3. What is a virtual world? “… an online environment whose “residents” are avatars representing individuals participating online” From 7 things you should know about…Virtual Worlds http://connect.educause.edu/display/39392 [Accessed 21st September 2008]
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17. Open browser and go to: http://secondlife.com/ and click on get started
20. Go to your email account and confirm your SL account by clicking on the link
21. To launch Second Life go to the start menu, select program, select Second Life and then click on Second Life.
22. You should now have arrived on Orientation Island – which should be Hyde Park
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Notes de l'éditeur
Welcome and big thanks to Kathryn Greenhill from Murdoch University for all of her advice/suggestions/presentations
First 20 mins or so of the session – me talking to you, demonstrating things A brief overview of virtual worlds Second Life more in depth due to the fact that High level of usage in UK HE sector – particularly Edinburgh, Coventry and the OU Imperial are using it In libraries and education – a UK focus Second Life @ Imperial College London Lectures Faculty of Medicine Second Health Virtual conference Hands on Set up an account (easy) Create/build your avatar Explore the Imperial College Island in Second Life including meeting at the Queens Tower in Second Life and having a go at the game that the Faculty of Medicine has set up in Second Life (in the Alexander Fleming building)
Can be based on the real world or be completely fantasy What can I do in a virtual world? Social aspect a key element Interact with other real world people (via their avatar – see next slide or two?) Communicate via text chat or voice Buy and sell items Build things View lectures/explore exhibitions Web 2.0 link Use web 2.0 tools such as youtube within SL to stream videos, build networks of ‘friends’ as you would in facebook etc. Use web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, flickr, google groups to support SL activities As a rule virtual worlds themselves are not ‘games’ as there are no specific rules and/or goals however games can be (and often are) played within virtual worlds – however this is something that differs depending on who is writing about them Lots of jargon – will try to explain some of it as we go along Two better known examples used in education are Second Life and Active Worlds – mention OpenSim too
Virtual worlds have developed from gaming Some of them are considered games (such as World of Warcraft) as there is a goal/aim/objective involved – these are known as MMORPGs Others that focus on the social aspect are known as MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environments) – which don’t involve specific rules or goals (though games can be played / be a part of these environments) This is what we will be focussing on today can however play / participate in games within a MUVE MMOG Massively multiplayer online game An online game– loads of people playing at once
Interact with other avatars Your online persona Can be 3D though not always Can customise Will look at this more when we look at Second Life
Show them a minute or two of this video
Today we are focussing on the virtual world Second Life, due to the fact that this is what is used in a number of HE institutions, particularly Imperial in the Faculty of Medicine You may already have ideas as to whether or not you think this is relevant to us as a library/institution, but do keep an open mind – if not relevant today – maybe it will be in a year or twos time..
Key points User created and owned Social network You can become friends with other people Listen to streamed video casts, podcasts Practicalities – it is not web based – you need to download it onto your pc (though this has been done already for the cluster pcs for todays workshop) Latest stats – 19 millions registered users though only a small percentage are active (kzero.co.uk) One of many virtual worlds – but high level of usage in higher education – used at Imperial
Basic account is free but you can use Linden Dollars (Second Life currency) to pay for land, clothes, buildings Create an account Download the software (free) Need broadband internet Helps to have a pc/laptop with top of the range video card but it does work without this Create an avatar
Note – basic account is free – allows you to create an avatar and explore the islands, pick up notecards and objects To pay for items, expand your wardrboe, build objects and buildings you need a paid for acount – currency is Linden dollars
Different places have a different focus – some are holding classes, some have built virtual campuses
Also virtual conference: International Virtual Association of Surgeons April 2008 – though haven’t been able to find the 2009 version
Less chance for learning with real patients – so simulation is an alternative MUVE – new way of delivering clinical teaching to digital natives Piloted with a group of medical students in March 2008 Created a hospital ward, had access to virtual patients who they could examine and provide diagnoses for Phase 2 – a multi patient approach – select the patient, ask questions, order tests (with Linden $), make diagnosis
Gives us an understanding of how people are using it to learn Mention Kathryn Greenhill’s blog posts Ask people to think, question Key point here – being aware of what is in Second Life, what the potential is – that’s one thing...actually setting up shop so to speak is well and truly another.
Go to https://join.secondlife.com/ and walk them through