Virtual+Worlds+in+Education

The Virtual World Best Practices 2010

Mark Kent attended a conference in second life on The Virtual World Best Practices 2010 on Imagination Around the World. From the North, East, West and South corners of the physical world what is evident is the collaborate nature of virtual world participants to share knowledge and experience. This 48 hour conference indeed provided opportunities for sharing and further understanding virtual world technology. Here is the video:

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 * Virtual Worlds Projects:**

Here are some details of the project: To provide professional development to distance education teachers across Australasia in how to use a ‘virtual word’. An evaluation of the virtual world and the suitability for use in a Distance Education setting will underpin the project. The trial was offered to a maximum of 20 participants and is included as a FLX Project. By the end of this trial, the aim is to have: · an understanding of ways of working/teaching within a Virtual World · a greater understanding and knowledge of what a virtual world is and how it could be used as a legitimate learning space in a distance education setting to increase student engagement · a virtual environment that we can showcase o All participants will focus on building and creating the world · an outline of some learning experiences that virtual worlds can enable. These will be developed by participants in the trial. All participants will be expected to update: o a learning experience log Wiki (learning set) o a blog focusing on personal in-world experiences.
 * AADES (Australasian Association of Distance Education Schools) FLX Project - AADES are currently trialling Virtual Worlds in a collaborative project involving teachers from across Australasia.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Project Aim: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What AADES hope to achieve: **

- We will keep you informed of progress throughout 2010!