artwork and blueair.tv itself should be directed to Bryan Campen at 312.799.1329 or via email at blueair.tvATgmail.com. Any questions or requests for interviews regarding the artist, installation and membership to The Long Now Foundation should be directed to Danielle Engelman at 415.561.6582 or via email at danielle -AT- longnow -DOT- org.
as seen on dan winkler's blog
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WritingMyNameInWater/~3/124843017/
Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings is a generative visual artwork, composed of many overlaid images forming a "slow-changing light painting." You can see a lesser demo version on the official site. On June 29th, 77 Mil will open in Second Life and real life simultaneously, to be seen via streaming video and in-world through a recreated version of the work by Angrybeth Shortbread.
Eno was moved by a desire to get his visual installation work out of the gallery, where few can see it, to a larger audience. (As someone who's studied his work, I would suspect that his thought process went something like: Hmm…people have great big gorgeous HD monitors and TVs now…maybe I should dust off the old screensaver idea…) Head to blueair.tv and longnow.org for SL coordinates and more info. Here's the press release:
The Long Now Foundation, a San Francisco non profit dedicated to fostering long-term responsibility, is pleased to announce the Second Life premiere of Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings, in partnership with metaverse services company blueair.tv.
The work will be both streamed via video at select locations inside Second Life, while a rendition of 77 Million Paintings has been created by blueair.tv creative partner Annabeth Robinson, known virtually as AngryBeth Shortbread.
Two evenings, June 29th and 30th, are open to the general public at multiple venues across Second Life, with the largest public area provided by Joi Ito (Kula Sims). The final night, July 1st, is a private event that will be held in appreciation for Long Now members worldwide (members.longnow.org) and hosted on the Leeds College of Art and Design's Digital Media Sim. Members of The Long Now Foundation staff and board will also be visiting the Second Life sims
throughout the weekend and during the member event on Sunday evening.
The North American premiere will be hosted by The Long Now Foundation at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Mr. Eno hopes to be in San Francisco for the event.
Questions regarding the Second Life opening, sponsorship of the event, Second Life-based artwork and blueair.tv itself should be directed to Bryan Campen at 312.799.1329 or via email at blueair.tvATgmail.com. Any questions or requests for interviews regarding the artist, installation and membership to The Long Now Foundation should be directed to Danielle Engelman at 415.561.6582 or via email at danielle -AT- longnow -DOT- org.
TeamWork Tester Tests
by Alex Heiphetz
I need your help, and in the process you can get something you need for SL classes.
To make long things short:
We just completed major modifications to the Teamwork Tester ( http://www.ahg.com/Second_Life/training_simulations/teamwork_tester_1.htm)
This is a tool that allows you to assess performance of a team and individual members, train members of the team to work together, find the optimal composition of the team, assess individual characteristics of the team members, such as: speed, effectiveness, participation in the task, ability to finish assigned part of the work, helping others if needed, etc.
The only problem now is extensive testing to clean out every single quirck both in functionality and usability.
Now, I can't pay you for the effort, however, I can share our movie/slideshow screens or furniture we (let me say successfully) sell for L$300-500. So, any team of three people that complets Teamwork Tester puzzle will get a choice of medium-size screen or classroom furrniture set, or three chairs. Any team of four will get a choice of Large screen or note-taker/note-distributor set, team of five will get their choice of two items in the store (Do I sound like a fast-talking salesman yet? :-)
Oh, and btw you will get a pretty good assesment on your team and your personal leadership and teamwork qualities.
Location of the test: Education Island
( http://slurl.com/secondlife/Education%20Island )
- just about 30 meters from the teleport hub.
I need your help, and in the process you can get something you need for SL classes.
To make long things short:
We just completed major modifications to the Teamwork Tester ( http://www.ahg.com/Second_Life/training_simulations/teamwork_tester_1.htm)
This is a tool that allows you to assess performance of a team and individual members, train members of the team to work together, find the optimal composition of the team, assess individual characteristics of the team members, such as: speed, effectiveness, participation in the task, ability to finish assigned part of the work, helping others if needed, etc.
The only problem now is extensive testing to clean out every single quirck both in functionality and usability.
