I Met a Student in New Zealand Today...
While looking for educational resources in Second Life today, I meet two students whose instructor is holding class primarily in the Second Life virtual world. One of the students, "Teina Mehina" told me a bit about the class and agreed to provide more information later. Both Teina and her classmate, 'Ramya Link" both seemed interested in sharing their experiences. Below is a transcript of our conversation:
[9:05] Teina Mahina: Hi Carl[9:05] Ramya Link: Hi Carl
[9:05] You: Hi
[9:05] Teina Mahina: Yeah - thats what I mean !
[9:05] You: What is this place?
[9:05] Teina Mahina: I'll be more careful next time...
[9:06] Teina Mahina: Its the Campus: Second Life sandbox area
[9:06] Teina Mahina: You can build here...
[9:06] You: Is it for Edcuational projects?
[9:06] Teina Mahina: Well - yes, if you like...
[9:07] Teina Mahina: More a practice area here in this square... for students and their teachers...
[9:07] Teina Mahina: The buildings around here contain student work and stuff
[9:07] Teina Mahina: Are you a student or educator?
[9:08] You: Students of what school(s)?
[9:08] Teina Mahina: Errr various places... from the real world...
[9:08] You: I am a Educational Technologist at Hamilton College
[9:08] Teina Mahina: Neat - where is Hamilton College?
[9:09] You: Clinton, NY, USA
[9:09] Teina Mahina: :-) hi - we're students from a tech in New Zealand...
[9:09] You: wow, that's very interesting
[9:09] Teina Mahina: Looking for our lecturer... he's currently in Austia but said he'd pop in to see us
[9:10] You: what do you do here in SL for class?
[9:10] Teina Mahina: Hmmm - this course we are doing has been very interesting
[9:11] Teina Mahina: We were given a list of tasks to complete... the experiences can be used to support an assignment that is on community and games...
[9:11] You: Are the students and teachers in different physical locations?
[9:11] You: or on the same campus?
[9:12] Teina Mahina: Well its a masters course... in RL we have 'class' for 8 hours one weekend a month
[9:12] Teina Mahina: We meet physically in Auckland... but I live in Wellington...
[9:12] You: what kind of tasks do you do here in SL?
[9:13] Teina Mahina: This component is online...
[9:14] Teina Mahina: Er...there are six... for example: Join a community of your choice and particpate in an activity
[9:14] Ramya Link: Taena, tell him the assignment is about a critical examination of Electronic games in enhancing social interaction of a selected group of people!
[9:14] You: Are you too busy to chat now? If so, can I ask you more questions about your class at a later time?
[9:14] Teina Mahina: Well done Ramya :-)
[9:15] Ramya Link: No worries!
[9:15] Teina Mahina: That would be really good - to contact you later cause I'd love to talk about this in greater depth :-)
[9:16] You: Thanks! How can I contact you again in SL. I'm new to the technology
[9:16] Teina Mahina: I'm just doing that...
[9:16] Ramya Link: As an educator, Carl might find what we are doing as meaningful! as Piaget says, interacting with the environment to learn the meanings of abstract concepts!!
[9:16] Second Opinion Networked Kiosk: Thank you! The latest edition of the Second Opinion newsletter will be delivered to you momentarily.
[9:17] Teina Mahina: :-)
[9:17] You: Thanks
[9:17] You: Can I share our chat with colleagues?
[9:17] Teina Mahina: As you have accepted the friendship offer you & I will know when each other is online and can contact each other via IM
[9:18] Teina Mahina: Do you know how to use IM ?
[9:18] Teina Mahina: Sure!
[9:18] Ramya Link: Taena , say yes!
[9:18] You: I can figure it out, I think
[9:18] Teina Mahina: :-)
[9:18] You: ok, I'll let you go, but will contact you again soon
[9:18] You: thanks again
[9:18] Teina Mahina: I found it all VERY confusing at first - all this new stuff to pay attention to!
-Carl
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