Virtual Worlds: Learning and Teaching in a Digital Age

I am very happy to have been invited by the JISC RSC Scotland to present at their conference in October: Virtual Worlds 08 …brave new world? It is a one day conference and takes place at Stirling University. Early booking is now open.

My presentation will draw on the presentation I did with MACS lecturer pal this year and it looks at some of the findings of last year’s project in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. Fourth year and MSc students on a Multimedia Design course learned a range of technical and creative skills through designing and building the Heriot-Watt island within Second Life. Instead of coming into a pre-designed virtual world, students used the environment while building the environment while developing a portfolio of skills. Research throughout the project focused on social presence within the Second Life learning environment, and how the idea of self impacted on student learning. Investigating individuals’ collaboration within groups and with other groups, through looking at categories of group work, and following case studies of diverse success regarding coherence, negotiation, individual learning, consultation, communication and adaptation, to reach a coherent whole through a constantly evolving process.

The conference should be well worth attending, I’ll post more info when I have more.