| Math is Second Life is everywhere! The basic building
tools of the world are all basic geometric shapes. Algebra can be introduced
as well as simple physics.
CDB Barkley (aka Alan Levine) : Feb 27,
2007 09:11am
Last night we interviewed for the NMC Studio One series, Jeremy Braver,
who has a Real Life avatar named Jeremy Koester, an 8th grade math teacher
from San Antonio Texas. As we had planned to talk a bit about the potential
of machinima in Second Life, we had planned to meet on NMC Campus at the new
Machinima Studio on Learning.
As it turns out, Jeremy arrived on time, but the grid was acting goofy,
and I could not connect (not for lack of trying or cussing). But as we run
our interviews over Skype, we had a great conversation (available below),
and after we were done, I was able to connect so we could pose for a “Dog
and Mouse” photo on the red carpet lobby:
So Jeremy is not only an 8th grade Math teacher, he’s also a Masters
student in Instructional Technology at
University of Texas at San Antonio, an avid game player, and as you can
tell from listening to him speak, an enthusiast for educational technology.
We talked about game theory, the potential for teaching Math in Second
Life, his new projects being planned for the Teen Grid (where he will be
known as “Math Binder”!), and possible educational uses of Machinima. He’s
volunteered to help lead an upcoming NMC Campus Teacher’s Buzz session with
a possible role play activity to put into gear.
Thanks Jeremy for taking time to chat with us!
Interview with Jeremy Braver [21:51m]:
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Examples:
Math in Second Life (p2)
above: The spindle-like object in the middle is called
Hyperboloid Of One Sheet. It is again a surface made entirely of
straight lines, often used as giant water cooler (chimney-like) at nuclear
power plants. To its right, the curvy structure, is “Negative Curvature
Fractal 4”.
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above: A plot of the
Lorenz attractor↗
as it generates.
above: A dragon (Capt Carroll) posting behind a tiling and symmetry
exhibition. These tiles are by Xah Toll. See
Introduction To
Symmetry. Address:
The Future,
(250,250,506)↗
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Pedagogy
This cateogory includes articles, blogs,
course websites, and any other sites that seem heavily focused on
pedagogy. Look here for sample assignments, instructor reflections,
and highly specific focus on SL in the classroom.
Burton, Andrew. “Giving a PowerPoint
Presentation in Second Life.”
http://www.oreilly.com/pub/h/5239 Provides information, codes, and hacks
for using a PowerPoint presentation in-world.
Farrell, Kate. Using Second Life in
Secondary Education
http://digitalkatie.wikispaces.com/Secondlife A wiki dedicated to
the pedagogical uses of SL for students in the 13-18 year age range.
Includes justification for use, sample lessons and assignments, plus a link
to Zoomlabs, whom are dedicated to promoting cultural connection between
children in all nations with the assistance of virtual environments.
Israel, Shel. Putting Second Life into
Education
http://redcouch.typepad.com/weblog/2007/01/farrels_part2.html
After beginning with a mighty claim that SL “may culminate with something
close to the Star Trek Holodeck,” the article proceeds into an interview
with Kate Farrell on her projects with grade and high school kids in SL.
Ixchel, Anya. “My Teaching Semester in
Second Life: Pitfalls, Challenges, and Joys.”
http://www.slatenight.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=40
An article in Slatenite
(a monthly online magazine covering arts and culture in SL) from an
Australian instructor teaching a New Literacies class in SL. Includes
procedures, pedagogy, and student perspectives.
Lamoureux, Ed. Lamoureux's Second Life.
http://slane.bradley.edu/com/faculty/lamoureux/website2/slstuff.html
SL page from the personal website of a professor at Bradley University.
In-world he goes by "Professor Beliveau" where he teaches an ethnography
course. Page features links and clippings from local sources about Lamoureux
and his work.
Lim, Kevin. "How NOT to Teach in Second
Life." Theory.IstheReason
http://theory.isthereason.com/?p=1363 Interview with Milosun
Czervik (RL: Ross Perkins) founder of the Second Life ICT Library.
Nesson Charles, Rebecca Nesson, and Gene Koo.
Course Website for Harvard's "CyberOne: Law in the Court of Public
Opinion" course.
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/ From the course website:
"If we do say so ourselves, the course will be unlike any that has ever been
taught. It is a course in persuasive, empathic argument in the Internet
space. Throughout the course we will be studying many different media
technologies to understand how their inherent characteristics and modes of
distribution affect the arguments that are made using them. Students will be
immersed in this study through project-based assignments in which they will
be using these technologies to make their own arguments."
Robbins, Sarah . Intellagirl’s English
Course Site
http://eng104sl.intellagirl.com/ This Joomla site features
information, assignments, and student blogs from Robbin’s English 104 class
at Ball State University. The class meets one a week F2F and once a week in
SL.
SimTeach
http://www.simteach.com/ Jeremy
Kemp's base site for educators using MUVEs. Sections on blogging, Wiki,
Forum, Machinima, Second Life, and There.
Tettegah, Sharon. Teaching and Learning in a
Virtual World
http://faculty.ed.uiuc.edu/stettega/virtualworlds/index.html
Tettegah is a professor at the University of Illinois. She teaches a course
entitle: Computer Assisted Instruction. This webpage highlights video
footage of student work done in SL across a wide range of ages (from
preschool to adult learning).
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