Learning in 3D Summer 2009: Class Two

Border crossing created in Second Life for use at Loyalist College.
This class began with a tour of the border patrol work done by Ken Hudson and others at Loyalist College. It took a while but we were able to get everyone assembled and then toured the area and where able to see both the automobile crossing and the location used for air transportation training as well. Impressive.

Here is a video about the project at Loyalist.


We then discussed the Seven Sensibilities of 3D Learning developed by my co-author Tony O'Driscoll.

Here is a video he created on the topic.


We then discussed how 3D learning is a form of storytelling and how learning in third-person might just be a more effective method than learning in first-person. Here is a link to the concept in a blog post I wrote called Accidental Learning and the Power of Stories.
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Amusing Monday Video

It's Monday, its the summer, we'd all rather be outside. So as a bit of cheer, here is a great video about relationships between clients and vendors. Imagine if the behavior of e-learning clients in terms of purchasing services from e-learning vendors seeped into everyday occurrences. If that happened, the resulting would occur...


*Special thanks for Carl, Jenn and Donna for alerting me to this great video.

One possible remedy is to write awesome e-learning RFPs. Might I suggest a resource?


Also see, Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos. If you want even more laughs on this Monday.

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NOAA: Advice for Federal Agencies about Virtual Worlds & a Great Interactive Example

Waiting for the tsunami to hit on NOAA's island in Second Life.

Check out this article, Living NOAA's Second Life

It is about how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)--a government agency--is using a virtual world to reach into the future and it has some great advice on considerations before launching into a virtual world.

My advice to other federal agencies interested in virtual worlds is to define your goals before you break ground. Use the numbers in terms of visitors, time spent on the site, etc., to help refine your design and improve your conversion rate to your goal.

Start small by focusing on a topic that is of interest to local management. Wow a manager with an easily understandable and relatively cheap application. Don't be shy about asking questions and fostering a sense of community development...as described by Eric Hackathorn who is, among other things, co-chairman of the Metrics and Research Working Group at the Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds

They are also working on some forward thinking applications for virtual worlds and data sets.

One recent prototype we call Second Earth attempted to blend the capabilities of tools like Google Earth or Microsoft Virtual Earth with the collaborative capabilities of Second Life. You can fly through and remotely collaborate about a real-time dataset.

Some resources and articles on the topic:

NOAA Comes to Second Life
(great images)

A New Wave of Learning

Meteora (SLURL Link to NOAA island)

Okeana
(SLURL Link to NOAA island)

If you haven't checked out NOAA's island in Second Life, you really need to have a visit.

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Designing a Virtual Immersive Environment for Learning? Some Considerations.

Supervising a construction project.
Here are a few considerations when thinking about developing a virtual learning environment in a 3D world.

Synchronous or Asynchronous. One of the first decisions to make in designing a 3D Learning Environment (3DLE) is to determine if the learning will occur in a synchronous environment led by an instructor or an asynchronous environment where the learner proceeds at his or her own pace. Or will it be a combination of both? Virtual blending. This decision will influence much of your design and building of the in-world environment.

Sequence and Instructional Elements. Designing the 3DLE requires careful consideration of the entire educational experience of the learner. What happens first? What is the pace of the instruction? How do learners interact? Where and when should a debrief occur? Drawing out the learning event helps it function more smoothly and effectively.

Environment and Structures. The creation of the environment in which the learning takes place is an important consideration. This involves determining the level of realism but, even more than that large decision; it requires consideration of the type of structures and spaces that are created to facilitate the learning.

Consider the Debrief. One important element of learning in an interactive environment is to provide a proper level of debriefing so the learner can understand the experience they had and reflect upon their learning. In fact, reflection is a critical element in learning. The debriefing process can be important for both a synchronous learning experience as well as an asynchronous experience.

