There's a real handy spider web based tool called Screencast-o-matic that I've precisely spotted. If y'all instruct to the website as well as but click on 'Create' y'all should move able to tape as well as brand movies of your on covert activity. This isn't anything novel every bit in that place are quite a few software tools that y'all tin either purchase or download to utilization this, but what's skilful nearly this tool every bit that it all plant through the spider web page as well as also allows y'all to create an employment concern human relationship as well as salve your screencasts online. This makes it much easier to portion them.
The tool is real tardily to purpose as well as it looks similar it's fifty-fifty capable of recording roughly quite complex covert activity, such every bit gaming as well as 3D virtual worlds. You tin also tape well vocalisation over. Great materials as well as all free.
Showing posts with label machinima. Show all posts
Showing posts with label machinima. Show all posts
October 27, 2019
Materials Blueprint For Virtual Worlds
I was late lucky plenty to hold upwards invited to give a presentation on course of pedagogy too materials pattern for Second Life at the SLanguages 2007 virtual conference (June 23rd 2007) which took house on the Edunation Island inward Second life. The conference itself was a fascinating lawsuit too the sense of presenting a conference newspaper inside a virtual globe to an audience of avatars was sure as shooting a novel too novel ane for me.
I was asked to give this presentation because I receive got been working over the in conclusion few months on designing a Business English linguistic communication course of pedagogy for Second Life. As component subdivision of putting together the presentation I came upwards amongst a listing of lessons I’ve learnt spell going through the procedure of designing the course. The listing is past times no way finalised too I’m sure it volition travel along to grow too alter equally I acquire to a greater extent than nearly developing materials for this world, but I idea I’d issue it hither for anyone who is interested inward designing their ain materials for linguistic communication teaching inward SL.
For anyone who hasn’t already visited Second Life therefore you lot tin ship away download some instructions from here too encounter how it is done (1.3Mb pdf). Be warned though. To access SL you lot demand to receive got a expert broadband connector too quite a powerful computer. See system requirements
So hither is my listing of things to think nearly if you lot are trying to pattern teaching materials for Second Life. Feel gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Tips for linguistic communication learning materials pattern inward Second Life
1. Design exterior the classroom box too into the reckoner game box
Think nearly the kinds of mutual reckoner game genre. They are actually quite limited. The primary ones are things like
2. Build inward ownership of the environment
If you lot receive got your ain Island why non build a pupil surface area of some kind. Somewhere they tin ship away postal service their ain materials, pictures etc. or give them their ain room to decorate.
3. Give students command of their learning / activities
When you lot pattern learning tasks similar role-plays allow students hold upwards themselves, don’t endeavor likewise difficult to orchestrate things similar what they volition do, where they volition hold upwards or what they volition say. Good role-play is similar jazz improvisation, you lot render a construction too students improvise inside it.
4. Make learning too business goals clear to students
Sounds obvious, but when nosotros know why they are doing things nosotros oft accept it foregranted that students know. This oft isn’t the case, therefore hold upwards sure to allow your students know why you lot desire them to practice something too what you lot think they should hold upwards achieving.
5. Make sure that students acquire individualised feedback on their performance
Especially inward virtual globe activities where students are inward reality quite isolated too actually sitting at habitation on a reckoner alone, it’s real of import that they acquire some feedback on their functioning too know how they are doing. Keeping complaint cards at the prepare spell you lot are monitoring your students tin ship away hold upwards actually handy for making notes to transcend to them at the destination of the lesson.
6. Maximise pupil to pupil interaction
Now that Second life is going to receive got spoken language for everyone, at that spot is no excuse for the activities to hold upwards tutor led. Let the students piece of work together. Be sure to explore the vocalization capabilities too expect at how you lot tin ship away grouping too couplet students for vocalization chat.
7. Breakdown texts into smaller chunks too brand ‘input’ tasks collaborative.
SL isn’t a text driven surroundings too doesn’t actually lend itself to reading long texts. It’s much meliorate to split upwards your texts upwards past times giving a pocket-size chunk to each pupil on a complaint card, too therefore acquire them to reconstruct the overall important collaboratively.
8. Make the activities engaging on a mental (cognitive), personal too a cultural level
SL offers us the chance to connect people from all around the world, therefore hold upwards sure that your tasks too activities draw on that international sense too exploit the unique experiences that each pupil brings from their culture.
9. Build the materials into the immediate SL environment
SL is a wonderfully rich graphic environment. Try to brand sure your materials exploit that immediate environment. Get students doing things inward dissimilar places too moving around. Don’t but endeavor to recreate a classroom inward SL, recollect the most successful linguistic communication learning that happens goes on exterior the classroom.
10. Make tasks relevant to existent life too existent SL life
The borders betwixt existent life too SL are becoming increasingly blurred. Think nearly how virtual 3D worlds volition travel integrated into our everyday lives too the kinds of skills people volition demand to operate too communicate inward them effectively.
11. Exploit the ‘authentic’ SL world
There are lots of interesting too novel things to practice too places to travel inward SL, therefore why non exploit them too pattern activities around them? Get students to leave of absence inward groups too explore too practice reports, computer programme trips too tours for each other, convey dorsum experiences to percentage amongst other shape members.
12. Exploit the SL user interface
The SL user interface is an incredibly useful tool too has lots of features that tin ship away hold upwards used creatively. The snapshot tool tin ship away assist students to practice magazine reports amongst wonderful graphics or a photograph diary of their experiences. The painting tool tin ship away assist students to practice machinima. They tin ship away work it to practice their ain video interviews, advertisements, or tape role plays or drama productions.
13. Train learners to exploit the SL user interface / develop expert information technology literacy / study skills.
The user interface tin ship away also hold upwards used to a greater extent than or less effectively equally a study tool, to accept notes brand records or to percentage information. Make sure that you lot educate students to work it effectively, therefore that it aids rather than obstructs their study.
14. Build inward social interaction
Knowledge is socially constructed too linguistic communication is a social function. Try to pattern social fourth dimension too infinite into your course of pedagogy too your tasks.
15. Create too exploit data gaps
Make sure that you lot practice the demand to communicate inside your tasks. Creating data gap type activities is relatively slowly inward SL equally you lot receive got a lot of command nearly how too who you lot give data to.
