For Immediate Release: VWBPE 2023 Conference UNCOMMON REALITIES 23 - 25 March 2023 in Second Life®

 

The 16th annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference (#vwbpe23), beginning on Thursday, March 23rd, will be an online distributed conference happening in multiple virtual spaces. This conference focuses on the use of immersive virtual environments for educational purposes including virtual and augmented reality. VWBPE provides educational and networking opportunities that are relevant to educational curriculum development utilizing virtual environments and “best practices”. These include - helping to build community through the extension of learning best practices to the practical application of those ideas and techniques; - providing networking opportunities for educators and the communities that help support education; and - providing access to current innovations, trends, ideas, case studies, and other best practices for educators and the communities that help support education. Primarily, the issue being faced by the educational community is how to make the best use of new immersive technologies in a way that is sustainable and accessible based on limited budgets available to both instructors and students. Platforms that are free or open source, or that can be shared across a broad audience are showcased including methods and research around best practices in their use and applicability. VWBPE will again be using Linden Lab’s Second Life® environment as our primary conference venue for presentations, exhibits, roundtables, and discussions. Participants are free to submit proposals and immersive experience tours in any environment for education using technologies for virtual or augmented reality. We actively encourage showcasing multiple technology platforms. This includes practical application, researched papers, and conceptual, and content creation supporting those technologies. Our theme for this year is Uncommon Realities and the exploration of areas outside of our expertise that may be potentially opposed to our current outlook or worldview. As educators, we are having to adjust to more than just a transition from in-person to online methodologies. We are facing urgent challenges in the areas of remote classroom management, outdated policies or policies not designed to be applied to online environments, child psychology and welfare in online environments, health and safety considerations, and personal privacy, among others. This means embracing the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and innovative technologies to their best effect. Additionally, this open and free conference would not be possible without the generous contributions of our VWBPE sponsors. https://www.vwbpe.org/our-sponsors/vwbpe-2023-sponsors. The Rockcliffe Registration Portal is open for people to register new Second Life® avatars and find out more about the VWBPE conference in-world. Go to http://urockcliffe.org/reg/second-life/. The instructions are there to get you and your friends started at this educator-friendly newcomers’ region in Second Life®.

** WEB PAGES ** Conference Information: http://vwbpe.org Registration: http://vwb.pe/register Sponsors: https://www.vwbpe.org/our-sponsors/vwbpe-2023-sponsors Rockcliffe Gateway to Second Life®: http://urockcliffe.com/reg/second-life/

** SOCIAL MEDIA ** Second Life® Group secondlife:///app/group/8b03480a-793d-ba5b-5b6b-dd10afb5d38e/about Discord Channel https://discord.gg/Xjp5nn9D Facebook http://www.facebook.com/vwbpe Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/vwbpe_org/ LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/3754644/ Twitter http://twitter.com/vwbpe YouTube http://www.youtube.com/VWBPE ** MAJOR SPONSORS ** Linden Lab https://www.lindenlab.com/ Rockcliffe University Consortium https://urockcliffe.com/ Hire a Helper https://www.hireahelper.com/ Porch https://porch.com/ VSTE Virtual Environments PLN https://vste.org/ Virtual Ability https://virtualability.org/ Ageless Mind Project https://www.agelessmindproject.org/ Journal of Virtual Studies https://jovs.urockcliffe.press/ Agile Dimensions https://www.agiledimensions.com/blog/ ** CONTACT ** Beth Ghostraven VWBPE Communications Chair marketing@vwbpe.com

Read More

Learning in SecondLife: The Brooklyn Law School enters the metaverse and sparks a change

It is not uncommon for a real-life (RL) academic institution to innovate in education and how education is delivered. In fact, the COVID-19 outbreak that took the world by storm in March 2020 forced schools and other entities that function through face-to-face interactions into a reconfigured space of engagement, peer-to-peer, and business-to-customer. However, before the Pandemic, universities saw potential in Secondlife as the perfect vehicle to disseminate knowledge, even if it were and still is unusual. Look through the list of Secondlife's various destinations under education. You will see universities like Stanford, North Carolina State, and the University of South Florida, to name a few, listed there. However, the one that sticks out the most due to its relative 'newness' is the Brooklyn Law School, which has joined the bandwagon of education leaders at the forefront of digital learning. 

