The Global Learning Forum Team has created a game simulation kit in Second Life. Doctoral students from Colorado Technical University and their instructor, Dr. Cynthia Calongne, performed an alpha test of the game on March 9, 2009. The results and highlights from the game of Operation Codename: Anaconda are featured in this presentation to the New Media Consortium's Symposium on New Media & Learning, March 25, 2009. Game simulation kits offer opportunities for hosting a variety of games within one virtual world environment. Many thanks to the GLF Team and Dr. Andrew Stricker for the game briefing slides and Nancy Smith for the assessment rubrics. Use of the assessment rubrics continues in future tests.

1. Evaluating a Game Simulation Kit
in Second Life
Dr. Cynthia Calongne
Institute for Advanced Studies
Colorado Technical University
NMC Symposium
March 25, 2009
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Global Learning Forum
Briefing Slides by
Dr. Andrew Stricker
Licensed under a
Creative Commons Share Alike
with Attribution License

2. 2
Air Force Simulations

3. 3
Explorations

4. 4
MyBase Visitor Center

5. 5
AF Global Learning Forum - Serious Game Simulation

6. 6

7. 77
Air Operations Center (AOC)
Sample game scoring system and group dynamics

8. 8
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
Ops Intel: A small group of insurgents, a
mujahideen proxy military force for al-
Qaeda, on the island of Ayab (50 miles
from the coast of Murma) are holding one
or two hostages. The insurgent leader’s
identity is unknown but from information
provided by the escaped interpreter, a
rendered portrait is depicted on the right.
It is likely the insurgents expect a rescue
attempt by a coalition force. It is also
expected the insurgent leader will attempt
to relocate the physician hostage off of
Ayab before a rescue attempt can be
executed.
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF
Rendered drawing: identity unknown
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker

9. 9
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
Ops Intel: One of the hostages, pictured on
the right, is an internationally known
physician associated with the World Relief
Organization. She and a small team of relief
workers went to the isolated island of Ayab
following a typhoon to provide medical
assistance and evacuation of island inhabitants
before another expected typhoon hits the
island in the next 48 hours. The escaped
interpreter reported the physician was
wounded in the leg and the other remaining
hostage was shot dead on the attempted
escape.
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker
Dr. Algernon Loire
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF

10. 10
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
Ops Intel: The island of Ayab
has an abandoned WWII era
u-boat base located on a lagoon
inlet from the south bay. The
island is hilly and rocky with
sparse vegetation. It is believed
the insurgents have fortified the
u-boat base. Satellite photos
suggest the presence of
underground tunnels.
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker
South lagoon and
U-boat base location
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF

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Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
COA: The team will be inserted on
the southeast side of the lagoon
entrance under the cover of darkness.
Using zodiac crafts the team will
proceed to the lower u-boat docking
area and recon the warehouse. An
exit defense zone will also be
established for the extraction. Via
intercepted cell phone calls, MNF
intel reports the hostages are likely
located in the underground u-boat
quarters. Extraction of the hostages
should proceed back to the defense
zone for zodiac evac. Be prepared to
adapt COA depending on situational
factors. Mission duration NTE 2 hrs.
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF
Content by Dr. Andrew Stricker, 2008

12. 12
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
Ops Intel: Defense satellites
are being positioned to
provide for near continuous
coverage of Ayab. Mission
communication will be via
secured MNF satellite uplink
and downlink channels.
Additionally, a predator
UAV is being positioned to
provide assistance as needed.
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF

13. 13
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
Ops Intel: Historical Ayab
photos on the right depict
fortified bunkers from the u-boat
base area and warnings of a mine
field. Expect the insurgents to
use the bunkers and tunnels to
resist extraction of the hostages.
Insurgents are expected to be well
armed with AK-47s and rocket
propelled launchers.
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF

14. 14
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
Operation ROEs:
-Proceed only via operation
directives obtained from MNF
communications (Operation Flags)
-Reach Operation Flags (1 to 8) by
allotted time constraints
-Use only minimal force necessary
for safe extraction of hostages
-Respect civilian property and protect
innocent civilians from harm
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF

15. 15
Operation Codename: Anaconda
Communications: MNF Command Authority, Colonel Stone
-Remember MNF Operation ROEs
-Review the COA
-Rehearse operation roles
-Gear up for insertion into Ayab
Slide courtesy of Dr. Andrew Stricker
OPERATION PRE-BRIEF

16. 16
1st view of the simulation range, looking to the left

17. 17
Lyr Lobo sneaks around the range

18. 18
Assessment Rubric
Skill Levels:
Rating Scale:
Absent Emerging Developing Mastering
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Levels of Assessment
Knows it matters
(values)
Knows how Does Thinks
(adapts)
Slide courtesy of Nancy F. Smith

19. 19After the alpha test - under fire!

20. 20
Assessment Rubric
Context of Challenge
1 2 3 4 5
Initial
exposure to
situation or
challenge
Assessment
of situation
COA
determination
Implementa-
tion of COA
Feedback &
interpretation
Slide courtesy of Nancy F. Smith

21. 21
Game Rules Rubric
Other activities to be observed
Time Limits, Use of Weapons, Use of Devices (other
than weapons), Flying, etc.
Activity Distinguished Proficient Minimally
Proficient
Unsuccessful
Use of
Comm
Outside of
Group
Channel
3 Points
No use of
outside comm
(e.g., IM,
email)
2 Points
1 instance
of outside
comm
1 Point
2 instances
of outside
comm
0 Points
3 or more
instances of
outside comm
Slide courtesy of Nancy F. Smith

22. 22
Student Initial Impressions
• Activities
– Pre-briefing
– Preparation
– Elevator down
– Game play - flags
– Rescue the hostage
• Experiences
– Initial confusion
– How to reload the
weapon
• Observations
– Tight camera angles
– Group name uncertain
– Sharing the flag orders
– Where to go?
– Who is the enemy?
– Optical enhancements
Four game participants
CTU Students - first term in SL

23. 23
Student Feedback
• Experience
– Exhilarating experience
– Fun, immersive game!
– Realistic environment
– Shared leadership roles
– Ideal for teamwork
– Great for group decisions
– Great communications
– Unfamiliar terrain added
to the realism
• Recommendations
– Portable game map
– More briefing time
– Navigation device
• Crouch & turn
– Camera constraints
• Future Use
– Great for testing
modern technology

24. 24
CTU Student Rides the Monorail

25. 25
Other Air Force Simulations

26. 26
Acknowledgements
• The Global Learning Forum Team - Apollo, Toni, Nancy
– Game Simulation Kit, 5 regions of content, rubrics
• Dr. Andrew Stricker - Spinoza Quinnell
– Briefing slides and invitation to participate
• Doctoral Students
– Arlene Chisley-Wade
– Guillermo Quintero
– Dennis Musick
– John Orosco

27. 27
SL Research Links 1
• Second Life
– http://secondlife.com/ and http://secondlifegrid.net/
• Virtual Worlds Comparison Chart
– http://www.virtualenvironments.info/virtual-worlds-comparison-chart
• Second Life Education Support Faire 2009 statistics
– http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Education_Support_Faire#Second_Life_Education_Support_Faire_2009_-_Statistics
– http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Education_Support_Faire
• Cynthia Calongne’s Classes in Second Life
– http://ctusoftware.blogspot.com
• Lyr Lobo’s Second Life presentations
– http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations
Updated March 2009

28. 28
SL Research Links 2
• National Public Radio’s Science Friday in SL
– http://www.sciencefriday.com/
• Virtual Worlds Management
– http://www.virtualworldsmanagement.com/2009/youth-01-26-2009.html
• Traffic Analysis
– http://mayarealities.com/
• Best Practices in SL
– http://www.slcn.tv/bpe-lyr-lobo
• Annotated Bibliography of SL Educational Resources
– http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~mpepper/slbib
• Blended Realities – TCC 2007 paper
– http://etec.hawaii.edu/proceedings/2007/calongne.pdf