16. Develop too exploit the students’ human relationship to their avatar
The SL avatar that represents your pupil tin ship away travel a vehicle for the seem of their personality. Think nearly how you lot tin ship away involve this human relationship betwixt pupil too avatar inward your activities.
The Slanguage 2007 conference was sponsored past times The consultants-e
Video too well transcripts of the presentations tin ship away hold upwards works life on the Edunation Island at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation/178/40/22/
If you lot are a instructor too you lot are interested inward developing linguistic communication teaching materials for Second Life or doing some linguistic communication teaching at that spot brand it comport on amongst The consultants-e as they are forthwith running seminars too preparation sessions inward SL.
I was asked to give this presentation because I receive got been working over the in conclusion few months on designing a Business English linguistic communication course of pedagogy for Second Life. As component subdivision of putting together the presentation I came upwards amongst a listing of lessons I’ve learnt spell going through the procedure of designing the course. The listing is past times no way finalised too I’m sure it volition travel along to grow too alter equally I acquire to a greater extent than nearly developing materials for this world, but I idea I’d issue it hither for anyone who is interested inward designing their ain materials for linguistic communication teaching inward SL.
For anyone who hasn’t already visited Second Life therefore you lot tin ship away download some instructions from here too encounter how it is done (1.3Mb pdf). Be warned though. To access SL you lot demand to receive got a expert broadband connector too quite a powerful computer. See system requirements
So hither is my listing of things to think nearly if you lot are trying to pattern teaching materials for Second Life. Feel gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Tips for linguistic communication learning materials pattern inward Second Life
1. Design exterior the classroom box too into the reckoner game box
Think nearly the kinds of mutual reckoner game genre. They are actually quite limited. The primary ones are things like
- Driving or flight games (Grand Prix racing etc)
- Shooter games (Kill everything inward sight etc.)
- Sports type games ( Football, Golf etc.)
- Strategy type games ( Zoo Tycoon, Hotel Tycoon etc.)
- Sims type games (The Sims, Sims two Pets etc.)
2. Build inward ownership of the environment
If you lot receive got your ain Island why non build a pupil surface area of some kind. Somewhere they tin ship away postal service their ain materials, pictures etc. or give them their ain room to decorate.
3. Give students command of their learning / activities
When you lot pattern learning tasks similar role-plays allow students hold upwards themselves, don’t endeavor likewise difficult to orchestrate things similar what they volition do, where they volition hold upwards or what they volition say. Good role-play is similar jazz improvisation, you lot render a construction too students improvise inside it.
4. Make learning too business goals clear to students
Sounds obvious, but when nosotros know why they are doing things nosotros oft accept it foregranted that students know. This oft isn’t the case, therefore hold upwards sure to allow your students know why you lot desire them to practice something too what you lot think they should hold upwards achieving.
5. Make sure that students acquire individualised feedback on their performance
Especially inward virtual globe activities where students are inward reality quite isolated too actually sitting at habitation on a reckoner alone, it’s real of import that they acquire some feedback on their functioning too know how they are doing. Keeping complaint cards at the prepare spell you lot are monitoring your students tin ship away hold upwards actually handy for making notes to transcend to them at the destination of the lesson.
6. Maximise pupil to pupil interaction
Now that Second life is going to receive got spoken language for everyone, at that spot is no excuse for the activities to hold upwards tutor led. Let the students piece of work together. Be sure to explore the vocalization capabilities too expect at how you lot tin ship away grouping too couplet students for vocalization chat.
7. Breakdown texts into smaller chunks too brand ‘input’ tasks collaborative.
SL isn’t a text driven surroundings too doesn’t actually lend itself to reading long texts. It’s much meliorate to split upwards your texts upwards past times giving a pocket-size chunk to each pupil on a complaint card, too therefore acquire them to reconstruct the overall important collaboratively.
8. Make the activities engaging on a mental (cognitive), personal too a cultural level
SL offers us the chance to connect people from all around the world, therefore hold upwards sure that your tasks too activities draw on that international sense too exploit the unique experiences that each pupil brings from their culture.
9. Build the materials into the immediate SL environment
SL is a wonderfully rich graphic environment. Try to brand sure your materials exploit that immediate environment. Get students doing things inward dissimilar places too moving around. Don’t but endeavor to recreate a classroom inward SL, recollect the most successful linguistic communication learning that happens goes on exterior the classroom.
10. Make tasks relevant to existent life too existent SL life
The borders betwixt existent life too SL are becoming increasingly blurred. Think nearly how virtual 3D worlds volition travel integrated into our everyday lives too the kinds of skills people volition demand to operate too communicate inward them effectively.
11. Exploit the ‘authentic’ SL world
There are lots of interesting too novel things to practice too places to travel inward SL, therefore why non exploit them too pattern activities around them? Get students to leave of absence inward groups too explore too practice reports, computer programme trips too tours for each other, convey dorsum experiences to percentage amongst other shape members.
12. Exploit the SL user interface
The SL user interface is an incredibly useful tool too has lots of features that tin ship away hold upwards used creatively. The snapshot tool tin ship away assist students to practice magazine reports amongst wonderful graphics or a photograph diary of their experiences. The painting tool tin ship away assist students to practice machinima. They tin ship away work it to practice their ain video interviews, advertisements, or tape role plays or drama productions.
13. Train learners to exploit the SL user interface / develop expert information technology literacy / study skills.
The user interface tin ship away also hold upwards used to a greater extent than or less effectively equally a study tool, to accept notes brand records or to percentage information. Make sure that you lot educate students to work it effectively, therefore that it aids rather than obstructs their study.
14. Build inward social interaction
Knowledge is socially constructed too linguistic communication is a social function. Try to pattern social fourth dimension too infinite into your course of pedagogy too your tasks.
15. Create too exploit data gaps
Make sure that you lot practice the demand to communicate inside your tasks. Creating data gap type activities is relatively slowly inward SL equally you lot receive got a lot of command nearly how too who you lot give data to.
16. Develop too exploit the students’ human relationship to their avatar
The SL avatar that represents your pupil tin ship away travel a vehicle for the seem of their personality. Think nearly how you lot tin ship away involve this human relationship betwixt pupil too avatar inward your activities.