Because of Secondlife's unique nature, many see this multiverse as prime real estate to replica, to some degree, the academic experience schools provide to their students offline. Linden Labs, the entity behind Secondlife, has created a safe space for creatives and others that utilize Intellectual Property (IP) as its currency, thereby making it safe for schools and non-profits to enter the virtual world and establish an extension of their services, according to edutopia.org. 

For this reason, many SecondLife residents are granted access to educational information where there is none available or the opportunity to continue their education uninterrupted through an immersive adventure that allows the user to learn and do so in a unique way that draws their focus. The Brooklyn Law school identified this experience and decided to dive headfirst into the space. 

As with many academic institutions, this started with the emergence of the Pandemic. The students could not come to attend in-person law classes, so Joy, the law professor behind the launch of the virtual campus in late 2020, was struck with a genius idea---bring the experience of the classroom to the virtual world. This move to virtually enhance the learning experience of her law class gave her students and, soon, many others the opportunity to learn in a novel manner and partake in the socialization that SecondLife is renowned for. 

Soon, the virtual iteration of the Brooklyn Law School started to garner media attention from various universities across the globe for the innovative approach to the pedagogy of the law. Joy stated that many schools reached out to learn more about how. The answer is simple: replicate the natural world experience in SecondLife, which, as we all know, is not in the least bit impossible. For the law school, this means inviting professionals in the realm of the law to deliver lectures in-world, foster the space of learning and peer-to-peer engagement, and intently focus on the effects of immersion---a phenomenon frequently mentioned throughout the conversation. 

However, as Joy mentioned, the students were initially apprehensive because learning a subject as intense and involved as the law seemed impossible in a digital space like SecondLife. Nevertheless, students soon learned that his fear was unwarranted. The learning experience in the metaverse can be just as enriching as learning in the physical world, if not more, because of the boundless means of expression and interactivity that Zoom, the original learning vehicle for Joy's students, could not provide. 

When asked if the school is open to general residents, Joy declared that at the moment, no, it is designed for pupils of the Brooklyn Law School only; however, this is only for the moment. 

To learn more about the virtual rendition of the Brooklyn Law School, you can visit: 

https://www.law.com/2022/04/01/foreshadowing-how-law-schools-may-use-the-metaverse-brooklyn-law-created-virtual-campus-using-second-life-technology-at-beginning-of-pandemic 

An account is required to view the content. 

Visit www.secondlife.com to create a Second Life account.

Read More

EDUCATION IN CYBERSPACE – VIRTUAL WORLDS BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATION: JOSH(THOMAS1 BELLIC) REPORTING

The SecondLife Grid is home to a great many innovative groups of people who have devised new ways to incorporate Virtual Worlds into our daily lives. The areas of art, entertainment, finance, education, and others, have all been enhanced through their creative efforts. Leaders in the use of cyberspace in education, the folks at VWBPE just wrapped up their 15th annual Conference.  I recently sat down with Beth, iSkye, LV, and Kevin, me of the Staff of VWBPE and they graciously consented to answer a couple of questions about their innovative work in support of education.  

Let's get started, shall we?

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) JB:  So then, tell me, Beth.  Exactly what is this VWBPE thing the buzz is all about?

Beth:  VWBPE stands for Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education, which culminates in an annual online conference held each spring. Immersive virtual environments have been used in education long before the advent of head-mounted viewers like the Oculus Quest. We bring together educators and other interested people from all over the world to discuss how these environments can most productively be used for teaching and learning. 

JB:  How did the idea of a VWBPE conference come into being?

LV:  Back in early 2007 there were informal groups of educators and those interested in the potential of virtual worlds for education who would get together to talk about the ‘what might could be’. One of the ideas tossed around based on their personal (and physical) experiences was “What would happen if we had a conference and asked educators to share their best practices?”  These informal discussions became more serious, and SL-BPE (Second Life Best Practices in Education) was born. 

