1. Social interaction in virtual worlds:
Designing for ICC in 3D
Ton Koenraad, Mabelle Hermandéz, Lex Hermans

2. Agenda
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MUVEs?
Design principles for NIFLAR 3D VLE’s
Task and object driven activities
Demo
Hands-on

3. Main NIFLAR objectives :
• To enrich and innovate academic programs of foreign languages
and make them more rewarding and relevant
Promoting blended learning by the use of two technologies:
– Video web communication (Adobe Connect)
– 3D Virtual Worlds (Second Life / Open SIM)
• To study the added value of implementing networked
interactions
Three target groups:
– FL learners at secondary and tertiary levels
– Pre- (in) service teachers

4. Adobe connect
Second Life
Open Sim

6. VAN TEKST- MOO
naar…

7. Educational Potential
• multimedia
• time & place independent
• synchronous & asynchronous, written & oral
interaction
• flexible
• Identity experimentation

15. d
http://sleducation.wikispaces.c
om/educationaluses

17. Link

19. Good Practice Analysis: Design principles for NIFLAR 3D-VLE
• Objectives for (student) teachers + L2 learners
• Pedagogical principles:
– Pedagogy re ICC-training & assessment
– Blended approach
– Teacher Ed.:
Experiential learning (competence development)
• Analysis of good practice (Warburton, 2009; Molka-
Danielsen & Deutchmann, 2009; Sweeney, 2009; Jauregi et al., 2009;
2010)
• Scalable, sustainable

20. Open Simulator Platform
VLE
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Reception / Exploratorium
Simulation Space
Game Space

21. Exploratorium
for cultural info, encounters and events

22. Simulation Space
for ICC-training & assessment

23. Game Space
for cultural knowledge quests & games

24. NIFLAR @ Second Life
NIFLAR Launchroom @ Virtlantis SIM

25. NIFLAR @ Second Life
Launchroom & Holodecked Tasks on Virtlantis

26. Task Example : Discovering Mexico

27. NIFLAR OS design process
from first ideas to realisation

28. Specifications
 Realisations

29. NIFLAR OS MegaSim:
Four (4) voice-enabled Regions
• Reception
• Spanish SIM
• Asterix Village
+ Projectlandia

30. NIFLAR OS MegaSIM: 4 regions

31. Reception SIM
Project Home, International Meeting & Communication Area,
Tandem Language Learning Space

32. Cartoon Puzzler
Info Gap: collaborative problem solving

33. Talking Lottery Balls
Inspired by: Talking Dice
• oral proficiency practice with embedded ICC
development goals through symbols & images
that trigger statements and interactions on
personal lives and cultural topics.

34. Cultural Knowledge Quiz:
exchange, discuss, convince, move, apologize…

35. SLOODLE for NIFLAR OpenSim Worlds
• WebIntercom -- links text-chat in-world to a Moodle
chatroom
• Quiz Chair -- students can do a Moodle quiz from inworld, and receive audio-visual feedback on their
progress
• CultureQuest
• Awards system

36. Asterix Village
3D-visualisation of Third Place concept and
historical dimension (ICC pedagogy)

37. Asterix village:
PUB + antique tourist artefacts

38. Asterix: Harbour & Campo Sportivo
historical approach to folk/street games

39. Spain: Urban area
(Valencia design by Nadia Revenga García)

40. NIFLAR Valencia city

41. Projectlandia:
default scenario & facilities + ad hoc activities &
projects (e.g. Adventures in 3D)

42. •Projectlandia: Regions for future target groups, e.g.
ChinaVillage (holodeck approach)

43. Student involvement & CoP development
• Ownership: student profiles / cultural
knowledge sharing
• Authorable content objects facilitating
blended approach
• Partner consortium
• OS-LingoGrid

45. Implementation issues.
Prerequisites (Contexts: University / 2
• Technology:
• Computer access
(school / home)
• Installed Viewers +
voice finetuning
• User training
nd
Ed.)
• Partners:
• Projectplanning (!) +
content (3D / tasks)
• Curriculum:
shared & local
learning goals +
assessment

47. Experiences
• Pilot experiences in Second Life for academic
students (Spanish L2) and student teachers.
• Pilot with secondary pupils in OpenSim
(Spanish & English L2, tandem approach) and
student teachers.

48. Data sources
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Recorded interactions
Pre & post oral tests
Surveys (pre, mid and post)
Interviews

49. Would you like to know more about
the NIFLAR project?
Read about results in our publications
&
Join us at
niflar.ning.com
www.niflar.eu
Thank you for your attention!!