Design Outside of Reality. Since one strong advantage of virtual learning worlds is that they can be used to create extraordinary places and have the ability to transport learners back in time, into the future or to the heart of danger. Create environments that excite the senses, that are fun and that are educationally challenging.

Don't forget to Storyboard. Because the development of a 3DLE is complex and multi-layered, many developers first design the 3DLE with a storyboard and actually build the environment only after the storyboards have been created and the learning event “walked through.” The step of creating a storyboard helps to ensure that environment that is create encourages the desired learning and that the expensive development process run more effectively because of the visual indication of the process. This is similar to the storyboard process used to create movies or other types of online learning.

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Learning in 3D Summer 2009: Class One

Getting the class together in SL.

Recently, we had our first summer class of the course "Learning in 3D," the class focuses on how to create 3D learning spaces and how to use those spaces effectively to promote learning and to leverage the wonderful attributes of 3D.

First we talked about different levels of Gamers (Game 1.0-4.0). To find out what level gamer you are, consider playing Gamer Rater. (created by an awesomely talented group of students (Nicole Clark, Heather Gee, Aaron Kennelly and David Robbins..special thanks to Heather Gee for key updates.)

We then discussed the definition of a Metaverse and went on to discuss a little about the evolution of avatars.
Evolution of avatars (thanks again Heather Gee).

We then discussed different kids focused simulations, simulated games and virtual worlds like:

Simulations at Edheads.

Disney's Hot Shot Business

Club Penguin

America's Army

River City Project

We then discussed some Second Life statistics to see how big that world has become.

We then discussed the metaverse hype cycle and how the death of virtual worlds have been greatly exaggerated.

We then jumped into the virtual world of Second Life to have a look around and in an upcoming week, we'll be jumping into Protosphere to gain a corporate perspective on these worlds.

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Triathalon Training Should be the Model for All Learning

Recently, I completed my first-ever sprint triathlon. in Avalon, NJ. It is called the Islandman Triathalon. It is called a "sprint" for real triathlon pros because it is so short, they sprint it. For me, I just called it a triathlon.

I was able to complete the 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 5K beach run in 1:34. My wife is a great athlete and she joined me in the race. She was a little faster at 1:21, she finished number 17 in the women's master's group. My son even ran a kid's triathlon. The family had a great time competing in the event.
Karl and Nancy before the start of the Islandman.
The neat thing about the event is the preparation that goes into running a triathlon and the different levels of mastery. Being my first "tri" I was really nervous about what to expect and about the transition between swimming and biking and between biking and the run. The "veterans" had it all worked out. They knew what they were doing. Me, as a newbie, lacked some really nice-to-have equipment but still managed to compete within the race and finish.

One-third of the race is over, off to the bike.
To run the tri, we trained for six weeks. We started slowly and then worked our way to full preparation. Sure, I could have used a few more weeks but doing a little bit every day was a helpful way to prepare my mind and body.

Dismounting the bike to begin the run.

So what lessons can be drawn between training for a triathlon and creating effective learning?

First, doing a little bit each day can lead to big results. One day we would swim, one day lift weights, etc. The training eventually became more and more involved. We didn't start out doing all three sports, instead we built a foundation (base) and went from there. When creating a learning program, instead of doing an 8 hour mind dump onto the poor learners and expecting them to remember everything they have been taught, it is much better to provide a little bit of instruction on a regular basis and build knowledge over time. With technology tools, this is very possible.
The run portion was through the sand, tough to move quickly in sand.
Second, preparation is important but you need experience at "the real event" to solidify the learning. I looked at all the YouTube videos on Transitions. Here is a sample. Spoke to people who have competed in tris and really did my homework but nothing can prepare you for race day except being at race day. In the learning and development field, we have a lot of tools for preparing people for the real work activity but when it comes right down to it, the person has to perform in the actual environment to actually understand the thousands of nuances involved. We, as learning and development professionals, can do a lot to prepare our learners but in the end, they need to experience the "real thing" and be prepared for chaos of the real job but realize that the preparation and their own acumen will get them through the experience. We are the trainers perparing them for "the big event."

