Second Life ™

Mark your calendar for this is a workshop you’ll want to attend as Lor Fredriksson presents, ‘Digizenship - Keeping them Safe and Legal’.  Our students have the tools at their fingertips.  We can’t just block or filter them.  Learn about various internet safety resources that will help our students understand how to stay safe and legal when using the internet.  We need them to learn how to make good choices.

TIME:  5 p.m. SLT ( 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST)

Join us as JessieMarie Flanagan presents, ‘Combining Universal Design for Learning and Technology to Reach all Learners’.  The Universal Design for Learning model was developed by CAST in 1994.  Come and explore successful examples of UDL learning journeys that embrace diversity, meet learners where they are, and help you successfully meet your curriculum goals.

TIME:  5 p.m. SLT ( 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST)

Though we ain’t foolin’ — Riptide Furse will be presenting, ‘Newbie 201 Shopping in Second Life’.  We’ll briefly cover the ins and outs of shopping in Second Life.  What’s the difference between shape and skin? Know that a fat pack is something to find not lose. How to open the boxes or shopping bags and get the goods rather than wearing the box they came in. Get  ready for a quick tour of places offering free to expensive clothes, skin, shapes and hair.

(Laelia’s Note:  Riptide has one of the largest inventories that I’m aware of in Second Life and surpasses even me in shopping! LOL  This is one workshop you won’t want to miss!)

TIME:  5 p.m. SLT ( 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST)

This is a first.  I’m speechless and I don’t know where to begin. 

Should I start with the fact that half the amphitheater was missing?  Nah.  We told everyone we were going for the ‘Open Air’ look since Spring had sprung on Friday.

Should I start with the fact that the presenter kept crashing for the first 20 minutes?  Nah.  By the time he conquered the hotel internet and landed safely inworld he ‘ROCKED’!

Should I start with the fact that I had to entertain the audience while we waited?  Nah.  First, they heard the beginning of Ken Robinson’s, ‘The Element’, and then they were entertained by XM Radio.

Should I start with the fact that the presentation device wouldn’t recognize Alphonse and therefore he had no control over the presentation?  Nah.  JM played ‘Vanna White’ and forwarded the slides every time Alphonse ‘beeped’.  (You had to be there! LOL)  And JM, you did an excellent job considering everything that was going on.

And now for the ’speechless’ part.  Alphonse (Hall Davidson in real life) did an AMAZING job considering the ‘technical difficulties’ (granted he was wearing his SUPER-POWER white cloak, so that might explain part of it).  Not only was Alphonse NOT ONE BIT PHASED by any of it, he proceeded like the professional he is and managed to finish ahead of schedule! 

Since I writing this post the moment I logged out of SL you’ll have to check the ‘Comments’ section below for a link to Hall’s presentation and information about how to do that cool ‘Jing video thing embedded into Google Earth’. 

And to all who attended the workshop, thank you sooooooooooooooo much for being such a gracious and understanding audience.

Let’s just put it this way, when it involves Apophene Singh ( Hall Davidson in Real Life) we JUST KNOW it’s gonna be interesting! LOL  And this time it’s no different.  The date of the workshop has changed from Wednesday, March 25th to Monday, March 23rd.  The time has changed back to normal, that would be 5 p.m. SLT (7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST).  The title and content has changed.  So, without further ado, let me present a new post to you:

Please join us THIS MONDAY, MARCH 23rd as Apophene Singh ( Hall Davidson in Real Life) presents, “Web 2.0 and the Digital Storytelling Transformation–Or, Waiter,There’s an Avatar in My Loupe”.  As Apophene puts it, “Web 2.0 sites, webcams, and media libraries mean you can make and remix meaningful media for the classroom.  Avatars wink, Mt. Rushmore speaks, markers circle, long videos shrink. Add captioning, chromakey, and more to help curriculum stick for the media-minded students you teach.  A fast paced tool tour!

Time  5  p.m. SLT ( 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST) 

I hope to see everyone there!

We had a great group of educators present for the Wednesday Workshop March 18 entitled “Virtually Real? Reflections of an Online Teacher”. Celestia Cazalet talked about the things she has learned during her first year of being an online educator. She also gave information about how to find opportunities to become online teachers (there is a list by state of all virtual schools in the country HERE).

If you would like to view the presentation, and the notes she has added, you may download it below:

Virtually Real presentation

Please join us on Wednesday, March 25th as Hall Davidson presents, “Ten Things You Didn’t Know You Could
Do with Video Clips–and Two You Did”.  Hall will present on Web 2.0 sites, webcams, and media libraries mean you can make and remix meaningful media for the classroom. Avatars wink, Mt. Rushmore speaks, markers circle, long videos shrink. Add captioning, chromakey, and more to help curriculum stick for the media-minded students.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A TIME CHANGE!!!

4:30 P.M. SLT (6:30 P.M. CST, 7:30 P.M. EST)

Hope to see you there!

Please consider joining us this Wednesday, March 18th, as Celestia Cazalet hosts a Workshop on ‘Virtual Instruction: The Real Deal?’

Celestia will reflect on her experiences as a first-year virtual instructor.  Comparisons between face-to-face classroom interactions and virtual classroom interactions will be explored.  Much of this session will be facilitated dialogue.  Anyone who is interested in virtual schooling or has experience with virtual schooling is encouraged to be an active part of this timely discussion.

Please refer to the top tab for the SLurl.

Hi Guys!

One of our STARs from Alabama, Sue Schwoebel, has asked to for our help in filling out a survey.  Since it’s about Second Life I’m posting it on this blog.  I hope you’ll take a moment to click on the link.  Remember, the deadline is March 20th!

“I am in need of help, and who better to help than the wonderful DEN community! I am a first year instructional technology specialist at a brand new middle school. Currently, I am working on my Ed. S. in technology in education. (an Education Specialist degree is between a Masters and a Ph. D.) For my thesis I am looking into the possibilities of using SL for professional development. I have created a survey for educators who use or are thinking about using SL. The survey is anonymous; I just need the data for my paper. I will be happy to share the results with you when I finish analyzing it. (That is if  I survive the thesis.) Thanks for your help!!
Please take the survey by March 20, 2009.

Link to survey.“

Please consider joining us this Wednesday, March 11th for a Workshop on ‘Introducing the New VSTE Island’ hosted by the following panel:  Alfredo Bedrodian (SL) Al Doss (RL); Jazmemo Zimminy (SL) Lisa Alconcel (RL); Mandie Mimulus (SL)  Marie Booz (RL); Thunder Insippo (SL) Kim Harrison (RL).

Four Virgnia Beach teachers will share the new Virginia Society for Technology in Education’s Island in Second Life.  Come and see their recreation of the Jamestown Fort, Powhatan Village and the three ships that first sailed to Virginia.

Pleae look at the tab along the top for the SLurl.