The Slanguage 2007 conference was sponsored past times The consultants-e
Video too well transcripts of the presentations tin ship away hold upwards works life on the Edunation Island at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation/178/40/22/
If you lot are a instructor too you lot are interested inward developing linguistic communication teaching materials for Second Life or doing some linguistic communication teaching at that spot brand it comport on amongst The consultants-e as they are forthwith running seminars too preparation sessions inward SL.
Teaching English Inwards 2Nd Life
Over the by few weeks I've been pretty busy pedagogy my start English linguistic communication students on a Business English linguistic communication class I induce got been developing for Second Life.
The experience has been pretty daunting amongst myself too the students having to come upwards to price amongst the complexities of the user interface too I induce got felt at times that my 15 years of 'real world' classroom experience too the subconscious habits too reflexes that I developed over that menstruation induce got totally deserted me.
The introduction of phonation inside SL has sure enough made a huge difference, though at that topographic point are even too then problems too bugs to survive ironed out. Though to my surprise I did notice myself drilling a grouping of advanced learners to aid them amongst their discussion stress, something I rarely practise inward the 'real' linguistic communication classroom. To my relief though, the rank out of students inward the degree seems to survive steadily increasing rather than decreasing too they appear nifty to come upwards dorsum for more.
As business office of the class I've establish it necessary to give a lot of aid amongst the user interface, especially amongst some of the complexities of manipulating the phonation customer to acquire students into pairs too groups without having to shift them across the isle too then they don't overhear each other.
I've created these videos which induce got been actually useful both for myself too my students, too then I idea I'd portion them here. I promise that anyone involved inward pedagogy inward SL finds them useful, too anyone who isn't involved gets some insight into how this tool tin survive used, peculiarly for linguistic communication learning.
Hope yous relish too practise goodness from these. Please experience gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Best Nik Peachey
The experience has been pretty daunting amongst myself too the students having to come upwards to price amongst the complexities of the user interface too I induce got felt at times that my 15 years of 'real world' classroom experience too the subconscious habits too reflexes that I developed over that menstruation induce got totally deserted me.
The introduction of phonation inside SL has sure enough made a huge difference, though at that topographic point are even too then problems too bugs to survive ironed out. Though to my surprise I did notice myself drilling a grouping of advanced learners to aid them amongst their discussion stress, something I rarely practise inward the 'real' linguistic communication classroom. To my relief though, the rank out of students inward the degree seems to survive steadily increasing rather than decreasing too they appear nifty to come upwards dorsum for more.
As business office of the class I've establish it necessary to give a lot of aid amongst the user interface, especially amongst some of the complexities of manipulating the phonation customer to acquire students into pairs too groups without having to shift them across the isle too then they don't overhear each other.
I've created these videos which induce got been actually useful both for myself too my students, too then I idea I'd portion them here. I promise that anyone involved inward pedagogy inward SL finds them useful, too anyone who isn't involved gets some insight into how this tool tin survive used, peculiarly for linguistic communication learning.
- This i shows how yous tin acquire students into pairs or groups, too then that they entirely postulate heed the people yous are working with. (Be careful though. This characteristic even too then seems to survive a chip buggy)
View the movie - This i shows how tin purpose the 'Active Speaker' panel too then that yous tin alter the book of the other speakers to a greater extent than or less yous or mute them.
View the movie - This i shows yous how to practise a banker's complaint carte to accept notes during the lesson.
View the movie - This i shows how to re-create notes from Second Life banker's complaint cards into a Word document (If yous desire to buy the farm on copies of your notes exterior of SL)
View the movie - This i shows yous how to portion too top banker's complaint cards to other avatars / students.
View the movie - This start i shows yous how to prepare the interface too then that yous tin psyche to sound too sentry video.
View the movie - This i shows yous how to purpose the photographic telly camera tools to accept pictures / snapshots inside Second Life.
View the movie
Hope yous relish too practise goodness from these. Please experience gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Best Nik Peachey
Looking At There.Com
For a spell straight off I’ve been a fan of the virtual 3D globe guide on how to create machinima inward There.comOrganise a hover-boarding tournament for your students Take a serial of pictures in addition to choke the students to create a storey some them Really though I intend for these environments to piece of job good for linguistic communication learning you lot involve to piece of job them amongst distance learners or inside a blended learning context. Not i where students are coming together regularly confront to face.
Conclusion
On the whole I intend There.com is a fun in addition to real sociable surroundings where teens are probable to relish hanging out in addition to coming together people. There are things to practise at that spot in addition to it has the potential to survive quite accessible because the makers’ claim that it tin run on much lower spec computers without broadband. It doesn’t convey the visual comport upon in addition to programming potential that to a greater extent than complex worlds similar Second Life have, but if you lot merely desire to brand a get-go on agreement how these worlds piece of job in addition to what the potential is, earlier you lot invest serious coin inward a powerful computer, thus There.com is good worth a look.
I'd survive actually interested to listen what other people intend of There.com, specially amongst ideas to piece of job amongst students.
best
Nik
Conclusion
On the whole I intend There.com is a fun in addition to real sociable surroundings where teens are probable to relish hanging out in addition to coming together people. There are things to practise at that spot in addition to it has the potential to survive quite accessible because the makers’ claim that it tin run on much lower spec computers without broadband. It doesn’t convey the visual comport upon in addition to programming potential that to a greater extent than complex worlds similar Second Life have, but if you lot merely desire to brand a get-go on agreement how these worlds piece of job in addition to what the potential is, earlier you lot invest serious coin inward a powerful computer, thus There.com is good worth a look.
I'd survive actually interested to listen what other people intend of There.com, specially amongst ideas to piece of job amongst students.
best
Nik
Machinima Alongside Moviestorm
I late came across a real impressive slice of software for making Machinima. It’s nevertheless inwards Beta at the moment, in addition to it’s free, in addition to thus I’ve spent a chip of fourth dimension looking at it in addition to seeing how it works.
