Basic virtual skills, course tech basics, & your background – see the assignment sheet for

details

- MathSci Crystal (aka Eileen O’Connor)-Step 1: NOTE: get a public avatar when you download Second Life

(www.secondlife.com ) but (Step2: ) use the private username & password for your first visits (its brings you to SER/VE (the STEM

Exploratory Real/Virtual Island). I DID NOT use the avatar given by Second Life at the beginning - here’s a 1 min animation on

downloading

There are many more skills & abilities within SER/VE (the STEM Exploratory Real/Virtual Environment. The slides here only show

you the course basics to show you a model for your first assignment. Please test and have fun with more options in the

virtual world. You can build in the fenced in area in the SouthEase – click into the advanced section at the bottom of this link for

info.

Step 1 & 2: Use the private avatar• I have two avatars; here’s how I downloaded– The public one I will use later to go with the class

to virtual science locations – The private one (you will be emailed this

username & password); should be used when you are starting • It brings you to a private island that can also be used

with K12 student

Step 3: You have to start at the Science Center – walking through the door is the 1st challenge

Walk using your arrows or click Move on the screen bottom & choose other ways to navigate

Be sure to practice walking, flying, and running – it is easy for kids but harder for adults – here’s a 1 min animation

Move gives you access to many ways to get around

– run, walk, or fly

Step 4: Sit on a chair in the Science Center; we will have many meetings & hear speakers in here

Right click a chair > click Sit Here

Step 5: Turn the camera; zoom in on your avatar’s face

Click Alt on your keyboard > click on your avatar (the icon turns to a magnifying glass) > use the arrows on your keyboard to move around; use your mouse scroll-wheel to zoom in/out . Press ESC if you get stuck, then use this over. Practice – you will need to zoom in on other avatars when they are speaking.

Here’s a link to a 1 min. animation on viewing.

In the next slide, you will see me taking a picture.

Step 6: Take a picture of your avatar – turned so you can see the face

Just like before on the top of the screen, click World > Snapshot > select the way you want the Snapshot to be saved; save it on your computer with a name / location that you can find. The link again

Step 7: I wanted to find more locations, so I clicked World > World Map > double clicked in the Pod 9 area (observe the

approximate shape of USA – here’s the link to World Map & teleporting)

This is your avatar

location Double click over here to move directly to

the pod area

Step 8. I first tested my listening in Sound Test Pod 9

Step 9. Test w/ me speaking

You can see the green waves; be sure you are zoomed out far enough to be able to see them we you take a picture.

And, yes, even avatars can get caught with their eyes closed for a picture.

Step 10-2. Back in the Science Center. Here I learned that students could work well in virtual

spaces – with some direction

Step 10-3. I am in the Retail store. Lots I could buy here – now how do I get some money?

Step 10-4. The Delta building could be good for small meetings – maybe we could hear from other

teachers in the MAT

Step 10-5. Wouldn’t it be great to have a REAL observatory?

Step 10-6. Finally, I went to the NW corner

and found a neat A-Frame – a good

place for a meeting or for

relaxation

Pictures of the green waves – I did this with PrintScreen & copy/pasting into the PowerPoint – here’s the link

You can see the Me > Preferences > Sound & media menu too; I can test the sound this way; I

used the PrintScreen method here

Step 11 - 1: Here’s one of the course screen-capture – it’s an older course but you can get the ideas – 1.6 min animation link on taking screen captures & then trimming & formats –

from the Angel course, you need to show: Overview of Modules

Please read the course’s opening materials; they tell you about course

expectations and grades

Step 11 - 2: Here’s another of the course screen-capture page – here’s the other one you need to show:

Grade Distribution / Schedule/ Expectations / Deadline & Penalties

Please read the course’s opening materials; they tell you about course

expectations and grades

Step 12c: How do I think of my career?

Life

Family

Science

But the sizes are always changing and the colors on the gears change

too

Links to many aspects of working with PowerPoint & the Microsoft drawing and annotation features

The rest of the pages are about my hope & my realities – the rest of Step 12

Please share about yourself

So I figured I would tell you something about my interest in science & then about my experience & my family

(So, why did you choose science in the 1st place?)

- here’s how I would like to think about ME as a scientist and a science teacher – and I show off some useful tech features too

When I daydream my chemistry world . . .

• I see a laboratory, the old fashioned kind. Like Dr. Frankenstein. I see bottles, bunsen burners, distillation heads. I remember Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Van Helsing.

• Fictional thought they be, they worked to find the language, the power, & the beauty of what was hidden. The sought to know the patterns of the universe. They piqued my fancy.

In my science world, I have interesting and creepy friends

Can you tell that I like old horror movies too?

And that these drawing features can let you point

our important safety features – look at how

well this creature is strapped down

And where else could you get to drink great concoctions like this?

There are tons of great images on the web; be sure to include the links to avoid

copyright issues .

Just a reminder, here are Links to many aspects of working with PowerPoint & the Microsoft drawing and annotation features

But my real favorite is that I get to work from room like this. (Can you figure where this room came from? See the next page for the answer)

Look closely

It’s the room of Sherlock Holmes as chemist

The National Institute of Health likes Sherlock too; see how he introduces interesting forensic information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs/galleries/exhibition/wave_image_18.html (retrieved 12/07)

When I daydream my chemistry world . . .

• I see a laboratory, the old fashioned kind. Like Dr. Frankenstein. I see bottles, bunsen burners, distillation heads. I remember Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Van Helsing.

• Fictional thought they be, they worked to find the language, the power, & the beauty of what was hidden. The sought to know the patterns of the universe. They piqued my fancy.

The real me• Was a middle school & elementary school teacher – 1969 & 1970• Worked as an environmental chemist (for Westchester Co.) & an application

chemist for Technicon in 1970’s; worked at IBM in 1980’s• Began teaching in higher ed in 1991 (chemistry / computers 1991 - 1996); began in

teacher education in 1993• Education:

– B.A. in biology w/ minor in chemistry (College of New Rochelle)– MS in Civil Engineering – Environmental Health Science (Polytechnic University

of NY)– Ph.D. in Science Education and Instructional Technology - SUNY/ University at

Albany• Four children (25 – 41 yr old); 6 grandchildren (5 – 13 year old); a lawyer hubbie

(too old to count)

The people I love the most (and I am in here too – guess which one?)

Looking forward to learning more ways to teach science with you