Not quite all of the above. I must apologise for my silence on this log, but since I took on an acting director role at my institution at the end of last calendar year/beginning of this, I have been so busy that updating this blog sadly fell by the wayside. I have no, however, abandoned my work on virtual worlds, even though it slowed down.

I have had in the meantime a colloquium article accepted by BJET (on the SL project I was involved in in 07/08), a paper for the SOLSTICE conference in June (reflective learning), presented at my own institution’s conference last week, together with Judy, on reflective learning and motivation in the light of virtual worlds, will present at the RSC Virtual Worlds conference in April at Sunderland (on individual and group learning in VW), and will give a presentation this week at an internal research seminar on understandings and misunderstandings in virtual worlds – and beyond.

It is a challenge to balance and juggle all of one’s responsibilities if they are so diverse and if research, as in my case, has to be done in one’s free time. The latter always makes me laugh, because the notion of “free” time is a rather fluid one. Let’s face it, while research is not written into my contract, it is not only essential for what I teach on the PG CAP, but also quite simply for survival. For mental, intellectual and professional survival.

Virtual Worlds and their possibilities continue to fascinate me and working with students is for someone who usually works with academic staff a truly refreshing delight. I would not want to miss either, because it is a true eye opener to work with both.

Let’s end this post with a screenshot from December, the quiz monkey, a piece of work by a student, who won one of the prizes at the virtual crufts.

The students have been making virtual pets in Second Life, and Virtual Crufts is the showcase and prize giving. You are warmly invited to attend in Second Life.

The island will be open for you to visit at http://slurl.com/secondlife/HeriotWatt%20University/94/139/28/.

When you get to the island, look for the circle of pine trees where the winners’ podiums are. This won’t be run as a proper SL event (no VOIP), but you will see some of the pets and can watch the demos.

The island is a mess at the moment, because students are still working on finishing off their creations. Still, you’ll be welcomed into a winter wonderland.

In lieu of a real content rich entry (sorry, my mind is so full with “other things” I only get to compose meaningful entries in my mind and never to post them …) this is via Judy. Even though I don’t think in image maps but linear word structures, this is fascinating.

I really like the fact that it features STUDENTS so prominently.

The image is courtesy of http://www.wordle.net/

I didn’t know about this, and had meant to write about the excellent LICK 08 conference I went to yesterday, but Judy posted a wonderful story from their brilliant book on her blog on National Tell A Story day, and that prompted me to post a wee “story” myself. It might not be as unrelated to Virtual Worlds as you probably think.

Written a few years back, inspired by the Bronze shield found in the river Thames and Wayland’s Smithy near Avebury down in England. Why those two together? Don’t ask me, ask my unruly synapses.

Copyright Nicole Cargill-Kipar, 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Bleak.

Strong winds swept the grey planes of deserted lands. Storm tore into the ring of trees that stood exposed; stubborn amidst unleashed nature. Ancient oaks battled against fierce gale and needle-sharp rain, groans of shrieking wood pitched into the harsh howls of pitiless weather. Storm-hands clawed at desperate leaves, pulling to – and tearing fro – on slippery wet branches, brittle with the dying year.

Grey.

Time tread unchallenged through empty hours of lost days. Winds eased as light receded, merging with the approaching night. Sharp dagger-drops waned to constant drizzle and violent gusts lay down to rest.

Cold and damp land. Mist rose from the ground, reaching upwards to greet the worn-out rain. Haze thickened into fog, settling between the trees. Perfecting the ring-protection by smothering formerly battered branches. Weary wood rest exhausted, awaiting the impending night. Stalled, before the onslaught of another day.

Dead.

No sounds from living creatures. No birds. No four-footed beasts stalking the undergrowth nor seeking the massive stone-slabs in the circle’s centre. No signs of life, unlike the rich months of summer. They were all gone. Curled up in crevices beneath the ground; within the earth; between the stones.

Silent.

When Night touched Day in the monochrome flatness of Dusk, a shadow slid out between stones that sealed the tomb of forgotten past. Wafting, until mist married fog, giving birth to a shape. As in the air, so on the ground.

Patient.

Today was the RSC conference Virtual Worlds 08 at Stirling university. First of, what a gorgeous campus. My institution has a very nice one, but Stirling wins hands down.

Very enjoyable, even though I don’t know how the conference actually went, because I had to leave straight after my presentation: Spinning Rubberducks, flying Lizard Lounges and Giddy-up Dragonflies: collaborative and individual learning in Second Life to teach back at my institution. What a shame, so I missed everything except for Andy Powell’s keynote speech (and didn’t his avatar look rather youthful ) and even the lunchtime presenter session.

However, I do hope that those who might be interested in talking to me about what I am doing, are going to contact me through this blog, for example. I am particularly interested in contact with researchers, who are looking into aspects of learning, collaboration, motivation, and narrative.

Ach, let’s face it, I love to talk to anyone about my research!

I am pondering to upload my presentation to Slideshare, but I don’t think it works without the narrative, because all the info is in the notes, and I’d definitely have to strip it down (116 slides …), and I’m also using animations. I wonder if it’s worth adapting the slides to share and post here?

Last but not least, here’s a taster of our friends rubber duck, lizard and dragonfly. From one of my slides.

Observing the lab today (2nd years, this time in two labs, not three) I must say, not only do the student helpers a sterling job, but what would we do without them? As one of the chaps commented today no rest for the wicked!” Excellent, really, and an advice to anyone working with labs, especially with large numbers of students in those labs: do use the expertise of those students who are way ahead, if they are willing to volunteer. Granted, this is “an old hat” as one would say in German, but doesn’t hurt reiterating. Watching the number of students who asked for and received scripting help from the student helpers was very motivating.

Also, today’s lab once again required working in pairs (see Judy’s post on this earlier this week), and the observations were quite fascinating. Of course, I am all the time aware that my observations are subjective through its filter of my own perception, but the reluctance to actually get together and work together was clearly there in quite a substantial percentage of students. Interesting … more on that, for sure, when I analyse all the data of this year’s project.

And as an aside, while still analysing last project’s data: I will never again transcribe interviews myself. Just saying. Remind me of that if I ever think of doing it again.

Have a screenshot from earlier, where my avatar poses with a dragon, one of the students’ interactive pets they are creating.

Judy (aka MACS lecturer pal) wrote an excellent post about her experiences so far teaching the first years (you’ll find out it isn’t as straightforward as it sounds …): The snowmen armies: reflections on teaching first year computer science in Second Life

It’s a fascinating account of the first six weeks of this semester an gives insights into the pros and cons, the workarounds and the successes.

Judy mentions last year’s students, and since I have spent a lot of time recently analysing the data (I might get bored at weekends otherwise, aye?) I can tell you that I was struck by the instances of mentioning of achievements (what has been done) and pride (emotional response), of own goals and standards and of ways of independent and experiential learning to achieve said goals and standards and ultimately the pride. It seems to be that using Second Life was clearly worthwhile, but watch this space for more discussion of the findings, especially some thoughts on motivation.

Remember my mentioning of the fantastic collaborative work that was going on on Tuesday’s 2nd years lab observation in AW? Here they are in VW, helping a student with the scripting (yes, you see right, the voluntary student helper avatar is the Joker in the latest Batman film version)

Well, today is the 1st years lab and I am in the lab but in VW right now. The students have been given challenging lab sheets and tutorials to work through, and are thus very busy in second Life. Consequently, my avatar quietly tiptoes (okay, it can’t, it walks or flies) through their hard working ranks, observing their efforts in VW.

Today’s snapshot of the busy island:

Last but not least, here is my avatar getting shot at with a paint ball gun. I guess I deserved that for disturbing the – “interestingly” clad – student in VW.

Well, well, and here I was thinking that today’s lab observation was a bit pointless, since nothing seemed to be worth observing. How wrong I was!

There is currently a great collaboration going on between two students, with a third helping with the testing. The two students (one 1st year and one 2nd year I think) both very well versed in scripting, are two of the 4 (?) who answered the lecturer’s call for those who are good at scripting to volunteer helping others in the lab. The reason why, is that this cohort has very mixed skills and mixed backgrounds and some students in the module have never scripted before.

Those two students, though, went a step further, and are creating a beacon which any of the student avatars in world (or VW as I like to call it, as opposed to AW – VW = Virtual World, AW = Analogue World) can touch and then call for help, which the two students’ avatars will “hear” and answer.

A lot of excitement, high energy, fun and laughter, searching for script examples and ideas, working on the script itself, testing, and the unparalleled experience of success, when it all works. Evidenced in a proud shout of “Yes!” and a ‘victory dance’. In AW, mind you.

Those two students, BTW, sat at first in different lab rooms and then moved across to work AW together. So much or me thinking there was not much collaboration going on.

And the best bit of this rather fascinating observation? Those students are not working on the beacon and its advanced scripting for a mark, nor points, nor anything at all, but because they can. Because it’s kudos and it’s fun (as evidenced indeed AW) and because it is something new to achieve and it gives a sense of pride and success.

Now, how often do you find your students doing extra work because they can and because they want to, and enjoy it all in the process and benefit their fellow students? Hm?

In fact, there was so much excitement going on, that one of them came back into my room, jubilant, and exclaiming: “there is really cool stuff going on next door, it works!”

Kudos, chaps, and well done. Studying can be hard work and fun, aye? And give a sense of real achievement, even when it isn’t about marks.

As much as I am fascinated by it and recording instances of it, and try to tickle out of those experiencing it – I just don’t get the Immersion in Second Life/Virtual Worlds.

I received a notification through one of my Facebook groups, advertising that the SL Educators have a new and improved area: including a 3 story French villa with cosy study places.

???

Why would it make a difference to me where I park my avatar? How can my avatar experience a cosy study space? My office is fairly cosy – when the door is closed – thankyouverymuch, and I can concentrate there and get my work done, and my home is very cosy indeed, brilliant for getting the mind to work and to generate ideas. But a virtual world? My avatar?

Interesting, isn’t it? For all that I am looking into identity and immersion, the regard of an avatar as in “do you call the avatar in 3rd person or 1st?” and for everything I read and write and present about it – I don’t get it. I am totally unimmersed and absolutely bored stiff by SecondLife, unless there is a purpose to being in it, or unless it is used for creation, such as scripting.

There you go, this is my confession for today. To be honest, I think that does help me a lot in looking at the research questions that I do look at. I believe that if I were very immersed in it and a great advocate and wanted to spend all my personal/private time in it … I don’t think I could regard the students’ work and experience quite so neutrally.

Do you get immersed? If yes, let me know what it’s like. Perhaps I am just too immersed in my own head all the time anyway, to not be bothered with an avatar on a screen.

Well, off I am to another lab observation.