Now, I can't pay you for the effort, however, I can share our movie/slideshow screens or furniture we (let me say successfully) sell for L$300-500. So, any team of three people that complets Teamwork Tester puzzle will get a choice of medium-size screen or classroom furrniture set, or three chairs. Any team of four will get a choice of Large screen or note-taker/note-distributor set, team of five will get their choice of two items in the store (Do I sound like a fast-talking salesman yet? :-)
Oh, and btw you will get a pretty good assesment on your team and your personal leadership and teamwork qualities.
Location of the test: Education Island
( http://slurl.com/secondlife/Education%20Island )
- just about 30 meters from the teleport hub.
Journal of Electronic Commerce Research: Special Issue on Virtual Worlds
by Marc Fetscherin
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE RESEARCH:
SPECIAL ISSUE ON VIRTUAL WORLDS
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Issue on Virtual Worlds
Submissions due: November 1, 2007
Scheduled Publication date: August 2008
Overview:
The emergence of virtual worlds and Web 3.D change the way of
doing business. Web 3.D is the synonym for Internet-based virtual
worlds, where people can create own 3-D *virtual*
personalities. Virtual Worlds such as Second Life and others are
undergoing an evolution similar to that of the Internet in the
mid nineties and might impact profoundly the way people
cooperate, communicate, collaborate, and conduct business. The
recent entering of companies such as Toyota, American Apparel,
Nissan, or Adidas indicate the upcoming role of this platform for
the next generation of conducting electronic business. This call
for papers is intended to cover a wide range of business and
research topics that fall within the broad description of
activities, challenges, opportunities, applications, innovations
and implications associated with Virtual Worlds as the emerging
new online business landscape.
Purpose of the Special Issue:
The purpose of this special issue is to encourage discussion and
communication of important research issues that underpin Virtual
Worlds as an important aspect of e-commerce and to showcase
interesting and significant research work in this critical area.
Specifically this issues is focusing on business and legal issues
of doing business in Virtual Worlds. Of particular relevance to
the described focus are papers about business models, marketing,
promotion, pricing, customer integration, consumer behavior,
legal, cultural and cross-cultural research. The issue, however,
will not be restricted to these topics; rather, it welcomes
reports of theoretical or empirical research that examines
pertinent business issues related to Virtual Worlds e-commerce.
This special issue will be of interest to researchers,
governments, small and large businesses, marketing and PR
companies among others.
List of possible topics are:
* Product Development and Testing in Virtual Worlds
* Image, Branding, Advertising in Virtual Worlds
* Marketing in Virtual World
* Avatar-based Marketing
* Promotion of Virtual Goods in Virtual Worlds
* Pricing of Virtual Goods in Virtual Worlds
* Selling, Cross-Selling Real and Virtual Worlds
* Business Planning for Non-profits in Virtual Worlds
* Fundraising and Virtual Worlds
* Convergence of Real and Virtual Worlds
* Customer Integration and Virtual Worlds
* Technology, Business, Strategy in Virtual Worlds
* Financial Systems, Investments, Currency Exchange Real
and Virtual Worlds
* Emerging Media Presence in Virtual Worlds
* Consumer Behavior, Consumer Acceptance and Virtual
Worlds
* Trust, Cross-Cultural Studies and Virtual Worlds
* Intellectual Property, Copyright, Trademarks and Virtual
Worlds
Submission of Manustcript:
JECR publishes original empirical research, theoretical and
methodological articles, evaluative and integrative reviews,
field research, business surveys, and application papers of
interest to a general readership. A submission based on a paper
appearing elsewhere (such as conference proceedings or
newsletters) must have major value-added extensions to the
earlier version. For conference papers, it should have at least
30% new material. The submitted manuscripts should follow the
format as suggested in the Submission Guideline found in the
journal website: http://www.csulb.edu/journals/jecr/s_guide.htm.
Of particular note is that the manuscript should be prepared in
Microsoft Word format. The names, affiliations, and contact
information (i.e., phone, fax, email addresses) of all authors
should be provided only on the cover page. The submitted paper
will undergo a double-blind review. Contributing authors may be
asked to serve as reviewers for the special issue. Authors may
submit completed manuscripts electronically at any time prior to
November 1st 2007 deadline.