On May 25, 2007, 1300 educators from around the world gathered at the Second Life Best Practices in Education: Teaching, Learning, and Research 2007 International Conference in the virtual world of Second Life. The event was the first 24-hour, international conference ever to take place entirely within a virtual world. 

After a year’s hiatus, Rockcliffe University Consortium took over the conference co-ordination and SL-BPE was reborn in 2009 as Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE). It continues to this day.

JB:   This Conference is a big undertaking.  How many folks does it take to put on something like this, of this magnitude?

Beth:  At the top, we have the Executive Committee of three people. They are joined by six more people to make up the Organizing Committee. We also have the help of dozens more people who assist with the conference itself. Our volunteers are second to none in their dedication, enthusiasm, and energy, in every part of the Conference. 

 

Kevin:  All in total there are between 70-90 people that are dedicating their time to bringing this conference to life. 

JB:   What are some of the more interesting areas a visitor might see at a VWBPE Event?

Beth:  My favorite part of this conference is the Exhibit Hall, which is unlike anything you’d see at a brick-and-mortar conference. Our theme for the conference build for the past three years has been Outer Space, so exhibitors are given a parcel floating in space in which to build something. It’s so amazing to see the things they come up with to portray their ideas and offerings! The exhibits are open through April 23rd, by the way.

It’s also fun during the conference to see some of the different avatars that people use to represent themselves. At various times I have been a human, a tiny hedgehog, and a bunny, for instance.

JB:   What are some of the more inventive things that have been pioneered at VWBPE?

iSkye: One example is a different approach to mathematics, called SubQuan, which if you try it, revolutionizes the ability to do and understand math, from addition/subtraction to multiplication/division, to algebra, geometry, and more. The demonstration was entirely in 3D. A 5-year-old child could catch on within minutes - me with a university degree, I caught on very quickly and I haven’t forgotten it!

JB:   Have you heard of some success stories as educators implement the things they learn at these conferences?

Kevin:  Many educators credit their desire to create a curriculum in Second Life based on what they have seen other people do at our conference. 

 

LV: Absolutely.  A common story is that someone was inspired by a presentation or an exhibit and later made contact with the presenter, becoming collaborators in future work.  Another is graduate students using presentations to further their research interests and partnerships.  An advantage to virtual world events like this is the ability to IM someone immediately to express an interest in their work. 

JB:   Second Life is, arguably, a VW platform designed for adults.  Do you know of any particular child-safe Virtual Worlds that teachers can use in their classrooms or during remote learning scenarios?

Beth:  Although the conference deals with a multitude of virtual environments, we use Second Life for the conference itself because it’s the crossroads for virtual world educators to make connections with each other. Open Simulator and Minecraft: Education Edition offers the privacy that’s needed for younger children, and some of us are working with Linden Lab to have the same affordances in Second Life.

JB:   You do employ a lot of volunteers for these events.  How might someone get involved in supporting  VWBPE, either during the annual conference or throughout the year?

Beth:  The best thing to do is to contact Bluebarker Lowtide, our Volunteers Chair (https://www.vwbpe.org/contact). Starting in January we’ll begin recruiting volunteers for the conference itself, and the volunteer registration form opens up at that time. If you’re interested in more of a leadership role, contact Kevin Feenan at info@vwbpe.org at any time. Planning for the next conference begins right after the past conference, and starts to pick up speed in the Fall. Volunteering is a great way to meet interesting people! 

JB:   Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about VWBPE?

Beth:  These environments are incredibly immersive and creativity-inspiring. There is a myriad of inventive ways that people are using different environments for education, and this conference is the heart of it. 

 

Kevin:  Instructors have used these environments to create immersive experiences that help students connect with skills in a way that is simply not possible simply by reading a book, watching presentations, or videos. The ability to place your mind’s eye from the vantage point of people at the heart of a learned experience and to appreciate the critical reasoning by being in the moment can provide greater insight by reframing one’s situational awareness. 

