Social interaction in virtual worlds: Designing for ICC in 3D
Ton Koenraad, Mabelle Hermandéz, Lex Hermans
Agenda
• MUVEs?• Design principles for NIFLAR 3D VLE’s• Task and object driven activities• Demo • Hands-on
• 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
Main NIFLAR objectives :
Second Life
Open Sim
Adobe connect
VAN TEKST- MOO naar…
Educational Potential• multimedia• time & place independent• synchronous & asynchronous, written & oral
interaction • flexible• Identity experimentation
d
http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses
Link
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
Reception / Exploratorium
Game SpaceSimulation Space
Open Simulator Platform
VLE
COMPONENTS
Exploratoriumfor cultural info, encounters and events
Simulation Spacefor ICC-training & assessment
Game Spacefor cultural knowledge quests & games
NIFLAR @ Second Life NIFLAR Launchroom @ Virtlantis SIM
NIFLAR @ Second Life Launchroom & Holodecked Tasks on Virtlantis
Task Example : Discovering Mexico
NIFLAR OS design processfrom first ideas to realisation
Specifications Realisations
NIFLAR OS MegaSim: Four (4) voice-enabled Regions
• Reception
• Spanish SIM
• Asterix Village
+ Projectlandia
NIFLAR OS MegaSIM: 4 regions
Reception SIMProject Home, International Meeting & Communication Area,
Tandem Language Learning Space
Cartoon PuzzlerInfo Gap: collaborative problem solving
Talking Lottery BallsInspired 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.
Cultural Knowledge Quiz:exchange, discuss, convince, move, apologize…
SLOODLE for NIFLAR OpenSim Worlds
• WebIntercom -- links text-chat in-world to a Moodle chatroom
• Quiz Chair -- students can do a Moodle quiz from in-world, and receive audio-visual feedback on their progress
• CultureQuest• Awards system
Asterix Village 3D-visualisation of Third Place concept and historical dimension (ICC pedagogy)
Asterix village: PUB + antique tourist artefacts
Asterix: Harbour & Campo Sportivohistorical approach to folk/street games
Spain: Urban area (Valencia design by Nadia Revenga García)
NIFLAR Valencia city
Projectlandia: default scenario & facilities + ad hoc activities &
projects (e.g. Adventures in 3D)
•Projectlandia: Regions for future target groups, e.g. ChinaVillage (holodeck approach)
Student involvement & CoP development
• Ownership: student profiles / cultural knowledge sharing
• Authorable content objects facilitating blended approach
• Partner consortium • OS-LingoGrid
Implementation issues.Prerequisites (Contexts: University / 2nd Ed.)
• Technology:• Computer access
(school / home)• Installed Viewers +
voice finetuning• User training
• Partners:• Projectplanning (!) +
content (3D / tasks)
• Curriculum:shared & local learning goals + assessment
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.
Data sources
• Recorded interactions• Pre & post oral tests• Surveys (pre, mid and post)• Interviews
Would you like to know more about the NIFLAR project?
Read about results in our publications &
Join us at niflar.ning.comwww.niflar.eu
Thank you for your attention!!
