Virtual+Worlds

=**Virtual Worlds**=

Hello, my name is Kevin Wray. My topic is the use of Second Life in Virtual Education and Library Technologies, at www.secondlife.com. During my time in Second Life I have attended lectures from Northwestern University and joined the UNT second life group. While there are many items available and entire wiki's and web sites devoted to it, I wanted to pass along these two youtubes video as a good prime. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA&feature=related, educational uses of second life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM_1IEJsy2Q&feature=related ,a digital classroom in second life. However if you wish to find more indepth information, second life has its own wiki at, http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki. During my time on Second Life in lectures I have met professors from France and China who were discussing topics in Librarianship. This sort of virtual experience may be the way that education goes in the future. It is important to keep growing with it.


 * __Edusim__**

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When searching for virtual words for the classroom, I came across the website for Edusim. It's a 3D multi-user virtual platform that is ideal for the classroom interactive whiteboard. The website lists several uses for the classroom. My favorite is taking a virtual field trip to different places that would enhance the lesson that is being taught. I also think this tool would be especially useful in a science class to illustrate parts of the bone, or by creating the world in which dinosaurs lived. It also allows students to interact by allowing them to create things in their virtual world. The website has some instructional videos, as well as links to Edusim in use in the classroom. I think that this resource has many practical applications for any classroom. It would be neat to create the layout of the library virtually, that way students could be introduced to the layout in the regular classroom, and could perhaps make suggestions that would make the library more user friendly. The librarian could also create a virtual world of a famous library, like the Library of Congress and take students on a virtual field trip to it. The possibilities are endless!

Melissa Heselmeyer

__**Active Worlds**__

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Suggested uses of the technology: [] and [] =====

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Active Worlds is a 3D real-time interactive 'world.' This seems highly sophisticated and would be great for gifted students, techies, gamers, or anyone interested in a scientific, mathematical, or technical career. Active Worlds requires students to use the 21st Century skills continually discussed in the Berger text. For example, the first suggested use link describes the River City Project where use a historical time period to learn scientific approaches and techniques. Learn more here: [] The second suggested use link describes a virtual art installation created in Active Worlds. ===== As I mentioned, this appears highly sophisticated, and as a teacher-librarian, I would work with a team of teachers (such as Pre-AP or AP) whom have the same students in their classes. Our goal would be to create an interdisciplinary unit (such as "The Renaissance") using Active Worlds where students can learn about each subject.

__Habbo Hotel & Entropia Universe__
Link: [|http://www.habbo.com] [|http://www.entropiauniverse.com]

Habbo Hotel is an interactive computer world that allows the user to apply 21st century technology skills to apply self expression and work with real life scenarios. It is a website where students can enter into a videogame type setting to interact with others. The website is set up like a hotel where the user can participate in a discussion and practice interviewing skills while also using his/her creative side to decorate and design. The website also has a connection with myspace and facebook users to further intrigue the users. There are competitions and gratified winners! This website helps build skills that employers look for in employees. These skills might include leadership or communication and creativity.

Another world in which the user is allowed to design and create his/her own items is Entropia Universe where libraries can promote teams and collaborative efforts. The Universe allows for the user to participate in fun hobbies, design weaponry or furniture, and explore. This 3-D Universe combines social interaction with 21st century skills and utilizes the internet to allow for users to have a stunning educational experience. Entropia Universe gives the users an opportunity to deal with money as well.

Librarians and myself can use both these websites to promote interaction and technology skills. These allow for the patrons to keep up with technological advances. Both websites can be used by librarians to promote a fan group within the school. Students can come together and collaborate on a shared topic. This gives them a real life opportunity. Librarians also promote along with collaboration the use of technological skills and common sense.

Thanks! Karen Gelwicks