JB:   Where might a person go to get more information about VWBPE?

Beth:  We keep our website (http://vwbpe.org) updated with current information and blog posts during the year. If you’re in Second Life, there’s a VWBPE group you can join that’s very helpful. We’re also on several social media platforms that are linked to the website. You can also ask anyone on the Organizing Committee, including me, Beth. (Beth Ghostraven)  for more information - we’re happy to help you get involved with education in immersive 3D worlds.

So there you have it, folks. For the most innovative solutions and cutting-edge uses of Virtual Worlds to enhance education for students, check out VWBPE.org and learn how can get involved in this innovative outreach.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VWBPE%20Gateway%20Pyxis/98/128/24

Be there!  Aloha!!

JB

Read More

VWBPE 2022 Conference PHOENIX RISING Opens 31 March 2022 in Second Life®

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 15th annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference, beginning on Thursday, March 31st, will be an online distributed conference happening in multiple virtual spaces. This conference focuses on the use of immersive virtual environments for educational purposes including virtual and augmented reality. 

VWBPE provides educational and networking opportunities that are relevant to educational curriculum development by utilizing virtual environments and “best practices”. These include

- helping to build community through the extension of learning best practices to the practical application of those ideas and techniques;

- providing networking opportunities for educators and the communities that help support education; and

- providing access to current innovations, trends, ideas, case studies, and other best practices for educators and the communities that help support education.

Primarily, the issue being faced by the educational community is how to make the best use of new immersive technologies in a way that is sustainable and accessible based on limited budgets available to both instructors and students. Platforms that are free or open-source, or that can be shared across a broad audience are showcased including methods and research around best practices in their use and applicability.

VWBPE will again be using Linden Lab’s Second Life® environment as our primary conference venue for presentations, exhibits, roundtables, and discussions. Participants are free to submit proposals and immersive experience tours in any environment for education using technologies for virtual or augmented reality. We actively encourage showcasing multiple technology platforms. This includes practical application, researched papers, conceptual, and content creation supporting those technologies.

Our theme for this year is Phoenix Rising and the exploration of areas outside of our expertise that may be potentially opposed to our current outlook or world view. As educators, we are having to adjust to more than just a transition from in-person to online methodologies. We are facing urgent challenges in the areas of remote classroom management, outdated policies or policies not designed to be applied to online environments, child psychology and welfare in online environments, health and safety considerations, and personal privacy, among others. This means embracing the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and innovative technologies to their best effect.

This year's keynote speakers are Dr. Randall Sadler and Oksana Levytska. We also have several invited speakers: Patch Linden, Maria Korolov, and Dr. Cynthia Calongne.

All of the conference events will be in Second Life® this year, and the locations are included in the listings. When you click on a conference event and click Add to Calendar, you can add the event to your own calendar (Google and more).

**VWBPE 2021 GATEWAY**

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VWBPE%20Gateway%20Pyxis/100/128/24

**WEB PAGES**

Conference Information: http://vwbpe.org  

Program: https://www.vwbpe.org/conference/program 

Registration: http://vwb.pe/register   

Sponsors: https://www.vwbpe.org/vwbpe-2022-sponsors 

Rockcliffe Gateway to Second Life®: http://urockcliffe.com/reg/second-life/  

**SOCIAL MEDIA**

Second Life® Group - secondlife:///app/group/8b03480a-793d-ba5b-5b6b-dd10afb5d38e/about

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/vwbpe 

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/vwbpe_org 

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/groups/3754644

Twitter - http://twitter.com/vwbpe 

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/VWBPE

Read More

One Year Later - Update on Biology Club - SLE Reporting

One Year Later-Update on Biology Club

It has been a year since our first spotlight on Biology Club. Since then, it has risen to one of the top venues on the grid! Dresi Ligati (dresella.joubert) and her team delivered on her vision to bring a multi-genre experience to Second Life. SLE is pleased to meet up with Dresi again and get an update on this very successful venue.