Manuscripts and questions send to
mfetscherin - at - rollins -dot- edu
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE RESEARCH:
SPECIAL ISSUE ON VIRTUAL WORLDS
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Issue on Virtual Worlds
Submissions due: November 1, 2007
Scheduled Publication date: August 2008
Overview:
The emergence of virtual worlds and Web 3.D change the way of
doing business. Web 3.D is the synonym for Internet-based virtual
worlds, where people can create own 3-D *virtual*
personalities. Virtual Worlds such as Second Life and others are
undergoing an evolution similar to that of the Internet in the
mid nineties and might impact profoundly the way people
cooperate, communicate, collaborate, and conduct business. The
recent entering of companies such as Toyota, American Apparel,
Nissan, or Adidas indicate the upcoming role of this platform for
the next generation of conducting electronic business. This call
for papers is intended to cover a wide range of business and
research topics that fall within the broad description of
activities, challenges, opportunities, applications, innovations
and implications associated with Virtual Worlds as the emerging
new online business landscape.
Purpose of the Special Issue:
The purpose of this special issue is to encourage discussion and
communication of important research issues that underpin Virtual
Worlds as an important aspect of e-commerce and to showcase
interesting and significant research work in this critical area.
Specifically this issues is focusing on business and legal issues
of doing business in Virtual Worlds. Of particular relevance to
the described focus are papers about business models, marketing,
promotion, pricing, customer integration, consumer behavior,
legal, cultural and cross-cultural research. The issue, however,
will not be restricted to these topics; rather, it welcomes
reports of theoretical or empirical research that examines
pertinent business issues related to Virtual Worlds e-commerce.
This special issue will be of interest to researchers,
governments, small and large businesses, marketing and PR
companies among others.
List of possible topics are:
* Product Development and Testing in Virtual Worlds
* Image, Branding, Advertising in Virtual Worlds
* Marketing in Virtual World
* Avatar-based Marketing
* Promotion of Virtual Goods in Virtual Worlds
* Pricing of Virtual Goods in Virtual Worlds
* Selling, Cross-Selling Real and Virtual Worlds
* Business Planning for Non-profits in Virtual Worlds
* Fundraising and Virtual Worlds
* Convergence of Real and Virtual Worlds
* Customer Integration and Virtual Worlds
* Technology, Business, Strategy in Virtual Worlds
* Financial Systems, Investments, Currency Exchange Real
and Virtual Worlds
* Emerging Media Presence in Virtual Worlds
* Consumer Behavior, Consumer Acceptance and Virtual
Worlds
* Trust, Cross-Cultural Studies and Virtual Worlds
* Intellectual Property, Copyright, Trademarks and Virtual
Worlds
Submission of Manustcript:
JECR publishes original empirical research, theoretical and
methodological articles, evaluative and integrative reviews,
field research, business surveys, and application papers of
interest to a general readership. A submission based on a paper
appearing elsewhere (such as conference proceedings or
newsletters) must have major value-added extensions to the
earlier version. For conference papers, it should have at least
30% new material. The submitted manuscripts should follow the
format as suggested in the Submission Guideline found in the
journal website: http://www.csulb.edu/journals/jecr/s_guide.htm.
Of particular note is that the manuscript should be prepared in
Microsoft Word format. The names, affiliations, and contact
information (i.e., phone, fax, email addresses) of all authors
should be provided only on the cover page. The submitted paper
will undergo a double-blind review. Contributing authors may be
asked to serve as reviewers for the special issue. Authors may
submit completed manuscripts electronically at any time prior to
November 1st 2007 deadline.
Manuscripts and questions send to
mfetscherin - at - rollins -dot- edu
Handy tutorials for newbies
by Jenny Delasalle
If you're looking for information on how to get on in Second Life, do a search on YouTube as there are some quick and informative clips in there that can help you to get started in Second Life:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=second+life+learning&search=Search
Invitation to Virtual World Event on Philanthropy
by Barry Joseph
Save the date (22 June, 9am PST) for an historic conversation on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds featuring MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton and Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale.
I write to invite you to join me in the virtual world of Second Life on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 9am PST (noon EST). With my avatar and a live audio feed, I will be joined by Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale and residents for a discussion on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds.
The MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. We support organizations working on human rights and international justice, conservation and sustainable development, housing, juvenile justice, and independent media. Last year, we launched a $50 million initiative to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. Answers are critical to developing educational and other social institutions that can meet the needs of this and future generations.
Recently, we have been introduced to virtual worlds such as Second Life and There.com. I believe that the importance of virtual worlds may be less about their growth as economies, and more about their capacity for collaboration and human development. Activities in virtual worlds already are supported by MacArthur and other foundations, but we have much to discover about the right role for philanthropy itself in virtual worlds.
We are interested in learning about virtual worlds and how to operate within them. We look to the residents to help us determine how to be helpful and are eager to share our on-going work in such areas as affordable housing, urban renewal, and human rights and international justice.
Please join me on June 22nd, when, for the first time, my avatar will step into the virtual world to host a discussion with Philip Rosedale exploring the potential of these new platforms for philanthropic activity. It should be a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation, and I hope you can attend and participate.
Invitation to Virtual World Event on Philanthropy
Save the date (22 June, 9am PST) for an historic conversation on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds featuring MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton and Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale.
I write to invite you to join me in the virtual world of Second Life on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 9am PST (noon EST). With my avatar and a live audio feed, I will be joined by Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale and residents for a discussion on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds.
The MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. We support organizations working on human rights and international justice, conservation and sustainable development, housing, juvenile justice, and independent media. Last year, we launched a $50 million initiative to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. Answers are critical to developing educational and other social institutions that can meet the needs of this and future generations.
Recently, we have been introduced to virtual worlds such as Second Life and There.com. I believe that the importance of virtual worlds may be less about their growth as economies, and more about their capacity for collaboration and human development. Activities in virtual worlds already are supported by MacArthur and other foundations, but we have much to discover about the right role for philanthropy itself in virtual worlds.
We are interested in learning about virtual worlds and how to operate within them. We look to the residents to help us determine how to be helpful and are eager to share our on-going work in such areas as affordable housing, urban renewal, and human rights and international justice.
Please join me on June 22nd, when, for the first time, my avatar will step into the virtual world to host a discussion with Philip Rosedale exploring the potential of these new platforms for philanthropic activity. It should be a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation, and I hope you can attend and participate.
As further details emerge they will be posted on the event information page:
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
SL Article from Japan Journal
by Stan Trevena
An article was recently published in the Japan Journal on Second Life. It includes parts of an interview that we did on the Pacific Rim Exchange project (with my partner in Japan, Chris Flesuras). Here's the English version of the article:
http://tinyurl.com/32ke56
Another article from this interview is scheduled to be published next week in the Japan Times. I'll pass a link on when I get it.
Here's a blog entry about the interview back in March:
http://tinyurl.com/2xyjyr
And now for the cool part of this post, the Kyoto students finally have tweaked out the avatars enough to take a class picture on the island. Here's a full sized image of that screenshot.
http://tinyurl.com/39omcc
They are getting pretty creative in with their avatars, especially that short one up front with the force field around him. He must have some personal space issues.
An article was recently published in the Japan Journal on Second Life. It includes parts of an interview that we did on the Pacific Rim Exchange project (with my partner in Japan, Chris Flesuras). Here's the English version of the article:
http://tinyurl.com/32ke56
Another article from this interview is scheduled to be published next week in the Japan Times. I'll pass a link on when I get it.
Here's a blog entry about the interview back in March:
http://tinyurl.com/2xyjyr
And now for the cool part of this post, the Kyoto students finally have tweaked out the avatars enough to take a class picture on the island. Here's a full sized image of that screenshot.
http://tinyurl.com/39omcc
They are getting pretty creative in with their avatars, especially that short one up front with the force field around him. He must have some personal space issues.
A tool for organizing group conversations
by Barry Joseph
The GK lighbulb and server.
The GK Light Bulb System is a great tool for moderating discussion in Second Life, initially created for the Global Kids Camp 2006 project. You can easily see who's waiting for their turn to speak when the light bulb attachment above their head is turned on. The GK Light Bulb System Discussion Server (just one prim!) displays the chat queue, so everyone can see whose turn is next. With one click, it offers administrators a dialog box with buttons for removing specific names -- or all names -- from the speakers list. And it just takes a click for a wearer to turn off their own GK Light Bulb, if they change their mind and decide they don't want to speak. Adding administrators to the system is as simple as editing a notecard.
