This document summarizes a presentation about immersive technology and virtual learning environments. It discusses the BCNexus project which uses the ActiveWorlds platform to create virtual learning spaces like Teen DreamWorld. It also covers considerations for implementing these technologies and acknowledges several individuals who have provided guidance and support for related projects in British Columbia schools.

1. Presented by
Tamara Malloff
Teacher-Librarian & Technology Coordinator, Mt. Sentinel Secondary School
South Slocan, B.C.
In collaboration with
Jeff Yasinchuk, Teacher-Librarian, L.V. Rogers Secondary School
Nelson, B.C.

2. 1. Immersive Technology
2. Rationale
3. BCNexus Project:
ActiveWorlds
4. Teen DreamWorld
5. SD8 VLC Project Design
6. Considerations
7. Acknowledgments
Tamara Malloff/2012

3. Avatar Image :http://moviecultists.com/movies/avatar/
Tamara Malloff/2012

4. “...innovations mean that the commons as a
physical space will be obliged to integrate
even more of the virtual world into the face-
to-face environment it now successfully
provides...“
-Educause, April 2011
Tamara Malloff/2012

5. Tamara Malloff/2012

6. Tamara Malloff/2012

7. Tamara Malloff/2012

8. Consider Collaborate…Co-Construct…
Tamara Malloff/2012

9. -number of active
citizens
-digital citizenship &
norms
-maintenance &
development
-broader adoption &
scalability
-perceptions of
Tamara Malloff/2012

10. “Virtual reality is the first step in a
grand adventure into the landscape of
the imagination.”
-FRANK BIOCCA, TAEYONG KIM, & MARK R.
LEVY, Communication in the Age of Virtual Reality
“When anything new comes
along, everyone, like a child discovering the
world, thinks that they've invented it, but you
scratch a little and you find a caveman
scratching on a wall is creating virtual reality
in a sense. What is new here is that more
sophisticated instruments give you the power
to do it more easily. Virtual reality is dreams.”
-MORTON HEILIG, attributed, Virtual
Reality and the Exploration of Cyberspace
Tamara Malloff/2012

11. Gordon Holden has been, and continues to be, an influential pioneer and
teacher-leader in applying immersive technology environments in an educational
context. He has worked tirelessly in coaching, mentoring, and tutoring those of us
new to immersive tech. Gordon teaches at Kelowna Christian Heritage, and
amongst several presentations on immersive tech including ISTE 2012, is the
founder of Immersive Technology 4 Learning Ning. Thank you, Gordon, for all of
your guidance and wisdom in helping us understand and learn about immersive
technology environments, and your building tutorials!
Mark Hawkes is the e-Learning Coordinator, Learning Division, in the Ministry of
Education. Mark wears several hats, including coordinating the BCNexus project, a
cutting-edge provincial immersive technology initiative based on the ActiveWorlds
platform. Mark has been instrumental in guiding the learning involved in Mt
Sentinel's iteration, "DreamWorld," and continues to oversee the BCNexus project
this year. Many thanks to you, Mark for your patience, guidance, and assistance in
our Dreamworld project, and for your leadership on BCNexus!
We also gratefully acknowledge the continued inspiration of our fellow
teacher librarians here and internationally.
Thank you also to our administrators and senior leadership at SD8 for supporting
this project.
Tamara Malloff/2012

12. #sd8vlc
Tamara Malloff/2012