For those of you lot who don’t know, machinima is a cast of animated cinema, which is produced inwards reckoner games or virtual worlds. In some representative the animated characters are ‘played’ past times avatars in addition to inwards others the characters are figures inside a virtual footing which are controlled past times a ‘producer’.
Moviestorm offers the 2nd of these 2 options, in addition to thus ane time you lot accept downloaded it from the Moviestorm site, you lot no longer bespeak an meshing connectedness in addition to you lot tin piece of employment lonely or amongst a grouping to create your machinima project.
The software is pretty impressive in addition to tin enable you lot to make many things. You can;
So this is pretty much all you lot bespeak to acquire started creating machinima movies.
So why make this amongst students?
The learning potential of the software is huge, fifty-fifty if you lot don’t ever acquire your students to a phase where they tin create their ain movies.
You would in all probability bespeak to run the projection over the infinite of a few weeks or fifty-fifty months in addition to move certain to specify to students earlier they start how you lot intend to evaluate their piece of employment on the project. I’m certain that most students would detect this a motivating in addition to creative agency to exercise language.
What I liked virtually it
What I wasn’t in addition to thus certain about
On the whole I recollect this is actually ane to watch. As to a greater extent than people commencement using it in addition to the forum / user community builds upwardly I recollect this volition plough into an fantabulous resource.
If you lot desire to detect out to a greater extent than virtually Machinima accept a await at a few of these links.
Machinima.com
The abode of machinima in addition to in all probability ane of the biggest collection of machinima films in addition to links.
Machinima in addition to education
An interesting article from Futurelab on the uses in addition to benefits of including machinima inwards education
SecondLifeVideo.com
A site designed to aid machinima creators inside the virtual footing of Second life to upload in addition to portion their creations.
Here’s a widegt from their site that shows some of the arts machinima existence created inwards SL
Wikipedia
More information in addition to a Definition from Wikipedia
I promise you lot taste the software in addition to I would dearest to hear comments from anyone who gets their students working amongst it.
For those of you lot who don’t know, machinima is a cast of animated cinema, which is produced inwards reckoner games or virtual worlds. In some representative the animated characters are ‘played’ past times avatars in addition to inwards others the characters are figures inside a virtual footing which are controlled past times a ‘producer’.
Moviestorm offers the 2nd of these 2 options, in addition to thus ane time you lot accept downloaded it from the Moviestorm site, you lot no longer bespeak an meshing connectedness in addition to you lot tin piece of employment lonely or amongst a grouping to create your machinima project.
The software is pretty impressive in addition to tin enable you lot to make many things. You can;
- create phase sets in addition to characters,
- place the characters on the set
- get them to displace in addition to interact amongst each other in addition to diverse props
- place cameras around the laid upwardly to celluloid the activity from unlike places
- create in addition to tape a script for your characters
- lip-sync the animated characters amongst the recorded dialogue
- cut, edit in addition to homecoming your terminal motion painting inwards a format which tin easily move distributed on the spider web or CD.
So this is pretty much all you lot bespeak to acquire started creating machinima movies.
- Here’s a demo motion painting to exhibit how to create the action
- Here’s a demo motion painting to exhibit how to celluloid the action
So why make this amongst students?
The learning potential of the software is huge, fifty-fifty if you lot don’t ever acquire your students to a phase where they tin create their ain movies.
- You tin acquire them to create characters in addition to alter them to exercise linguistic communication of description
- You tin utilisation it to exercise a whole hit of clothing, colours in addition to textures
- You tin acquire them to create a laid upwardly in addition to house things to exercise prepositions of place
- You tin create your ain movies to demonstrate a whole hit of prepositions of movement, diverse tenses
- You tin add together dialogue to the movies to demonstrate functional in addition to intercommunicative language
You would in all probability bespeak to run the projection over the infinite of a few weeks or fifty-fifty months in addition to move certain to specify to students earlier they start how you lot intend to evaluate their piece of employment on the project. I’m certain that most students would detect this a motivating in addition to creative agency to exercise language.
What I liked virtually it
- It’s free, non also hard to larn in addition to doesn’t involve whatsoever programming skill.
- Once you’ve downloaded it you lot don’t bespeak an meshing connectedness to utilisation it
- The tool laid upwardly is swell in addition to you lot tin brand the animated characters make a whole hit of things in addition to celluloid them from loads of unlike angles
- It’s fun to utilisation in addition to larn in addition to slow plenty in addition to thus that you lot tin install the software in addition to create a brusk clip inside an hour
- Any films you lot create amongst the software are your ain belongings in addition to you lot accept the correct to sell in addition to distribute them!!
What I wasn’t in addition to thus certain about
- It’s a large download (almost 200Mb) in addition to thus you’ll either bespeak a adept connectedness or a lot of patience to download it.
- There are expansion packs amongst to a greater extent than phase sets, props in addition to characters only you lot accept to pay for these (not that you lot actually bespeak them)
- There’s no MAC version in addition to you lot bespeak a pretty adept graphics carte du jour in addition to a lot of RAM for it to run easily
On the whole I recollect this is actually ane to watch. As to a greater extent than people commencement using it in addition to the forum / user community builds upwardly I recollect this volition plough into an fantabulous resource.
If you lot desire to detect out to a greater extent than virtually Machinima accept a await at a few of these links.
Machinima.com
The abode of machinima in addition to in all probability ane of the biggest collection of machinima films in addition to links.
Machinima in addition to education
An interesting article from Futurelab on the uses in addition to benefits of including machinima inwards education
SecondLifeVideo.com
A site designed to aid machinima creators inside the virtual footing of Second life to upload in addition to portion their creations.
Here’s a widegt from their site that shows some of the arts machinima existence created inwards SL
Wikipedia
More information in addition to a Definition from Wikipedia
I promise you lot taste the software in addition to I would dearest to hear comments from anyone who gets their students working amongst it.
June 13, 2006
Developing Screencast Tutorials
There's a real handy spider web based tool called Screencast-o-matic that I've precisely spotted. If y'all instruct to the website as well as but click on 'Create' y'all should move able to tape as well as brand movies of your on covert activity. This isn't anything novel every bit in that place are quite a few software tools that y'all tin either purchase or download to utilization this, but what's skilful nearly this tool every bit that it all plant through the spider web page as well as also allows y'all to create an employment concern human relationship as well as salve your screencasts online. This makes it much easier to portion them.