29. 29
SL Research Links 3
• Second Life as a Virtual Learning Environment
– http://www.dokimos.org/secondlife/education/index.html
• A View from Second Life’s Trenches: Are you a Pioneer or a Settler?
– http://sl.nmc.org/2007/06/09/pioneer-or-settler/
• Leveraging the Affordances, Minimizing the Barriers of Virtual Worlds
– http://sl.nmc.org/2007/06/09/edu-panel/
• NMC Campus Observer
– http://sl.nmc.org/
• Suffern Middle School in Second Life
– http://rampoislands.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html
• Artificial Intelligence in SL
– http://web.bvu.edu/faculty/schweller/

30. 30
SL Research Links 4
• Using Second Life
– www.educause.edu/ir/library/powerpoint/SAC07025A.pps
• Beyond Course Management Tools: Second Life
– www.educause.edu/ir/library/powerpoint/SAC07014.pps
• Virtual worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?
– http://www.telecoop.org/conference/materials/CalogneTeachinginSecondLife.ppt
• What Can We Learn from World of Warcraft & Second Life?
– http://archive.nmc.org/events/2006fallregional/materials/calongne.ppt
• SL Podcast by Bayne, Walker and Calongne
– http://connect.educause.edu/blog/gbayne/podcastusingsecondli/44967?time=1188754831
• TCC Preconference Wiki -- SL from a Flash drive tips
– http://tccpre-conference.pbwiki.com/

31. 31
SL Research Links 5
• Who’s on Second? Educational Podcasts
– http://www.rabble.ca/rpn/podcast.php?id=wos
• Second Life Development -- VITAL Lab
– http://vital.cs.ohiou.edu/vitalwiki/index.php/Second_Life_Development
• Second Life Library 2.0
– http://www.infoisland.org/drupal/ and http://www.myspace.com/73899784
• Second Life Education Wiki
– http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki
• LSL Wiki -- programming tools
– http://www.lslwiki.net/lslwiki/wakka.php?wakka=HomePage

32. 32
SL Research Links 6
• Secondary Worlds
– http://secondaryworlds.com/
• Reuters -- Doors to open on Google Virtual world(s)?
– http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2007/10/24/doors-to-open-on-google-
virtual-worlds/
• SL and Google Earth are Transforming the Idea of Architectural
Collaboration
– http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/archives/0701dignews
-2.asp
• Timeline - History of Second Life Wiki
– http://secondlife.wikia.com/index.php/Second_Life_Through_The_Ages
• UberNoggin: Big Brains - Big Ideas
– http://www.ubernoggin.com/

33. 33
SL Research Links 7 - News
• Reuters in Second life
– http://secondlife.reuters.com/
• The SL Newspaper
– http://www.sl-newspaper.com/
• Second Life Herald
– http://www.secondlifeherald.com/
• Metaverse Messenger
– http://metaversemessenger.com/index.html
• SLNN
– http://www.slnn.com/index.php
• Prim Perfect magazine
– http://en.calameo.com/read/0000042343069a60feb0d

34. 34
SL Research Links 8
• New Worlds Notes
– http://nwn.blogs.com/
• SL A Virtual Universe for Real Engineering
– http://www.designnews.com/index.asp?
layout=article&articleid=CA6490691
• Just Virtual
– http://www.justvirtual.com/index.php/category/second-life/
• Seifert Surface - Math in Second Life
– http://www.segerman.org/2ndlife.html
• Eric McLuhan in Second Life - Playing Media Ecology
– http://slcn.tv/media-ecology-eric-mcluhan

35. 35
Evaluating a Game Simulation Kit in Second Life
Dr. Cynthia Calongne
Lyr Lobo in Second Life
http://ctusoftware.blogspot.com
www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo
Twitter Lyrlobo
For more information
Lyr Lobo
http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo
For a copy of these slides, visit: