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Begin with the end in mind . Engaged & motivated students meeting learning outcomes Teaching & learning that offers students the opportunity to explore & extend themselves. Using 3D Virtual Worlds for Learning & Teaching @FHS. Setting the scene
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Begin with the end in mind ... Engaged & motivated students meeting learning outcomes Teaching & learning that offers students the opportunity to explore & extend themselves
Using 3D Virtual Worlds for Learning & Teaching @FHS • Setting the scene • Traditional secondary school setting with 6 x 50min lessons • Subject specific & not interdisciplinary • Content driven curriculum & lacks flexibility Focus on the social commitments aspect of QA & use in a Year 7 tutorial class as part of PGD program. • 1:1 Tablet PCs • access to a diverse range of software which is leveraged for use in conjunction with VLE task design • access to VLE asynchronously & from different locations Incorporate into the Middle School Visual Arts Program to offer enrichment & extension opportunities with the design, construction & exhibition of digital sculptures
Getting Started Feedback from the Tech Desk • Build in infrastructure & lead time • Clear directive & expectation from appropriate HODs / LTs • An information pack ready @start of project advising what needs to be permitted through the firewall & to allow internal traffic to access necessary servers Deb: steep learning curve to understand what a virtual learning environment is and how it can be used as a teaching & learning tool; deep & thorough understanding of curriculum learning outcomes and key skills Jacq: familiar with VLEs & some of their educational uses and tools; no specific subject knowledge • Full details of all software programs that will be used • IP addresses of servers that need to be accessed • Different protocols & ports required to run software Our Plan • Have a school tech be: • a part of introduction program, • be consulted during planning, &/or • have access to a central help area • Quest Atlantis with 7K Tutor Group beginning T4 • Development & design of a unit of work ‘Art Elements & Principles’ for OpenSim immersion with proposed MS Digital Art class in early commencement period. What really happened? Big Question • Myriad of ongoing technical issues – “the stuff” – lag, access, permissions • Unexpected lack of understanding & support from FHS Administration • Responsibilities of senior classes, VCE teaching and assessment & reporting • QA trialled for 4 weeks & a decision made not to continue • Art Elements & Principles unit well underway; VGS@FHS island now available How can VLEs be used as a teaching & learning tool that will enhance learning outcomes through greater levels of student engagement and how do they fit our curriculum?
Tech staff involvement in project introduction; active consultation during implementation PD should include IT Curriculum/ Teaching support staff A technical kit with contacts, clear specifications and list of all software & web based applications; Acknowledge & allow for the time and resource commitment required to establish infrastructure Torley Linden & Noob Be Gone ‘how to’ videos List of Educational Communities in SL & RG; wikis / blogs DEECD team of experienced VLE users; teachers; techs to coach implementing school teams Suggest reading & digital resources prior to commencement Promote an environment of support through active involvement of school administration Liaise with school administration to help establish clear priorities & confirm expectations of all parties
Using Quest Atlantis in the year 7 tutorial program with a focus on SOCIAL COMMITMENT The unique quality of missions / quests and the focus on social commitments made Quest Atlantis very suitable for the personal growth & development program in Year 7. “everything is monitored” • Technical issues = frustration • Motivation to engage inworld • Students didnt want to read the quests “too long” • Teacher stress on in-world etiquette for chatting may have been inhibiting • QA back story generally not of interest • Some did missions and enjoyed them • Most students really wanted it to work – our experience could have been very different “why would i want to chat in QA when they are sitting right beside me?”
Using Open Sim in the Middle School Visual Art Program resources • Art Elements & Principles • Rubrics • VELS standards • VGS@FHS wiki Notes: • The VW only a tool – to be used in the delivery of the curriculum content. • We immediately noticed how easy it was to be distracted from our purpose whilst inworld • Acquisition of skills to be immersed in a VW took many hours &lots of concentration – and it can divert focus from the curriculum content. • Can legitimately incorporated into the visual arts because it is a visual 3D environment which has the capacity to offer enrichment and extension opportunities in the delivery of the art curriculum as students have the potential to build and construct sculptures which ordinarily would not be possible due to the constraints of materials, location and space. Assessment: in a VLE the establishment of rubrics would provide the criteria and the guidelines for student learning. • Anticipate that the VLE will provide greater scope for peer assessment – again, legitimate not tokenistic. This is because they would be required to base their assessment on the guidelines that are well established in the faculty and are aligned with the mandated VELS reporting and assessment requirements. • We would use these existing rubrics and guidelines and tailor them to meet specific projected learning outcomes. • Our response to the incorporation of a VLE is soundly based in the Art curriculum because of the visual and interactive nature of the environment.