News

Our latest news reports from NMC Virtual Worlds, as well as more related stories on the sidebar.

Let’s Talk Sustainability

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Jan 17, 2012 03:11pm
Global Kids held their second talk show in the virtual world of Second Life on Friday January 13th, where students produced and presented a live show to audience members. The  show delved into the important issues of electronic waste  and climate change. Student hosts Jackie and Javon are in the 11th grade. They presented material, introduced guest speakers (Delia Lake-SL and Makayla-SL), asked questions of the audience members and included fun, interactive games where audience members were encouraged to move about and participate. Using various props such as a globe, a plant with scripted "gasses" to demonstrate how more carbon dioxide is escaping into the atmosphere rather than being absorbed by trees, videos, ppt presentations, ice melting in water,  notecard givers, and game/quiz stations  inside Second Life, they discussed and demonstrated the difference between the terms Global Warming & Climate Change and ... more...

Join Global Kids for their Upcoming Live Second Life Show!

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Jan 10, 2012 08:37am
Global Kids will once again gather in Second Life to produce and take part in a live virtual world talk show called "Let's Talk Sustainability." We would love for you to take part in Let's Talk Sustainability as audience members,  this Friday, January 13th from 5pm-6pm EST. There will be two separate shows/topics occurring back-to-back: Climate Change - What is the science of climate change?  Are there solutions to climate change that we can take action on now, or is it too late? Electronic Waste - What is  e-waste and why is it the United States' biggest export?  What are the global consequences of e-waste, particularly for developing countries? Join us at the New Media Consortium Convention Center for these two exciting live shows! To participate as audience members, please fill out this form. more...

Upcoming Art Exhibit!

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Dec 14, 2011 12:57pm
The full sim exhibit celebrates ART with MUSIC, MOTION, LIGHT & COLOR.  Join us in Second Life on Sunday, December 18th at 12pm slt. [caption id="attachment_11671" align="aligncenter" width="508" caption="STAR DANCE-Created by Gwen Carillon"][/caption] In the above 3d light sculpture, the pieces glide gracefully to mimic a beautiful dance.  You cannot see the motion and movement, or hear the music and sound of the pieces in this exhibit ...unless you drop by and see them! The exhibit can be found on the NMC Campus sim of Ars Simulacra in Second Life. We invite you to explore the question that is so often asked these days: Is art created in a virtual world, really art? [caption id="attachment_11681" align="aligncenter" width="503" caption="GEOMETRICS #1 & 3-Created by Maryva Mayo"][/caption] Here you see the Geometrics wall art, created to display smooth motion of  shapes and color. These pieces will keep you ... more...

Global Kids Present in Second Life

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Dec 1, 2011 12:16pm
Recently a group called Global Kids met up in Second Life to produce and take part in a virtual world talk show called "Let's Talk Sustainability." In the first episode, Global Kids teen leaders gathered in Second Life to share a video clip from The Meatrix, as well as a slideshow describing the production of a fast food product.  They discussed the video and slideshow and shared a game where audience members were able to participate and  express their opinions on different food issues. The avatar Cicero Kit, a.k.a Jennifer Dolan, an adjunct instructor for communications at Rasmussen College, was the featured guest in Second Life.  She shared with the audience how to eat healthily, how to locate organic and sustainable foods within their local communities, and how to stretch the grocery dollar during tough economic times. Some other topics Cicero spoke ... more...

Educators in Second Life: University of Technology, Sydney

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Nov 17, 2011 07:21am
The University of Technology, Sydney Australia (UTS) conducted a case study in 2011 with undergraduate students in the French and Japanese intermediate language and culture subjects offered in the International Studies Program. Each class participated in a series of Second Life activities over one semester during tutorials to complement traditional weekly lessons based on a textbooks and other materials.  A virtual representation of a two story furnished house was built in Second Life to simulate private space. In front of this building, four smaller single-level rooms were built for activities covering themes such as retail and administration. The focus of students interaction was synchronous (text chat) and asynchronous (through digital objects such as note cards and video screens). The aim of these activities was not only two allow students to communicate and to understand various themes (directions, household chores, leisure activities, giving ... more...

