Class Summary Observations Part 1
I’m going to be writing half a dozen articles summing up the semester, my thoughts, and what I’ve learned while teaching in Second Life this semester.
This week my students presented their final group presentations, showing off their websites/wikis. As they finished presenting I asked each group what role the build played in their writing process. Their third paper was an individual research paper on a tightly focused topic that fit into a larger topic with their group members. Paper four consisted of building visual installations representing their research, hosting an open house where they answered questions about their work, and then a group website/wiki summing up their research for a more general audience. I wanted to know what role the in-world campaign center build played in their writing process. Did they see it as a heuristic for their writing? Did the build help them refine their ideas or was it a distraction from their writing?
Many of the students commented that they felt answering resident questions helped them more than a peer review would have. They found that explaining their work helped them analyze their rhetorical choices, refine their views, and focus their opinions regarding their arguments. They also admitted that designing the build made them think hard about the most pivotal parts of their argument, what elements would be most persuasive to a general audience, and how best to metaphorically represent these points.
A few other students admitted that building the campaign center was less boring than writing so they were more motivated to do their research. They were excited to construct the center and attracted to the creativity involved.
All in all, pairing the research writing with the in-world presentations seemed to result in more thorough research, more excited students, and a more authentic writing situation.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:14 am
Hi Intellagirl,
Great blog! Am also doing some experimenting with education in Second Life…in specific, English as a Second Language…Haven’t completely browsed your blog to see all you have done but will do so…all looks very interesting! Perhaps we can meet at some point in SL!?
Congrats again on the blog! : )
Kip Yellowjacket (SL Name)
December 15th, 2006 at 10:10 am
hello, thank you for your research and for posting about your experiences in Second life. I ran accross your name somewhere during my research into education in Second Life. Online education is something that I have been interested in for several years.
I am exited about the potential that Second life, and other sand box tools have for furthering the process.
I signed up a premium account, as Zak Vacano and used you as a reference, since it was your accounts that reeled me in.
however… I had to be creative to get Intellagirl’s last name.
From your Pod Cast I got how it sounded, then looked it up in the available ‘last name’ list on the sign up page for Second life. heh.
Intellagirl Talai I hope I got it right.
While the sign up bonus isn’t much, the 2000 or 2500 might add up if you have many more Second Lifers sign up like me.
Just a suggestion to add your last name in your intellagirl info. section here on your blog…. or heck, add a link to the sign up page that has your sign up code in it heh.
Anyway, Thanks again for posting, I look forward to your after action report on the previous semester’s classes!
(I also directed one of my online educator friends to your site, I’m sure that she will enjoy this and find it exiting as well.)
Zak -out.