GK Light Bulbs are distributed with both copy and transfer permissions, so you'll never run short of them, and the Discussion Server is transferrable, so you can give it to someone else in your organization to use or lend it to a friend. But, at only L$ 1000, it's affordable enough to buy more than one. Brought to you by The Magicians and Global Kids, the GK Light Bulb System is a fun way to manage group discussions AND engage participants.
Be the first on your sim and get one today!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching/207/147/22
The GK lighbulb and server.
The GK Light Bulb System is a great tool for moderating discussion in Second Life, initially created for the Global Kids Camp 2006 project. You can easily see who's waiting for their turn to speak when the light bulb attachment above their head is turned on. The GK Light Bulb System Discussion Server (just one prim!) displays the chat queue, so everyone can see whose turn is next. With one click, it offers administrators a dialog box with buttons for removing specific names -- or all names -- from the speakers list. And it just takes a click for a wearer to turn off their own GK Light Bulb, if they change their mind and decide they don't want to speak. Adding administrators to the system is as simple as editing a notecard.
GK Light Bulbs are distributed with both copy and transfer permissions, so you'll never run short of them, and the Discussion Server is transferrable, so you can give it to someone else in your organization to use or lend it to a friend. But, at only L$ 1000, it's affordable enough to buy more than one. Brought to you by The Magicians and Global Kids, the GK Light Bulb System is a fun way to manage group discussions AND engage participants.
Be the first on your sim and get one today!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching/207/147/22
Blackboard/Second Life Developers Meet-up in Boston
by Theodore Ubhaus
Boston Second Life Meetup Group will be hosting
Drinks and Chat with Blackboard/Second Life Developers at Vox!
Since the Blackboard Developers' Conference has day sessions on July 12th and July 13th, the Second Life meet-up is scheduled conveniently after the first day's sessions on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 6:00 PM at the Vox. The Vox is just a few minutes walk from the Sheraton Hotel in Boston.
Pathfinder Linden has said that he definitely plans to attend. He is likely also to speak at the Boston SL Meetup event.
Consquentially, for those who are attending the Blackboard Developers' Conference, Second Life will be discussed during one of the sessions on July 13th.
For those who develop using the Blackboard learning system, and many others, the Boston SL Meetup shall be quite an event indeed. E-learning has been expanding into and as a virtual learning environment.
You may find out more details and RSVP for the 7/12/07 Boston SL Meetup at http://secondlife.meetup.com/10/
Boston Second Life Meetup Group will be hosting
Drinks and Chat with Blackboard/Second Life Developers at Vox!
Since the Blackboard Developers' Conference has day sessions on July 12th and July 13th, the Second Life meet-up is scheduled conveniently after the first day's sessions on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 6:00 PM at the Vox. The Vox is just a few minutes walk from the Sheraton Hotel in Boston.
Pathfinder Linden has said that he definitely plans to attend. He is likely also to speak at the Boston SL Meetup event.
Consquentially, for those who are attending the Blackboard Developers' Conference, Second Life will be discussed during one of the sessions on July 13th.
For those who develop using the Blackboard learning system, and many others, the Boston SL Meetup shall be quite an event indeed. E-learning has been expanding into and as a virtual learning environment.
You may find out more details and RSVP for the 7/12/07 Boston SL Meetup at http://secondlife.meetup.com/10/
Study: User Acceptance of Virtual Worlds: An Explorative Study about Second Life
by Marc Fetscherin
Study: User Acceptance of Virtual Worlds: An Explorative Study about Second Life
Our report assesses the user acceptance of Virtual Worlds, specifically Second Life. By means of a survey with almost 250 respondents this report provides first empirical results of the user acceptance of Second Life. The data has been gathered during spring 2007. Our results show that 90% of respondents have less than a year experience, 70% access Second Life from home and 54% with a desktop. There are 67% of respondents who are not afraid of giving personal information. Almost 60% are very likely to buy virtual goods from Second Life, and 42% are willing to use their credit card to purchase on Second Life. About 70% perceive Second Life improves collaboration and communication, and more than 60% perceive that it improves cooperation between people. 56% of respondents perceive Second life as easy to use. Finally, our results indicate that people are using Second Life not to change their identity, but rather to explore and visit new places and meet people.
