This document summarizes the development of a virtual presence and affinity group at ESC led by faculty. It began with initial funding for virtual world simulations. Over time, more faculty became involved and built virtual buildings and spaces for various courses and programs. As costs rose, the group formed to share resources and expertise more widely. They conducted research, events, and outreach to other campuses. The group is now moving into a second phase to explore open resources and welcome more faculty involvement in virtual learning.

1. CIT 2012 : Stony Brook
Virtual ESC Affinity Group:
A faculty-led initiative that leverages,
supports, and continues virtual education
Nicola Martinez, Audeliz Matias, Eileen O’Connor, Ken
Ferree, Hope Adams
Nicola.martinez@esc.edu ;
audeliz.matias@esc.edu ;
eileen.oconnor@esc.edu ;
ken.ferree@esc.edu ;
hope.adams@esc.edu

2. Agenda
• Overview of the virtual involvement of ESC:
– Initial impetus  building & islands  course &
programs
• Rising costs and need to meet and share with
more faculty
– within the informal, professional-development nature of
the group;
– across disciplines, programs, and geographies
• Forward movement into phase 2; invitation to
others, given the current level of the group’s skills

3. Development of a virtual
presence by ESC
• Initially funding though the Charitable Leadership Foundation
(CLF) for: Improving Adult Learner Literacy in Mathematics and
Science Through Online Learning.
– Second Life simulations and immersive learning for the
development of scientific method were planned components
of the grant project, delivered via the Science Mathematics
And Technology (SMAT) course The Future of Being Human.
• The college early initiatives resulted from a planned approach to
virtual world learning - invited key speakers addressed the
current educational uses of virtual worlds, and the available
virtual options.
• Support staff helped faculty, who in turn began creating more
resources and activities within the island

4. Over time, buildings emerged

5. Representative buildings

6. Others were inspired from beyond
the college

7. Some were simply
futuristic, and hopeful

8. Courses began to grow
Center for • Future of Being
Distance Human
Learning • STEM courses
School of • MBA
Graduate • Policy
Studies • Teacher Education
• Virtual building
Centers • Possible Human
Services

9. And, a new Masters of Arts in
Learning & Emerging Technology
Courses on virtual learning & community
Student showcase (within a virtual environment)
Incubator on immersive virtual development
Leadership & experimentation

10. The original distance course:
The Future of Being Human

11. Immersive Learning Experiences
for MBA Courses

12. Students developed original
virtual environments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CXfWW34JaQ - creating employee training

15. But costs were rising; thus a
need to involve more faculty
An Affinity group began: not governance / not admin
Bi-weekly topics – developed & delivered by faculty
Sought external funding – published and promoted
Conducted survey to learn of interests
Now, moving into phase 2

16. We developed an affinity group
(VirtualESC) – with faculty-developed
meetings, content, & a website

17. We used frequent, emailed
reminders of upcoming events

18. We hosted
“starter”
events for
newbies

19. We heard from students, and their
creative work – across the
curriculum; across the state
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CXfWW34JaQ - creating employee training

20. We changed our appearance, saving our
group visits via machinima & YouTube

21. We met and discussed
pedagogical practices
We learned from
experts in emerging
areas

22. We proposed joint book
chapters & publications;
we solicited funding

23. We created & delivered an important budget &
usage report about virtual educational
offerings to the college’s educational
technology governance committee

24. And we shared our significant
research / dissemination efforts

25. Phase 2
• Exploring open source materials &
our own server space
• Creating new alliances
• Challenging ourselves to grow

26. What lies ahead:
• As we move into our second phase, we
welcome faculty from other campuses who
want to learn and grow with us;
• Significant resources are available online to
help others learn the basics of virtual learning
and navigation;
• Join us if you want to advance in ways to
teach, communicate, and grow through
virtual experiences:
– Nicola Martinez, Ken Ferree, Audeliz Matias, Eileen
O’Connor, Hope Adams

27. Selection of links to visit
• Undergraduate studies where students work on developing virtual technologies and training programs for
corporate environments that include virtual training as shown in these links:
– YouTube of Jason's exhibit on the paranormal - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAlvZ5-2nyg
– A YouTube on Dave's Zippo Training area - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CXfWW34JaQ
• Teacher Education Program – classes meet in virtual spaces to extend learning and community
(http://www.slideshare.net/eoconnor/educational-uses-of-virtual-realities). Below are several YouTubes
illustrating uses in classes were students are working online across the state to meet course objectives :
– Viewing a video of K12 students - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz1ld2AUTUQ
– Having a poster session of their own work - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvgXca-xf00
– Reviewing overall uses in a education course where students develop and display science projects
within virtual spaces- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLXqleVwFxM
• Rufer, Rosalyn & Adams, Hope (2012) STUDENT CENTERED MARKETING EDUCATION THROUGH OPEN
LEARNING RESOURCES AND WEB 2.0 TOOLS; American Management Association; Winter Educator’s
Conference February 2012 - http://www.slideshare.net/MathSciCrystal/student-centered-marketing-
education
• Adams, H., Gal, D.; Mahar, D.; O’Connor, E.; Snyder, D.; & Snyder, L. (2011). Building New Programs in
Emerging Technologies and Learning: Empowering Next Generation Learning: 4 th Annual International
Symposium, Sloane-C, San Jose, CA, July 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DVHzjVAkfM

28. Selection of links to visit
• Martinez, Nicola (2008). Invited Speaker. Second Life: The Future of Communications? Society for
Technical Communications 55th Annual Summit, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. June 1-4, 2008
http://www.slideshare.net/Nicola.Martinez/second-life-the-future-of-communications
• Martinez, Nicola (2008). Here Be Dragons: Second Life Community Building and Citizen Engagement on the
Isle of Wyrms. Sloan-C International Symposium on Emerging Technology Applications for Online Learning.
Carefree, Arizona. May 7-9, 2008 http://www.slideshare.net/Nicola.Martinez/sloan-c-iset-here-be-dragons-
pub
• O’Connor, E. (2011) SER/VE (the STEM Exploratory Real/Virtual Environment) and the Engagement of
Urban Youth; a poster session presented at the 2011 SUNY STEM Conference at the Crowne Plaza in
Albany, NY on November 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tQXwZVlPsc
• O’Connor, E. (2010). Using Second Life (a virtual reality) in Language Instruction: Practical Advice on
Getting Started; at 4th International Scientific and Methodological Conference on "Information and
Communication Technologies in Foreign Language Teaching” (June 2010); presented via virtually via Skype
to the Moscow conference attendees on June 10, 2010 http://www.slideshare.net/eoconnor/using-second-
life-in-foreignlanguage-instructionpractical-advise
• O’Connor, E. & Meyer, H.. Graduate Students in Second Life: The Roller Coaster Ride of a Shifting
Paradigm. Conference in Instructional Technology (CIT 2009), SUNY. (May 2009)
http://www.slideshare.net/eoconnor/graduate-students-in-second-life-1454760