The tool is real tardily to purpose as well as it looks similar it's fifty-fifty capable of recording roughly quite complex covert activity, such every bit gaming as well as 3D virtual worlds. You tin also tape well vocalisation over. Great materials as well as all free.
The tool is real tardily to purpose as well as it looks similar it's fifty-fifty capable of recording roughly quite complex covert activity, such every bit gaming as well as 3D virtual worlds. You tin also tape well vocalisation over. Great materials as well as all free.
June 12, 2006
Materials Blueprint For Virtual Worlds
I was late lucky plenty to hold upwards invited to give a presentation on course of pedagogy too materials pattern for Second Life at the SLanguages 2007 virtual conference (June 23rd 2007) which took house on the Edunation Island inward Second life. The conference itself was a fascinating lawsuit too the sense of presenting a conference newspaper inside a virtual globe to an audience of avatars was sure as shooting a novel too novel ane for me.
I was asked to give this presentation because I receive got been working over the in conclusion few months on designing a Business English linguistic communication course of pedagogy for Second Life. As component subdivision of putting together the presentation I came upwards amongst a listing of lessons I’ve learnt spell going through the procedure of designing the course. The listing is past times no way finalised too I’m sure it volition travel along to grow too alter equally I acquire to a greater extent than nearly developing materials for this world, but I idea I’d issue it hither for anyone who is interested inward designing their ain materials for linguistic communication teaching inward SL.
For anyone who hasn’t already visited Second Life therefore you lot tin ship away download some instructions from here too encounter how it is done (1.3Mb pdf). Be warned though. To access SL you lot demand to receive got a expert broadband connector too quite a powerful computer. See system requirements
So hither is my listing of things to think nearly if you lot are trying to pattern teaching materials for Second Life. Feel gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Tips for linguistic communication learning materials pattern inward Second Life
1. Design exterior the classroom box too into the reckoner game box
Think nearly the kinds of mutual reckoner game genre. They are actually quite limited. The primary ones are things like
2. Build inward ownership of the environment
If you lot receive got your ain Island why non build a pupil surface area of some kind. Somewhere they tin ship away postal service their ain materials, pictures etc. or give them their ain room to decorate.
3. Give students command of their learning / activities
When you lot pattern learning tasks similar role-plays allow students hold upwards themselves, don’t endeavor likewise difficult to orchestrate things similar what they volition do, where they volition hold upwards or what they volition say. Good role-play is similar jazz improvisation, you lot render a construction too students improvise inside it.
4. Make learning too business goals clear to students
Sounds obvious, but when nosotros know why they are doing things nosotros oft accept it foregranted that students know. This oft isn’t the case, therefore hold upwards sure to allow your students know why you lot desire them to practice something too what you lot think they should hold upwards achieving.
5. Make sure that students acquire individualised feedback on their performance
Especially inward virtual globe activities where students are inward reality quite isolated too actually sitting at habitation on a reckoner alone, it’s real of import that they acquire some feedback on their functioning too know how they are doing. Keeping complaint cards at the prepare spell you lot are monitoring your students tin ship away hold upwards actually handy for making notes to transcend to them at the destination of the lesson.
6. Maximise pupil to pupil interaction
Now that Second life is going to receive got spoken language for everyone, at that spot is no excuse for the activities to hold upwards tutor led. Let the students piece of work together. Be sure to explore the vocalization capabilities too expect at how you lot tin ship away grouping too couplet students for vocalization chat.
7. Breakdown texts into smaller chunks too brand ‘input’ tasks collaborative.
SL isn’t a text driven surroundings too doesn’t actually lend itself to reading long texts. It’s much meliorate to split upwards your texts upwards past times giving a pocket-size chunk to each pupil on a complaint card, too therefore acquire them to reconstruct the overall important collaboratively.
8. Make the activities engaging on a mental (cognitive), personal too a cultural level
SL offers us the chance to connect people from all around the world, therefore hold upwards sure that your tasks too activities draw on that international sense too exploit the unique experiences that each pupil brings from their culture.
9. Build the materials into the immediate SL environment
SL is a wonderfully rich graphic environment. Try to brand sure your materials exploit that immediate environment. Get students doing things inward dissimilar places too moving around. Don’t but endeavor to recreate a classroom inward SL, recollect the most successful linguistic communication learning that happens goes on exterior the classroom.
10. Make tasks relevant to existent life too existent SL life
The borders betwixt existent life too SL are becoming increasingly blurred. Think nearly how virtual 3D worlds volition travel integrated into our everyday lives too the kinds of skills people volition demand to operate too communicate inward them effectively.
11. Exploit the ‘authentic’ SL world
There are lots of interesting too novel things to practice too places to travel inward SL, therefore why non exploit them too pattern activities around them? Get students to leave of absence inward groups too explore too practice reports, computer programme trips too tours for each other, convey dorsum experiences to percentage amongst other shape members.
12. Exploit the SL user interface
The SL user interface is an incredibly useful tool too has lots of features that tin ship away hold upwards used creatively. The snapshot tool tin ship away assist students to practice magazine reports amongst wonderful graphics or a photograph diary of their experiences. The painting tool tin ship away assist students to practice machinima. They tin ship away work it to practice their ain video interviews, advertisements, or tape role plays or drama productions.
13. Train learners to exploit the SL user interface / develop expert information technology literacy / study skills.
The user interface tin ship away also hold upwards used to a greater extent than or less effectively equally a study tool, to accept notes brand records or to percentage information. Make sure that you lot educate students to work it effectively, therefore that it aids rather than obstructs their study.
14. Build inward social interaction
Knowledge is socially constructed too linguistic communication is a social function. Try to pattern social fourth dimension too infinite into your course of pedagogy too your tasks.
15. Create too exploit data gaps
Make sure that you lot practice the demand to communicate inside your tasks. Creating data gap type activities is relatively slowly inward SL equally you lot receive got a lot of command nearly how too who you lot give data to.
16. Develop too exploit the students’ human relationship to their avatar
The SL avatar that represents your pupil tin ship away travel a vehicle for the seem of their personality. Think nearly how you lot tin ship away involve this human relationship betwixt pupil too avatar inward your activities.