Let’s Talk Sustainability: An Invitation to all SL Educators & Students

published by Samantha Adams Nov 3, 2011 08:44am
Global Kids has just launched a virtual talk show that we are so excited about! Let’s Talk Sustainability is an intensive youth development program that supports high school youth to develop expertise regarding sustainability, online broadcasting, and virtual world construction. Global Kids youth in New York City combine this expertise to produce a talk show, featuring live interviews with scientists and other STEM-related professionals, pre-produced videos, and game show-like activities. This talk show is a virtual talk show, filmed before a live studio audience with TreetTV in Second Life, and is archived with downloadable materials that reach a broader audience and classrooms around the world. Each talk show is designed to introduce their audience to what professionals are doing in these fields and showcase what youth can do today to live in a more sustainable world. Global Kids is looking for audience ... more...

Educators in Second Life: Fachhochschule Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Oct 11, 2011 01:38pm
Thomas Molck, of the University of Applied Sciences shares how he uses Second Life to engage students. The information below was obtained from a paper which can be found on the university  website. Since 2007, the Department of Social Sciences & Cultural Studies at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf  has been offering  courses in Second Life in the area of "culture, aesthetics, and media". The Virtual world is used as a field of work for aspiring social workers, as well as being an artistic design space. The first two examples would also be conceivable  as an application scenario in continuing education programs : 1. Exploring the possibilities for creative design and communication in "Second Life" 2. 3D Design in Second Life. The first example includes about 40 students form learning groups after a general introduction to the  SL environment. Some topics of study for ... more...

Educators in Second Life: Arizona State University

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Sep 21, 2011 06:50am
Dr. Mary Stokrocki, Professor of Art Education at Arizona State, is another NMC educator using Second Life as a platform for education. Dr. Stokrocki shares, "I use my Art Ark site on the  NMC Campus in Second Life for teaching and research in several ways:" A.  I bring my undergrads here for a 3-hour class, like an introduction teaser in the educational possibilities of Second Life.  My site shows sculptural forms of architecture. B.  I formulate my teaching as a series of art quests. I start at my Ark with its Turkish oriental rug where students describe, analyze, interpret,  and judge the rug while searching for its treasures. My Art Ark Sign is linked to a blog so the students can click it and open the blog in their browser. C.  My graduate class is called Digital Ethnography and students meet in teams in ... more...

Educators in Second Life: Capella University

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Sep 6, 2011 07:43am
Wm. H.'Bill' Burkett, Ph.D. of Capella University explains how  they are creatively using Second Life as an educational platform. [caption id="attachment_9361" align="alignnone" width="508" caption="Capella University"][/caption] Capella University's School of Undergraduate Studies Information Technology Department is proud to be an innovator in using Second Life. One use we have for Second Life is in conducting our IT2240 Introduction to Programming. We use the Linden (Second Life) Scripting Language, which is an event driven language, as our beginning vehicle to learning  the theory of programming. On our parcel or land on the sim of  Teaching 10 in Second Life, we have several large sandboxes for our learners to use.  We have areas to gather for informal talks, a wall of distinction for past learner projects, and other areas as needed or requested. [caption id="attachment_9371" align="aligncenter" width="482" caption="Student learning at Capella in Second Life"][/caption] We have upwards ... more...

Educators in Second Life: Middlebury College

published by Carol Pfeifer/Tayzia Abattoir Aug 17, 2011 06:51am
Our educators were asked to share how they are using Second Life as an educational tool, and in the coming months we will report on their exciting projects. MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, VERMONT Professor Maria Wololson & Joe Antoniole the Manager of Web and Interactive Media of Middlebury College did a presentation on our Middleverse project at a conference in Madison. The project consisted of constructing a virtual social space for language acquisition. One of the questions answered in their presentation was why use virtual worlds? View the slideshow to find out the answer, and check out more presentations from Joseph Antonioli. Middlebury not only utilizes Second Life for Language Acquisition, but they are also teaching students government. The Terra Project is a virtual state simulation run by Professor Quinn Mecham of Middlebury College. The citizens -- or students -- of the Terra Project log in to Second Life ... more...

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