Interview with Dresi

SLE: Congratulations on a successful first year since your feature last June.  You recently celebrated your 1st anniversary.  We are glad to see you are still doing what you love. Has your team grown since our last interview?

Dresi:  Our team has grown exponentially since we last spoke.  We've expanded so that we are now open Wednesdays-Sundays.  The club is open Wed-Sat from 12-10 pm SLT and on alternating Sundays, we have the one and only Seth Regan at 8 pm SLT.

SLE:  I’ve seen venues come and go through the years and here you are making waves in the entertainment scene.  It’s a tough virtual industry, how do you manage to keep Biology Club so successful?

Dresi:  Oh goodness, it is a LOT of hard work!  But we have an amazing management team and a staff that is second to none!  We have a theme that is a little different with a lot of interactivity throughout.  Your readers should come "Join the Evolution" with us! 

SLE: Being so successful for the last year, what do you feel you have contributed to the music scene if anything?  

Dresi:  First of all, we showcase the finest in SL Live Talent at our space-age open-air concert venue.  Likewise, we offer DJs who serve up genres ranging from Pop to EDM to Hard Rock and everything in between at the club, so it's always a place where visitors can enjoy great music and good company.  Our DJs also participate in events such as SL Birthdays, Rock Your Rack, and SL SciFi Expo, so we're bringing fine music for top celebrations, as well as, raising money for great causes.  We have a LOT on the docket for this upcoming year as well, so stay tuned!

SLE: Running a venue can be expensive to start, what advice would you give new venue owners just starting out?

Dresi:  PLEASE don't open a venue with the expectation of getting rich.  If you're not passionate about music in SecondLife, it may not be your niche.  You have to do it for the love of music and entertainment in order to make the benefits of venue ownership worth the risks thereof.

SLE: We see great performers and Djs grace the stage at Biology Club. What type of events do you have coming up? 

Dresi: Here's a link to our events calendar at Biology Club!  I hope everyone will find something fun and entertaining that they will want to come out and enjoy with us! Biology Club Calendar: https://tinyurl.com/dajwhnph

SLE: Are you currently hiring? Orion needs a job. 

Dresi: Absolutely, we are hiring hosts, DJs, and live performers!  As we continue to solidify our core staff and live performers, we will have spots available around the clock!  Have Orion stop by and fill out an application.  LOL!! 

SLE: How can performers book shows at Biology Club?

Dresi:  Send a bio, manager's contact information, booking fees, and a schedule to me (dresella.joubert).   I will absolutely listen to YouTube channels and SoundCloud, but I really want to see their shows!  Performers can send their information either on FB or inworld (my name is the same in both places)

SLE: A network of friends in the SL entertainment industry is instrumental in helping keep an active club.  How do you work together with other venues to ensure you grow together instead of competing with each other?

Dresi: Oh now this is a VERY interesting question.  I have a lot of friends in the entertainment industry and we are always working together to share information and form new alliances.  But over and above this, there are some very special things in the works on this score that I'm not at liberty to talk about just yet, but in the coming months, we will be sending you a Press Release to announce a very special addition to SL's entertainment world.

SLE: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Dresi:  I want you readers to know just how much we appreciate all of the love and support over the past year.  We couldn't have brought this club to its present status without each and every one of them and we look forward to providing them with the finest in quality entertainment on the grid for many years to come!

Additional information

Group:  secondlife:///app/group/3d42ad19-fc0a-f717-eeaa-c37072c88328/about

Other:  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/biologyclubsl/?hl=en  

Calendar:  https://tinyurl.com/vnnpjjx9  

SLURL:     https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Desert%20Moon/139/129/3002

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/BiologyClubSL/

Related articles:

 

http://www.slenquirer.com/2020/06/spotlight-on-biology-club-multi-genre.html

 

Read More

Adventures in Education: Dandilyon Jinx Reports on Woodcrest University

While many of the educational institutions sit idle during the summer months, this is not the case at Woodcrest University. A residential and role play sim, the university sits in the middle of a bustling town with active coffee shops, workout gyms, and sports bars. While Woodcrest has no real world accreditations, the education there is authentic.