If users accept Virtual Worlds as a new way and channel to communicate, collaborate, and cooperation and if institutions arrive to provide value to users, Virtual Worlds might become then next generation platform for Internet users. However, in order to become mainstream, Virtual Worlds like Second Life have many challenges to overcome and where user acceptance is probably the most important one.
Get the report on http://secondliferesearch.blogspot.com/2007/06/study-about-user-acceptance-of-virtual.html
Study: User Acceptance of Virtual Worlds: An Explorative Study about Second Life
Our report assesses the user acceptance of Virtual Worlds, specifically Second Life. By means of a survey with almost 250 respondents this report provides first empirical results of the user acceptance of Second Life. The data has been gathered during spring 2007. Our results show that 90% of respondents have less than a year experience, 70% access Second Life from home and 54% with a desktop. There are 67% of respondents who are not afraid of giving personal information. Almost 60% are very likely to buy virtual goods from Second Life, and 42% are willing to use their credit card to purchase on Second Life. About 70% perceive Second Life improves collaboration and communication, and more than 60% perceive that it improves cooperation between people. 56% of respondents perceive Second life as easy to use. Finally, our results indicate that people are using Second Life not to change their identity, but rather to explore and visit new places and meet people.
If users accept Virtual Worlds as a new way and channel to communicate, collaborate, and cooperation and if institutions arrive to provide value to users, Virtual Worlds might become then next generation platform for Internet users. However, in order to become mainstream, Virtual Worlds like Second Life have many challenges to overcome and where user acceptance is probably the most important one.
Get the report on http://secondliferesearch.blogspot.com/2007/06/study-about-user-acceptance-of-virtual.html
236 Free Open Courseware Collections, Podcasts, and Videos
by Jimmy Atkinson
Just dropping a line to see if you and your readers at Drexel CoAS talks mp3 podcast might want to have a look at the newest article here at OEDb: "Take Any College Class for Free: 236 Open Courseware Collections, Podcasts, and Videos" -- http://oedb.org/library/features/236-open-courseware-collections . Let me know what you think if you have a moment.
Just dropping a line to see if you and your readers at Drexel CoAS talks mp3 podcast might want to have a look at the newest article here at OEDb: "Take Any College Class for Free: 236 Open Courseware Collections, Podcasts, and Videos" -- http://oedb.org/library/features/236-open-courseware-collections . Let me know what you think if you have a moment.
Action Learning
by Lindy McKeown
My entire island of Terra incognita is an online 3D environment based on Reg Revans style Action Learning. I also worked before Second Life with a colleague in a US university setting up Action Learning in his ActiveWorlds implementation.
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Come visit my Action Learning island at SLURL
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It is the basis for my PhD research into the social and technical affordances of 3D worlds for online Action Learning. This project is supported by a Queensland Government (Australian state) Smart State PhD research grant as at least 8 government departments here use Action Learning in a face-to-face mode.
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Just starting this week a 12 week Action Learning program called "Teaching in Second Life" with a group of 32 new recruits.
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Just finished a program that ran form February to the end of May with a celebration on the weekend of the projects of the 12 participants. This was a point-in-time snapshot of the exciting range of workplace or professional life projects developed (and continuing) by participants including:
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- A series of workshops about Second Life leading to online events on topics of interest for a teacher professional association.
- The establishment of a state-wide consortium to purchase SL islands for schools to use.
- A series of SL tours as awareness raising for school district personnel that led to the use of SL as an online meeting space (amongst other things).
- The building of an interactive narrative from a book in SL, MUD and MOO to compare the environments as learning spaces.
- The establishment of national forums (in Australia) about the implementation of Second Life by the Education Network of Australia (EdNA)
- A comparative analysis of Virtual Worlds for K-12 education for a state education department.
- The mapping of the nOOb non-gamer experience in SL with a view to the developmnent of support resources.
Please make contact by IM in SL (Decka Mah) if you would like more information.