Third, training for a tri needs to be difficult. I would not have had the confidence, motivation or belief that I could complete the triathlon without having had some grueling training sessions and even running a full version of the race before the actual race day. The difficult but rewarding practice enabled me to be successful on race day. Too often in learning events, we "dumb down" questions, scenarios and exercises so the learners don't get frustrated or think they are being "tricked" but, too often on the job and in real-life, situations happen that are tricky, difficult and frustrating. If we don't prepare them with the proper training for the difficult situations they will encounter, we are doing them a disservice. The practice triathlon was tough but it was critical to my success in the actual race. Our learning events need to be tough.

I'm looking forward to applying these rules to my development of learning events and to bettering my time next year!
Felt good to be done!
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Preventing Violence

Poster highlighting domestic violence conference.

With all the talk on this blog about violence in sports and video games, I wanted to take a moment to talk about preventing violence. The past few weeks, I have had the privilege to work with wonderful people at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV).

This wonderful organization works tirelessly to help prevent domestic violence and they do a lot of training. The PCADV trainers are away from home frequently. On these trips, they provide education and awareness to health care workers, law enforcement personnel, welfare caseworkers and others about domestic violence and how to recognize and prevent it. They are beginning to place some of the instruction and information online and that is where I was able to provide some insights.

Karl teaching about instructional design to members from of the PCADV.

Through a grant, Bloomsburg University is helping to create online learning for PCADV and to provide the trainers with knowledge and ideas on how to place some of their information online. Obviously a topic like domestic violence requires face-to-face instruction and information but there is some room for online learning opportunities as well. I am helping them to figure out what goes online and what should be face-to-face.

I want to thank Nancy, Tracy and everyone else for such a delightful learning opportunity working with the group and helping to make them better designers, developers and deliverers of instruction.

As a fun little side note: I learned not to use the phrase "rule of thumb." I had used the phrase in class and then Laurie jokingly said, "who wants to tell him about the origin of the phrase?"

It turns out that rule of thumb, in some circles, was thought to refer to a rule in the 1800s that stated it was permissible for a man to beat his wife with a stick as long as the thickness of the stick was smaller than the thickness of his thumb. While this origin for the phrase is up for some debate. (see Wikipedia "rule of thumb"), it is still a good idea to always remember that domestic violence is a horrible crime and we all need to be involved to prevent it.

Hopefully my conducting the classes will help in some small way and soon, I am sure, they will be putting some great information into online learning events.

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Webinar and Workshop: Post Cards from the 3D Edge: Learning in Second Life

In a few weeks, on August 12, 19, 26 and September 2, 2009. I will be giving a workshop titled "Navigating Second Life" which will provide educators, corporate trainers and others with information on how the 3D world of Second Life can been used to foster and promote informal and formal learning by presenting the basics of Second Life and describing how those basics can be used to create meaningful instruction. The sessions are from 1:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

If you are interested in a sneak peak check out the overview session conducted on July 27 from 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern Time.

Here is a description of the introductory session:

Visiting a strange new 3D virtual world can be confusing. Where do you go? What do you do? How do you dress? Where are the “coolest” places to go? This Soapbox session will introduce you to exciting and interesting places within the 3D world of Second Life. The tour will be conducted with an eye toward learning and develop applications. Your tour guide will show you how certain learning designs like role-plays, scavenger hunts and conceptual orienteering are being employed to provide realistic, productive and useful learning.

The visit includes “post cards” of educationally focused sites. It will give you hints, techniques and insights into creating educational opportunities within 3D spaces. We’ll discuss what works and what doesn’t work in 3D and see examples of both. You don’t want to miss this exciting tour.

If you want to sign up for the initial session or the entire workshop, go to InSync Navigating Second Life Class. Sign up quickly, class size is limited.
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