The Slanguage 2007 conference was sponsored past times The consultants-e
Video too well transcripts of the presentations tin ship away hold upwards works life on the Edunation Island at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation/178/40/22/
If you lot are a instructor too you lot are interested inward developing linguistic communication teaching materials for Second Life or doing some linguistic communication teaching at that spot brand it comport on amongst The consultants-e as they are forthwith running seminars too preparation sessions inward SL.
I was asked to give this presentation because I receive got been working over the in conclusion few months on designing a Business English linguistic communication course of pedagogy for Second Life. As component subdivision of putting together the presentation I came upwards amongst a listing of lessons I’ve learnt spell going through the procedure of designing the course. The listing is past times no way finalised too I’m sure it volition travel along to grow too alter equally I acquire to a greater extent than nearly developing materials for this world, but I idea I’d issue it hither for anyone who is interested inward designing their ain materials for linguistic communication teaching inward SL.
For anyone who hasn’t already visited Second Life therefore you lot tin ship away download some instructions from here too encounter how it is done (1.3Mb pdf). Be warned though. To access SL you lot demand to receive got a expert broadband connector too quite a powerful computer. See system requirements
So hither is my listing of things to think nearly if you lot are trying to pattern teaching materials for Second Life. Feel gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Tips for linguistic communication learning materials pattern inward Second Life
1. Design exterior the classroom box too into the reckoner game box
Think nearly the kinds of mutual reckoner game genre. They are actually quite limited. The primary ones are things like
- Driving or flight games (Grand Prix racing etc)
- Shooter games (Kill everything inward sight etc.)
- Sports type games ( Football, Golf etc.)
- Strategy type games ( Zoo Tycoon, Hotel Tycoon etc.)
- Sims type games (The Sims, Sims two Pets etc.)
2. Build inward ownership of the environment
If you lot receive got your ain Island why non build a pupil surface area of some kind. Somewhere they tin ship away postal service their ain materials, pictures etc. or give them their ain room to decorate.
3. Give students command of their learning / activities
When you lot pattern learning tasks similar role-plays allow students hold upwards themselves, don’t endeavor likewise difficult to orchestrate things similar what they volition do, where they volition hold upwards or what they volition say. Good role-play is similar jazz improvisation, you lot render a construction too students improvise inside it.
4. Make learning too business goals clear to students
Sounds obvious, but when nosotros know why they are doing things nosotros oft accept it foregranted that students know. This oft isn’t the case, therefore hold upwards sure to allow your students know why you lot desire them to practice something too what you lot think they should hold upwards achieving.
5. Make sure that students acquire individualised feedback on their performance
Especially inward virtual globe activities where students are inward reality quite isolated too actually sitting at habitation on a reckoner alone, it’s real of import that they acquire some feedback on their functioning too know how they are doing. Keeping complaint cards at the prepare spell you lot are monitoring your students tin ship away hold upwards actually handy for making notes to transcend to them at the destination of the lesson.
6. Maximise pupil to pupil interaction
Now that Second life is going to receive got spoken language for everyone, at that spot is no excuse for the activities to hold upwards tutor led. Let the students piece of work together. Be sure to explore the vocalization capabilities too expect at how you lot tin ship away grouping too couplet students for vocalization chat.
7. Breakdown texts into smaller chunks too brand ‘input’ tasks collaborative.
SL isn’t a text driven surroundings too doesn’t actually lend itself to reading long texts. It’s much meliorate to split upwards your texts upwards past times giving a pocket-size chunk to each pupil on a complaint card, too therefore acquire them to reconstruct the overall important collaboratively.
8. Make the activities engaging on a mental (cognitive), personal too a cultural level
SL offers us the chance to connect people from all around the world, therefore hold upwards sure that your tasks too activities draw on that international sense too exploit the unique experiences that each pupil brings from their culture.
9. Build the materials into the immediate SL environment
SL is a wonderfully rich graphic environment. Try to brand sure your materials exploit that immediate environment. Get students doing things inward dissimilar places too moving around. Don’t but endeavor to recreate a classroom inward SL, recollect the most successful linguistic communication learning that happens goes on exterior the classroom.
10. Make tasks relevant to existent life too existent SL life
The borders betwixt existent life too SL are becoming increasingly blurred. Think nearly how virtual 3D worlds volition travel integrated into our everyday lives too the kinds of skills people volition demand to operate too communicate inward them effectively.
11. Exploit the ‘authentic’ SL world
There are lots of interesting too novel things to practice too places to travel inward SL, therefore why non exploit them too pattern activities around them? Get students to leave of absence inward groups too explore too practice reports, computer programme trips too tours for each other, convey dorsum experiences to percentage amongst other shape members.
12. Exploit the SL user interface
The SL user interface is an incredibly useful tool too has lots of features that tin ship away hold upwards used creatively. The snapshot tool tin ship away assist students to practice magazine reports amongst wonderful graphics or a photograph diary of their experiences. The painting tool tin ship away assist students to practice machinima. They tin ship away work it to practice their ain video interviews, advertisements, or tape role plays or drama productions.
13. Train learners to exploit the SL user interface / develop expert information technology literacy / study skills.
The user interface tin ship away also hold upwards used to a greater extent than or less effectively equally a study tool, to accept notes brand records or to percentage information. Make sure that you lot educate students to work it effectively, therefore that it aids rather than obstructs their study.
14. Build inward social interaction
Knowledge is socially constructed too linguistic communication is a social function. Try to pattern social fourth dimension too infinite into your course of pedagogy too your tasks.
15. Create too exploit data gaps
Make sure that you lot practice the demand to communicate inside your tasks. Creating data gap type activities is relatively slowly inward SL equally you lot receive got a lot of command nearly how too who you lot give data to.
16. Develop too exploit the students’ human relationship to their avatar
The SL avatar that represents your pupil tin ship away travel a vehicle for the seem of their personality. Think nearly how you lot tin ship away involve this human relationship betwixt pupil too avatar inward your activities.