Moodle's glossary connects with SL
by Jeremy Kemp
I have a very simple Sloodle tool to sample for you. It listens for a request like "/def grid", queries a Moodle glossary and chats the definition. The cool thing is that you can edit terms on the web.
See two glossaries here:
http://www.sloodle.com/course/view.php?id=9
Second Life terms here:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sjsu%20slis/142/216
Examples: grid, griefer, dwell, afk (57 and counting)
Foreign Language terms here:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sjsu%20slis/107/213
Example: Ni Hao
I'm especially keen to see if anyone can use this glossary for use in S.T.E.M. or language learning. And will Japanese/Chinese/Arabic work?
You could conceivably build out a pathway like Orientation Island with the chatting glossary to interact with.
FYI: This is just proof of concept stuff and not released.
I have a very simple Sloodle tool to sample for you. It listens for a request like "/def grid", queries a Moodle glossary and chats the definition. The cool thing is that you can edit terms on the web.
See two glossaries here:
http://www.sloodle.com/course/view.php?id=9
Second Life terms here:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sjsu%20slis/142/216
Examples: grid, griefer, dwell, afk (57 and counting)
Foreign Language terms here:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sjsu%20slis/107/213
Example: Ni Hao
I'm especially keen to see if anyone can use this glossary for use in S.T.E.M. or language learning. And will Japanese/Chinese/Arabic work?
You could conceivably build out a pathway like Orientation Island with the chatting glossary to interact with.
FYI: This is just proof of concept stuff and not released.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Archive of Educational Possibilities Webinar
by Pietro Maracas
We had a great turn-out for our webinar on Second Life: The Educational Possibilities of a Massively Multiplayer Virtual World, about 150 people attended. Also, thanks to the people who helped answer questions in the chat.
You can view the archived webinar at
http://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/event/description?instance_id=7498.
We had a great turn-out for our webinar on Second Life: The Educational Possibilities of a Massively Multiplayer Virtual World, about 150 people attended. Also, thanks to the people who helped answer questions in the chat.
You can view the archived webinar at
http://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/event/description?instance_id=7498.
Links to info on Second Life at Games For Change
by Barry Joseph
We're all tired. More later. But Second Life was all over two panels today, both main and teen grid.
Check it out:
Thanks to Beth and Rik for their tireless blogging.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Accessibility Help
FWD by Ed Lamoureux
Libraries on the MUVE: HealthInfo Island to Provide Accessibility Resource Center in Second Life Alliance Library System(ALS) and iViNNiE.com are pleased to announce new services tobe offered on HealthInfo Island in the 3d virtual world of Second Life. Alliance received a grant from the National Library of Medicine Greater Midwest Region to build upon the consumer health outreach currentlydone on HealthInfo Island. HealthInfo Island is part of the Alliance Info Archipelago, a group of islands collaborating to provide library and educational services. Through this project, ALS will offer exhibits, programs, and awareness about accessibility and assistive technology and about virtual world ac
(from BlogHUD: http://bloghud.com/id/9444/)
Documentary about Activism in SL
by Joshua Levy
I just finished up a short documentary about activism in Second Life , called A Better World in Second Life. The film looks at the ways a handful of activists are using SL to promote awareness for Darfur, organize groups, protest the war in Iraq, and more. I learned a lot about the positives and negatives of using SL to promote social change. While I didn't directly address using SL for education, I think a lot of the lessons learned apply to it as well.
You can watch it here: www.levjoy.com/betterworld
I'm interested in showing it publicly and in SL, and welcome ideas and suggestions.
I just finished up a short documentary about activism in Second Life , called A Better World in Second Life. The film looks at the ways a handful of activists are using SL to promote awareness for Darfur, organize groups, protest the war in Iraq, and more. I learned a lot about the positives and negatives of using SL to promote social change. While I didn't directly address using SL for education, I think a lot of the lessons learned apply to it as well.
You can watch it here: www.levjoy.com/betterworld
I'm interested in showing it publicly and in SL, and welcome ideas and suggestions.
A new collaborative project
by Barry Spencer
I have decided to expand the scope of material at my place, which at the moment include presentations, personalised learning and social activites to include an opportunity for collaboration.
