Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?

The new optional module for students on the Fine Art, Visual Communication, Interior and Furniture Design, and Visual and Critical Studies programmes begins on Wednesday 5th October at 8.00 pm. All those intending to join the module should read all the information on the ‘Pages’ to the right of this post. It is particularly important that you can access Second Life and are familiar with how it works. Explore the world and have fun finding out how to get around, meet people, buy stuff etc.

Tae and Locks look forward to meeting you in Second Life.

“Teaching in Second Life” workshop on Tuesday 21st June at 2.00pm by Acuppa Tae and Locks Aichi

The aim of this workshop is to introduce participants to teaching in a virtual environments such as Second Life. The workshop assumes a basic level of familiarity with Second Life which can be acquired by completing the prerequisite exercise that takes about half an hour (see instructions below).

Tae and Aichi have been delivering the undergraduate module “Is One Life Enough?” entirely in Second Life for the last three years. The module won the 2010 Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Learning & Teaching and has been presented at international conferences in Ireland, France and China. It has attracted students, who attend class from the UK, US in addition to Ireland.

You can read more about joining Second LIfe here: https://virtualenvironmentsmodule.wordpress.com/8-getting-into-second-life/

Prerequisites for the workshop:

1. Go to www.secondlife.com
2. Join (this may take a few attempts so persevere!)
3. Complete the Orientation Island Tour
4. Email your Second Life name to claudia.igbrude(at)dit.ie and john.oconnor(at)dit.ie by Friday 17th June at 5.00pm
5. Await further instructions by email!

This module will be offered again in October 2011. If you are interested in taking part keep an eye on this blog for further details on how to apply, schedule of classes etc.

This optional module for third year students of Art, Design & Printing @ DIT will commence on Wednesday 6th October. If you would like to sign up for it please read page 8 which explains how to get into Second Life and get set up. You will also need to email me with your full name and the programme you are on.

The national award for innovation in teaching and learning has been won by this module. John O’Connor was presented with the Jennifer Burke Award 2010 at the EdTech Conference in Athlone Institute of Technology on May 20th. Accepting the Award John thanked Claudia Igbrude, with whom he delivers the module and the Learning and Teaching Technology Centre at DIT for their support. Claudia and John also delivered a paper at the conference, titled ‘Is one life enough?’ where the development of the module was described.

“Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?” has been shortlisted for the 2010 Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. The award was established by Dublin City University and the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) to recognise and reward innovative practice in Irish teaching and learning. Five nominees from across the Higher Education sector were invited to present their submissions to the panel of judges on 21st April at The Helix in DCU. The rigorous process involved individual presentations to each of the five jury members, including one of last year’s winning team from Trinity College Dublin, followed by an interview with the full panel. John O’Connor and Claudia Igbrude are very happy to have received this level of recognition for the innovation demonstrated by the module.

Karlin Lillingon, the technology journalist, was also on the jury. She writes about the experience in her Irish Times column.

The announcement of the winner will take place during the EdTech 2010 Conference in Athlone Institute of Technology over 20th and 21st May.

The module starts on Wednesday 14 October at 8 pm. Please read the instructions on ‘Getting into Second Life’ and ‘Activate voice in SL’. The links to these pages are in the column on the right. You will need to have a little bit of experience getting around Second Life so give yourself some time to play around a few days before the first class. Also make sure you log into Second Life at least 15 minutes before the class starts so that any technical glitches are resolved and you don’t miss anything.

The address for the DIT campus in Second Life is given in the link at the right.