Virtual World Best Practices in Education 2013

vwbpe.org is a really interesting virtual world conference (still running around the clock until the 27th) - worth tuning in! a lot of questions, interesting people and one "lead" to another school study in Denmark (primary)...

wanted: native speaker and language teacher

Within the first days of pre-registration we have already received an impressive response. There is demand for our new way of language learning with talkademy.org and we are looking for native speaker and language teacher in various languages. Our pilot will start in September - with German and other languages following quickly.

We are a not-for-profit initiative, but will be able to pay our teachers.

If you would be available to participate in such a role, please register yourself http://job.talkademy.org

talkademy.org - the new way of language learning

Much time have we spent last months to check out if Second Life is a good platform to provide language learning. Now with all the voice capabilities integrated it turns out it is. Our proof of concept turned out to be very encouraging.

Together with IBM Club Austria we are starting a broader pilot to see if second life can host broader program.

Join in if you like, pre-register at http://talkademy.org/ibmclub.html

new construction sites

We are using second life now to coordinate our house - building project between family members and professionals. Of cause the real house will look different, but the idea is to get everyone involved and have a say.

First step was to set up the construction site and give an impression about the surrounding. SL is perfect for that as it creates an 3D environment one can walk through ...

programming competition

Catalysts is launching a competition for coders and will do it in Second Life.

The Second Life part will take place at Forum Europe ... watch out - and get registered!

Willkommen im zweiten Leben

Ein netter Artikel über IBMs Aktivitäten in Second Life in der Print-Ausgabe von NEWS. Online eine Sammlung verschiedener österreichischer Online Aktivisten im 2. Leben ...

long time no see - Long Tail

I didn't post a lot recently - being busy reading "Long Tail". This book is very insightful in the microeconomics which also apply for Second Life. For me it was very valuable reading this one and will help to improve all the projects in the pipeline.

Currently we are building our SL school - anyone who is interested, gimme a IM or drop a mail ...

European Citizens' Initiative

"We, the undersigned, want the European Union to give legal force to the European Citizens' Initiative, where one million European citizens can call on the European Commission to propose a change to European law."

The collection of signatures for this mater, on the web is and now also possible on "Forum Europe" in Second Life.

Not only politicians like Hillary Clinton or Le Pen can use Second Life for their agenda, we can try it too.

rowing boat building contest

Let's start the first rowing club in Second Life. Why? Well, sailing is already big in Second Life. For those who are interested in rowing instead it may be fun to get some of the theory out of the books into an interactive simulation.

For example if one touches the different parts of a boat the boat could name them. Also for rowing - one could row faster if one get's the rhythm right. Rowers know what I am talking about. Besides physical strength rhythm rules. And once if it gets to doubles and bigger boats synchronization and timing adds to that.

All this could help to build a better understanding and a better picture of the important issues for those interested in rowing in real world ...

Anyone who knows something about rowing and wants to add to our boathouse some boats, just IM me ... Let's build for our first regatta in Second Life.

1st pharmacy in 2L

It seems we will be the first ... who open a pharmacy in Second Life. Jörg has a lecture at the Vienna University. This term we'll use to build the set, next term Jörg to move from lecturing theory to diving into a simulation.

How was this thing with the red and the blue pill?

globe

grenzenlos.or.at has this nice map of the world on their homepage to show all the locations where they provide an youth exchange program. This is possible in SL too, having a nice globe spinning and showing all the locations - including an link to the webpage of the program of Grenzenlos.

Potentially there can be all kind of data displayed and switched. Currently the information on the web-page is German - hopefully there will be some more languages soon to select ...

our first art exhibition opened

A first art exhibition is opened at the sky platform.



If you like these pictures, I can get you in contact with the artist - these pictures can be purchased in first live too!

join the club of clubs

Make it useful for people is the most important thing. Creating a home for clubs and non-profits who are internationally active is the next move. Two of them have already signed up Armada and recently grenzenlos.or.at who organize international youth exchange.

Initial contacts and interviews, some training sessions and exhibitions are first thoughts. Looking forward to see the activities evolve with them!

For those who are already in Second Life and member of one of the clubs ... drop me your Second Life name and I add you to the SL-group of Grenzenlos.

underwater classroom

For Philipp's diving classes I've found the perfect classroom. Including wet lock on the bottom of the submarine ...

just another building block ...

To organize courses I've set up moodle, which is widely used in schools and universities. Next will be to have a look at the moodle - Second Life integration ... find it sloodle.com

Meanwhile anyone who might be interested in "diving into" the facilities to have a look around please drop a mail or IM. I will create an user account for you.

quickly

Yes, it takes time - much time. Probably too much for most, and usability could be much better.

On the other hand one can do things very, very fast. There is so much one can use and reuse - for free or some cents. The first house is built almost in seconds. The first animations added frankly.

It takes time, because there is so much to see, so many people to meet, so much to learn. On the other hand so many choices and helping hands make it easy to get settled quickly ...

meeting family & friends "for real"

Sometimes one is abroad, leaving family & friends at home. But now there is a place to meet "real".

Human imagination accepts the "alter ego" which represents you in that "Second Life" as "me" and "her/him". Sitting together on that chess table is not only playing chess, but being there, together. It is a shared 3rd place, meeting there will be part of your shared history.


Now if you are on a business trip, you can do something together with your loved ones ...

Thanks to Jörg we now have a chessboard on our clubhouse. Who wants to play? And what will be the next game to meet some more friends ... ?

wotruba

Now we have a church too. It happens to be an assignment of a architectural class at TU Vienna. One of them we've put up in the sky. Now we can make the 2nd Life version part of the 1st Life exhibition which is scheduled for fall ...

Thanks to Mira, Zanni and Kristina who did all the work. I am looking for the events we will start there. Wotruba himself was atheist, thus it should be an excellent starting point for many different angles.

Have a look for yourself!

davos in second life ... or the other way around?

Even on the annual meeting of the most important people on earth in Davos, "Second Life" is a topic.

Reuters is reporting from the issues in "real" and "second" life. Well, virtual worlds are hype in the media and business. Since last year when Business Week pointed out that people start to make money, some even make a living there.

Significant GNP is produced in those worlds. One can find every human emotion there too it starts to come out of the kindergarten age. Or so it seems.

"in world" art competition

It's easy to build things in Second Life and lots of fun.
But the question is ... what can we do there together?

In games one has quests, thus I decided to start a quest:
I did put some money on the table to do an art competition in Second Life.

The good thing about it is ... YOU can participate

• as a jury member (everyone can be)
• or as an artist

There will be an "in world" exhibition and everyone can have a look, can post his opinion ..... and vote!

The art challenge is now open !