This reporter had an opportunity to experience this first hand by attending Professor Daragan Cabeza·de·Vaca’s Art & Design class. "Originally from Spain, I emigrated from there when I was a teenager," said Cabeza·de·Vaca. “Fast-forward to today… I'm 23 years old and aside from teaching, I'm a grad student in our MBA program, active in our Greek System, and throw the Javelin for our Angry Beavers Track Team.” Despite having a full plate of activities, the Professor still makes herself available to her students if they need extra help.

The class filled up with students quickly, and after everyone signed in for attendance, the professor began. "Tonight we're continuing on with the genre of Art Nouveau,” she said. She commenced by teaching a full class on the topic, centering on Art Nouveau through Austrian painter, Gustav Klimt. As students, we watched short films, listened as the professor explained the slides, and answered questions. 

After an engaging and highly informative lesson, Cabeza·de·Vaca concluded class in her usual way. "Thank you for your time and the desire to experience our world in an expressive, Artistic way. Until next Monday, Stay Safe out there, Practice your Art, and be Extra-kind to one another. Class dismissed."

After experiencing a class at Woodcrest University, I went to have a look around campus. Everywhere were clear signs of school pride. A list of classes included psychology, astronomy, and performing arts. As I explored, I found fully equipped classroom laboratories and music rooms. A library, cafeteria, and student council meeting rooms were all in use. A sports program at the university has a full stadium and gymnasium. The school sports teams include basketball, boxing, football, track and field, swimming, wrestling, and a cheerleading squad.

The students were friendly as well. Pεᴛεя Áηdяεw Pαяᴋεя was happy to give me a brief tour of the campus on his way up to Professor Cabeza·de·Vaca’s class. A typical student, Pαяᴋεя struggles to balance a busy life. “Sadly I don't always make it to classes due to work but the ones I do, I enjoy a lot.” Pαяᴋεя’s name appears on the school honor rolls, so his balancing act is working.

A packed school calendar is a good indication of how involved life at Woodcrest can be, but the overall message seems to be one of kindness and excellence. A Dean’s List and Honor Roll inspire students to excel, but as Dean Steven Lovecraft III says in his welcome, “Woodcrest is a place to find belonging---a place to engage in the dialectic of finding and expressing yourself while building up and not tearing down one another. Welcome to this special place.”

A large and dedicated staff help to make the university a great experience. Teachers must apply to lead classes. While role-playing is part of the experience, real educational content is the focus. That was certainly true of the class I attended.  Attendance is taken by the instructors and sent to the University Coordinator. At the end of each half-semester, Instructors can recommend students for Honors or High Honors.

To complete the student life experience, fraternity and sorority chapters self-govern and maintain houses on Greek Row. The Council of the Woodcrest University Student Union represents both the undergraduate council and the graduate assembly and connects the administration with the students. The council sponsors student clubs and school spirit. 

The town of Woodcrest welcomes new residents that would like to be positive and active participants in the culture. Their website describes the town as “a vibrant college town” where local residents and the university's students work side by side. From interning with the police department and emergency services to working in the local businesses, interaction and cooperation is encouraged. The town founders have even established a fund supporting entrepreneurial students to start businesses of their own.

Residents looking for a full university experience with a diverse student body and a focus on academics and positivity need look no farther than Woodcrest University.

Go Beavers!

Additional Information:

SLURL: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20Docks/155/29/22/

URL: https://woodcrestu.wixsite.com/woodcrest

Woodcrest University secondlife:///app/group/d23a87bc-9043-2251-2228-9630791e8ca2/about

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/london.docks

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/groups/woodcrestrp

Preferred contact: Bliss Fairchild (blissful.loon)

Images credit: Dandilyon Jinx

Woodcrest University.jpg

Woodcrest Stadium.jpg

Professor Daragan Cabeza·de·Vaca.jpg

Professor Daragan Cabeza·de·Vaca 2.jpg

Woodcrest University Admissions.jpg

Read More