In keeping with the general computing theme, I have setup a museum of computing. The content takes the form of learning objects; and while on the subject of learning objects, thanks to all those who fed back to me on the Eniac resource, very much appreciated. In the museum, some of the objects are populated with content, though most are not, and that's where the opportunity for collaboration comes in.
The actual facility itself is in the form of a Skybox, 300m above Shimmer Island. There are two levels, on the lower you will find a collection of computers from the 70s, 80s and 90s and as you will see at the moment, the only one with content is the Sinclair ZX80, all others are waiting for contributions. The actual machines featured have either been constructed by myself or obtained from within SL. On the second level you will find some fully populated resources that include Eniac, the Altair and the TRS80.
The museum can be accessed from a teleport on the ground floor of the Beach house. If you would like to contribute to the existing resources or create some new ones just drop me an IM, otherwise you may just like to come for a browse and chat about computing things, while enjoying the uninterupted views of perfect sunsets and sunrises from almost a 1000ft above the virtual sea level of Second life.
IM Skipper Abel for more information.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
NMC Sessions Posted
by Alan Levine
Hastily done as I am on my way to 9 days off the grids, we have posted audio from the recent sessions at the NMC summer conference where we captured audio and other content.
Late Night Chat form NMC
Pleasure, Play, Participation, and Promise - Anya Ixchel At NMC
Leveraging the Affordances, Minimizing the Barriers of Virtual Worlds (panel discussion)
A View from the Trenches: Are you a Pioneer or a Settler? (Cynthia Calongne)
Accessibility in the 3-D Environment: Virtual Worlds and People with Disabilities
by Bruce Sommerville
This site shows the event times in SL time.
Google subscribers who add the SLEDevents in SL calendar to their calendar list will see the event times converted automatically to their own local time zone.
The above event has been added to the "SLEDevents in SL" public Google calendar, which may be viewed in your web browser at:
This site shows the event times in SL time.
Google subscribers who add the SLEDevents in SL calendar to their calendar list will see the event times converted automatically to their own local time zone.
Face book group created: Second Life for Educators
by Fire Centaur
I just created a second life for educators group on the Social networking site called Facebook.
IF you would like to join, upload sl pictures and network with other educators follow this link:
Second Life for Educators:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2370947641
I just created a second life for educators group on the Social networking site called Facebook.
IF you would like to join, upload sl pictures and network with other educators follow this link:
Second Life for Educators:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2370947641
Invitation to U.S. Department of State and University of Southern California Second Life Event
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP), in cooperation with the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication, cordially invite members of Second Life Educators (SLED) to the second IIP-USC Speaker Program: "Accessibility in the 3-D Environment: Virtual Worlds and People with Disabilities"
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
11:00 SLT (PDT)
USC Public Diplomacy Island
Teleport: 203, 64, 29
Our guest speakers for the event are
Judy Brewer
Bruce Bailey
IIP is exploring the possibilities present in 3-D virtual world platforms, such as Second Life, for showcasing and hosting Public Diplomacy events, products and services. This session will focus on potential accessibility issues for people with disabilities in virtual environments, and resources and approaches for ensuring a barrier-free virtual experience.
The State Department Bureau of International Information Programs engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society and values to create an environment that can be receptive to U.S. national interests. IIP communicates with foreign opinion makers and other publics through a wide range of print and electronic outreach materials published in seven world languages. IIP also provides information outreach support to U.S. embassies and consulates in more than 140 countries worldwide. For more information visit our websites www.usinfo.gov and www.state.gov.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
11:00 SLT (PDT)
USC Public Diplomacy Island
Teleport: 203, 64, 29
Our guest speakers for the event are
Judy Brewer
Bruce Bailey
IIP is exploring the possibilities present in 3-D virtual world platforms, such as Second Life, for showcasing and hosting Public Diplomacy events, products and services. This session will focus on potential accessibility issues for people with disabilities in virtual environments, and resources and approaches for ensuring a barrier-free virtual experience.
The State Department Bureau of International Information Programs engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society and values to create an environment that can be receptive to U.S. national interests. IIP communicates with foreign opinion makers and other publics through a wide range of print and electronic outreach materials published in seven world languages. IIP also provides information outreach support to U.S. embassies and consulates in more than 140 countries worldwide. For more information visit our websites www.usinfo.gov and www.state.gov.
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