The Slanguage 2007 conference was sponsored past times The consultants-e
Video too well transcripts of the presentations tin ship away hold upwards works life on the Edunation Island at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation/178/40/22/
If you lot are a instructor too you lot are interested inward developing linguistic communication teaching materials for Second Life or doing some linguistic communication teaching at that spot brand it comport on amongst The consultants-e as they are forthwith running seminars too preparation sessions inward SL.
June 10, 2006
Teaching English Inwards 2Nd Life
Over the by few weeks I've been pretty busy pedagogy my start English linguistic communication students on a Business English linguistic communication class I induce got been developing for Second Life.
The experience has been pretty daunting amongst myself too the students having to come upwards to price amongst the complexities of the user interface too I induce got felt at times that my 15 years of 'real world' classroom experience too the subconscious habits too reflexes that I developed over that menstruation induce got totally deserted me.
The introduction of phonation inside SL has sure enough made a huge difference, though at that topographic point are even too then problems too bugs to survive ironed out. Though to my surprise I did notice myself drilling a grouping of advanced learners to aid them amongst their discussion stress, something I rarely practise inward the 'real' linguistic communication classroom. To my relief though, the rank out of students inward the degree seems to survive steadily increasing rather than decreasing too they appear nifty to come upwards dorsum for more.
As business office of the class I've establish it necessary to give a lot of aid amongst the user interface, especially amongst some of the complexities of manipulating the phonation customer to acquire students into pairs too groups without having to shift them across the isle too then they don't overhear each other.
I've created these videos which induce got been actually useful both for myself too my students, too then I idea I'd portion them here. I promise that anyone involved inward pedagogy inward SL finds them useful, too anyone who isn't involved gets some insight into how this tool tin survive used, peculiarly for linguistic communication learning.
Hope yous relish too practise goodness from these. Please experience gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Best Nik Peachey
The experience has been pretty daunting amongst myself too the students having to come upwards to price amongst the complexities of the user interface too I induce got felt at times that my 15 years of 'real world' classroom experience too the subconscious habits too reflexes that I developed over that menstruation induce got totally deserted me.
The introduction of phonation inside SL has sure enough made a huge difference, though at that topographic point are even too then problems too bugs to survive ironed out. Though to my surprise I did notice myself drilling a grouping of advanced learners to aid them amongst their discussion stress, something I rarely practise inward the 'real' linguistic communication classroom. To my relief though, the rank out of students inward the degree seems to survive steadily increasing rather than decreasing too they appear nifty to come upwards dorsum for more.
As business office of the class I've establish it necessary to give a lot of aid amongst the user interface, especially amongst some of the complexities of manipulating the phonation customer to acquire students into pairs too groups without having to shift them across the isle too then they don't overhear each other.
I've created these videos which induce got been actually useful both for myself too my students, too then I idea I'd portion them here. I promise that anyone involved inward pedagogy inward SL finds them useful, too anyone who isn't involved gets some insight into how this tool tin survive used, peculiarly for linguistic communication learning.
- This i shows how yous tin acquire students into pairs or groups, too then that they entirely postulate heed the people yous are working with. (Be careful though. This characteristic even too then seems to survive a chip buggy)
View the movie - This i shows how tin purpose the 'Active Speaker' panel too then that yous tin alter the book of the other speakers to a greater extent than or less yous or mute them.
View the movie - This i shows yous how to practise a banker's complaint carte to accept notes during the lesson.
View the movie - This i shows how to re-create notes from Second Life banker's complaint cards into a Word document (If yous desire to buy the farm on copies of your notes exterior of SL)
View the movie - This i shows yous how to portion too top banker's complaint cards to other avatars / students.
View the movie - This start i shows yous how to prepare the interface too then that yous tin psyche to sound too sentry video.
View the movie - This i shows yous how to purpose the photographic telly camera tools to accept pictures / snapshots inside Second Life.
View the movie
Hope yous relish too practise goodness from these. Please experience gratuitous to leave of absence comments.
Best Nik Peachey
June 6, 2006
Looking At There.Com
For a spell straight off I’ve been a fan of the virtual 3D globe guide on how to create machinima inward There.comOrganise a hover-boarding tournament for your students Take a serial of pictures in addition to choke the students to create a storey some them Really though I intend for these environments to piece of job good for linguistic communication learning you lot involve to piece of job them amongst distance learners or inside a blended learning context. Not i where students are coming together regularly confront to face.
Conclusion
On the whole I intend There.com is a fun in addition to real sociable surroundings where teens are probable to relish hanging out in addition to coming together people. There are things to practise at that spot in addition to it has the potential to survive quite accessible because the makers’ claim that it tin run on much lower spec computers without broadband. It doesn’t convey the visual comport upon in addition to programming potential that to a greater extent than complex worlds similar Second Life have, but if you lot merely desire to brand a get-go on agreement how these worlds piece of job in addition to what the potential is, earlier you lot invest serious coin inward a powerful computer, thus There.com is good worth a look.
I'd survive actually interested to listen what other people intend of There.com, specially amongst ideas to piece of job amongst students.
best
Nik
Conclusion
On the whole I intend There.com is a fun in addition to real sociable surroundings where teens are probable to relish hanging out in addition to coming together people. There are things to practise at that spot in addition to it has the potential to survive quite accessible because the makers’ claim that it tin run on much lower spec computers without broadband. It doesn’t convey the visual comport upon in addition to programming potential that to a greater extent than complex worlds similar Second Life have, but if you lot merely desire to brand a get-go on agreement how these worlds piece of job in addition to what the potential is, earlier you lot invest serious coin inward a powerful computer, thus There.com is good worth a look.
I'd survive actually interested to listen what other people intend of There.com, specially amongst ideas to piece of job amongst students.
best
Nik
May 31, 2006
Machinima Alongside Moviestorm
I late came across a real impressive slice of software for making Machinima. It’s nevertheless inwards Beta at the moment, in addition to it’s free, in addition to thus I’ve spent a chip of fourth dimension looking at it in addition to seeing how it works.
For those of you lot who don’t know, machinima is a cast of animated cinema, which is produced inwards reckoner games or virtual worlds. In some representative the animated characters are ‘played’ past times avatars in addition to inwards others the characters are figures inside a virtual footing which are controlled past times a ‘producer’.
