Out-genning the net generation: Second Life as a learning environment Vicki Cormie / Ishbel Hartmann St Andrews University Lyn Parker / Maggie Kohime Sheila Webber / Sheila Yoshikawa University of Sheffield March 2008 LILAC

Outline Introductions Session structure & goals Second Life: some basics Our joint teaching Inworld activity OR (if SL is playing up) more presentations…..

Introductions Maggie Ishbel Sheila Lyn Vicki

Structure for SL activity Divide into groups, according to amount of SL experience & preference –1 group being helped with the basics –1 discussion group –Tour/ activity Goals for session vary depending on which group you are in: overall, to know more about SL and its possibilities/ constraints Base for activity will be Infolit iSchool

Second Life

3-D Online Digital world, owned by Linden Labs Most things created by SL residents: SL fashion designers, architects, bakers, animal makers …. Avatars- 3D representation of yourself – free to signup and can live on freebies, but need Linden dollars if want to own land, buy clothes etc. Communication through text chat, Voice and Instant Messaging

Issues Need broadband and good computer with right graphics card Have to upgrade software often Learning curve in basics of movement & communication inworld Personal concerns about SL Technical constraints on numbers of avatars Firewalls, IT centres refusals to install SL

Our work in SL

Inquiry in SL Compulsory activity (feeding into assignment) for 1 st year BSc Information Management students in (core) Information Literacy class (20 students) Aim to deepen engagement with subject & class & part of induction into research: in Semester 2 they undertake their own IM mini-projects Students undertaking critical incident interviews with SL residents (a time when they had an information need relating to a SL activity) in SL itself Students analysed transcripts in relation to models of RL information behaviour + audit interview technique for assessment (about 40% of a 20 credit module)

No student had used virtual world before (nb SL main grid is 18+ only) Developing basic skills Developing interviewing skills in Real Life and SL Learning about information behaviour in RL and SL Sheila is module coordinator; Vicki & Lyn involved in inworld activities N.B. Also discussions and networking activities

Infolit iSchool Successful bid to Centre for Inquiry based Learning in the Arts and Social Sciences to fund island for a year Island delivered early October; started teaching that month Venues for discussion, reflection, chilling: aim to create a relaxing/ welcoming environment Some food/play areas Build area left empty to allow practice/ exhibition/ experimentation Teaching, discussions

Sheila Webber Sheila Yoshikawa Vicki Cormie Lyn Parker

Facts and figures SL made up of Regions ( mainland) or islands, each 65,536 sqm 3,952 regions on Mainland (slmaps.com) + 12,000 islands 12million avatars (probably a lot less individual people): about 55,000 inworld simultaneously Currency is Linden dollars ( £1= c. L$450): 16,850,580 Linden exchanged in December; 28 Jan spent Spent US$1,436, ,791 customers spent money inworld in December 2007; 50,000 users had positive Linden flow in Dec