Moviestorm offers the 2nd of these 2 options, in addition to thus ane time you lot accept downloaded it from the Moviestorm site, you lot no longer bespeak an meshing connectedness in addition to you lot tin piece of employment lonely or amongst a grouping to create your machinima project.
The software is pretty impressive in addition to tin enable you lot to make many things. You can;
So this is pretty much all you lot bespeak to acquire started creating machinima movies.
So why make this amongst students?
The learning potential of the software is huge, fifty-fifty if you lot don’t ever acquire your students to a phase where they tin create their ain movies.
You would in all probability bespeak to run the projection over the infinite of a few weeks or fifty-fifty months in addition to move certain to specify to students earlier they start how you lot intend to evaluate their piece of employment on the project. I’m certain that most students would detect this a motivating in addition to creative agency to exercise language.
What I liked virtually it
What I wasn’t in addition to thus certain about
On the whole I recollect this is actually ane to watch. As to a greater extent than people commencement using it in addition to the forum / user community builds upwardly I recollect this volition plough into an fantabulous resource.
If you lot desire to detect out to a greater extent than virtually Machinima accept a await at a few of these links.
Machinima.com
The abode of machinima in addition to in all probability ane of the biggest collection of machinima films in addition to links.
Machinima in addition to education
An interesting article from Futurelab on the uses in addition to benefits of including machinima inwards education
SecondLifeVideo.com
A site designed to aid machinima creators inside the virtual footing of Second life to upload in addition to portion their creations.
Here’s a widegt from their site that shows some of the arts machinima existence created inwards SL
Wikipedia
More information in addition to a Definition from Wikipedia
I promise you lot taste the software in addition to I would dearest to hear comments from anyone who gets their students working amongst it.
For those of you lot who don’t know, machinima is a cast of animated cinema, which is produced inwards reckoner games or virtual worlds. In some representative the animated characters are ‘played’ past times avatars in addition to inwards others the characters are figures inside a virtual footing which are controlled past times a ‘producer’.
Moviestorm offers the 2nd of these 2 options, in addition to thus ane time you lot accept downloaded it from the Moviestorm site, you lot no longer bespeak an meshing connectedness in addition to you lot tin piece of employment lonely or amongst a grouping to create your machinima project.
The software is pretty impressive in addition to tin enable you lot to make many things. You can;
- create phase sets in addition to characters,
- place the characters on the set
- get them to displace in addition to interact amongst each other in addition to diverse props
- place cameras around the laid upwardly to celluloid the activity from unlike places
- create in addition to tape a script for your characters
- lip-sync the animated characters amongst the recorded dialogue
- cut, edit in addition to homecoming your terminal motion painting inwards a format which tin easily move distributed on the spider web or CD.
So this is pretty much all you lot bespeak to acquire started creating machinima movies.
- Here’s a demo motion painting to exhibit how to create the action
- Here’s a demo motion painting to exhibit how to celluloid the action
So why make this amongst students?
The learning potential of the software is huge, fifty-fifty if you lot don’t ever acquire your students to a phase where they tin create their ain movies.
- You tin acquire them to create characters in addition to alter them to exercise linguistic communication of description
- You tin utilisation it to exercise a whole hit of clothing, colours in addition to textures
- You tin acquire them to create a laid upwardly in addition to house things to exercise prepositions of place
- You tin create your ain movies to demonstrate a whole hit of prepositions of movement, diverse tenses
- You tin add together dialogue to the movies to demonstrate functional in addition to intercommunicative language
You would in all probability bespeak to run the projection over the infinite of a few weeks or fifty-fifty months in addition to move certain to specify to students earlier they start how you lot intend to evaluate their piece of employment on the project. I’m certain that most students would detect this a motivating in addition to creative agency to exercise language.
What I liked virtually it
- It’s free, non also hard to larn in addition to doesn’t involve whatsoever programming skill.
- Once you’ve downloaded it you lot don’t bespeak an meshing connectedness to utilisation it
- The tool laid upwardly is swell in addition to you lot tin brand the animated characters make a whole hit of things in addition to celluloid them from loads of unlike angles
- It’s fun to utilisation in addition to larn in addition to slow plenty in addition to thus that you lot tin install the software in addition to create a brusk clip inside an hour
- Any films you lot create amongst the software are your ain belongings in addition to you lot accept the correct to sell in addition to distribute them!!
What I wasn’t in addition to thus certain about
- It’s a large download (almost 200Mb) in addition to thus you’ll either bespeak a adept connectedness or a lot of patience to download it.
- There are expansion packs amongst to a greater extent than phase sets, props in addition to characters only you lot accept to pay for these (not that you lot actually bespeak them)
- There’s no MAC version in addition to you lot bespeak a pretty adept graphics carte du jour in addition to a lot of RAM for it to run easily
On the whole I recollect this is actually ane to watch. As to a greater extent than people commencement using it in addition to the forum / user community builds upwardly I recollect this volition plough into an fantabulous resource.
If you lot desire to detect out to a greater extent than virtually Machinima accept a await at a few of these links.
Machinima.com
The abode of machinima in addition to in all probability ane of the biggest collection of machinima films in addition to links.
Machinima in addition to education
An interesting article from Futurelab on the uses in addition to benefits of including machinima inwards education
SecondLifeVideo.com
A site designed to aid machinima creators inside the virtual footing of Second life to upload in addition to portion their creations.
Here’s a widegt from their site that shows some of the arts machinima existence created inwards SL
Wikipedia
More information in addition to a Definition from Wikipedia
I promise you lot taste the software in addition to I would dearest to hear comments from anyone who gets their students working amongst it.
May 21, 2006
Drama Projection Tools
Moviestorm if yous were thinking of launching into a Machinima projection as well as would attention yous as well as your students to maintain runway of the run yous create inside the motion-picture demo creation software.
I've genuinely downloaded this myself as well as started using it amongst around of my ain creative media projects, as well as thence I'll permit yous know how I decease on.
Hope yous discovery it useful
Best
Nik
I've genuinely downloaded this myself as well as started using it amongst around of my ain creative media projects, as well as thence I'll permit yous know how I decease on.
Hope yous discovery it useful
Best
Nik
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