second life for engagement, outreach, and building interdisciplinary communities of learning
DESCRIPTION
For Medical Library Association 2008, Annual MeetingTRANSCRIPT
Second Life for Engagement, Outreach,
and Building Interdisciplinary
Communities of LearningPatricia F. Anderson1, Emerging Technologies Librarian,
<[email protected]>; Sharon Grayden, Instructional Learning Senior, Dental
Informatics; Marc R. Stephens, Multimedia Services, Medical School
Administration; Gillian Mayman1, Informatics Librarian; Anne Perorazio1, Infopoint; Mark P. MacEachern1, Liaison Librarian; Jane
Blumenthal1, Director 1Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI
Patricia F. Anderson1, Emerging Technologies Librarian, <[email protected]>;
Sharon Grayden, Instructional Learning Senior, Dental Informatics;
Marc R. Stephens, Multimedia Services, Medical School Administration;
Gillian Mayman1, Informatics Librarian; Anne Perorazio1, Infopoint; Mark P. MacEachern1, Liaison Librarian; Jane
Blumenthal1, Director 1Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI
Background: What is Second Life? Buzzwords
Virtual World MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environment)
NOTE: Not a game, although may include game activities
Major relevant activities Education (“killer app”) Social networks --> support groups Professional meetings, presentations,
seminar series, discussion groups, etcetera
Background: Why librarians in Second Life?
Jason Griffey (via Twitter): “It’s not the tool, it’s the training. Re. SL. We need to get used to that sort of interaction, because it’s coming.”
Background: Why are we in Second Life? Vision
Ted Hanss, UM Medical School
Jane Blumenthal, UM Health Sciences Libraries
Timeline March 2007 - purchase Spring & Summer -
planning August 2007 - building September 2007 -
Wolverine Island opens to select group of faculty and students
Phase One: Engagement Context: Wolverine Island “a gleam in the
eye” Library develops team with Second Life (SL)
responsibilities 1. Build SL skills 2. Discover relevant SL locations & resources
Libraries Health & healthcare Science Education
3. Make connections in SL with possible mentors/partners
4. Facilitate discovery and connection for our faculty and University community.
SL: Libraries
SL: Health & healthcare
SL: Science
Phase Two: Outreach
Context: Wolverine Island in active development, portions open to restricted group, not open to campus community
Library team members collaborate with health science schools To promote Second Life opportunities To inform interested faculty about SL To disseminate Second Life skill base To develop a campus cohort with skills & interest
Initial outreach and collaboration focused on Medical School and School of Dentistry
Phase Two: Presentations
What’s a Nice Library Like Yours Doing in a Place like This?: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whats-a-nice-library-20070731
Phase Two: Podcasts
Why Work & Teach With Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/why-work-teach-with-second-life
Phase Two: Orientations
Getting Started in Second Life: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/getting-started-in-second-life
Phase Two: Really the Real World Face-to-face Consultations
Private On-demand In offices In Second Life
Classes Single sessions for faculty & staff Student cohort class taught as four
session elective in Medical School
Phase Two: Video / Machinima Science
Learning Opportunities in Second Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsSGBraUhc
Phase Three: Interdisciplinary Learning Communities Context: Wolverine Island open to
campus community, alumni, and invited guests Wolverine Island highly secured, so
access must be requested even for authorized visitors
Focus on community building & engagement
Phase Two activities continue Phase Three activities add to activity
mix.
Phase 3: Dec 07 - Open
Wolverine Island open for community events
Phase Three: Dec 07 - Brownbags Begin Every Friday at noon local time,
9am SLT
Phase Three: Events - Speakers JJ Drinkwater -
SL Community Building
Joop Zuhal - SL Teaching, Pros & Cons
Jenny Levine @ ALA
Caia Alter - Pharmacy Research Labs
Phase Three: Events - Tours Dante Project InfoIsland International Nursing Education Simulator (NESIM) Play2Train
Phase Three: Classes & Professional Presentations
Basic Clothing Design Class: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/basic-clothing-design-in-second-life
Enriching Scholarship 2008 S’Lang Health event: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/sl-healthy-
slang Virtual Worlds, Libraries, Education, Museums:
http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/whatcha-gonna-do-an-academic-health-sciences-library-in-second-life-embraces-new-roles-298438/
Phase Three: Opening the Library Ground Level: Freebies, Food Court Main Level: Service Desk, Guides,
Casual Seating, Fireplace, Games Mezzanine: Exhibits Top Level:Small Group Study Space
with Public Slide Viewers / Social Space, Dance Floor
Phase Three: Outworld Community building with other social
technology & media tools Flickr Blogs Wiki Google Calendar
Assessment: Metrics
Dec 07 - Apr 08 18 events >190 participants Largest group = ~20 Smallest group = 7 Usual group = ~11 Usual group is mostly regulars - repeat
visits
Campus Communities in Collaboration Health programs
Medical School (SL/RL) School of Dentistry (SL/RL) Kinesiology (SL/RL) Public Health (SL/RL) Pharmacy School (SL/RL) School of Nursing (RL)
Non-health programs Computer Sciences Dearborn Campus Distance Learning Literature, Sciences & Arts (Foreign Languages, Writing) Libraries School of Information Unspecified
Real Life Patrons (est.)
Second Life Patrons (est.)
Assessment: Survey
Sent through all channels for event announcements Email group Second Life groups Blog & wiki Reminders
27 responses Survey composition: 48% faculty / librarian;
41% staff; 11% alumni 78% attended SL events; 22% had not Results interesting, but not reliable
Survey - Communication Best communication methods
#1 - Email group (does not include alumni)
#2 - Word of mouth #3-4 - Second Life groups #5 - Blog
Survey - Popular Events
#1 - Discussion (Second Life research methods & issues)
#1 - ALA’s Jenny Levine on Gaming in Libraries
#2 - Tour (Genome) #2 - Tour (JS Vavoom, Nursing ACLS) #3 - Joop Zuhal (Pros/Cons SL Teaching) #3 - Tour (InfoIsland) #3 - Tour (Play2Train) Note: All events were listed as favorites by
some; average score was 6, with range from 3 to 10
Survey - Suggestions Orientation / rank beginner classes Schedule more help for newbies in real world venues Use SL to deliver more RL content Resource sharing - what have you learned, how did
you learn it More focus on research & funding options More focus on health care consumer communities More hands-on activities (scripting / building) Collaborate with Alumni Association Organize a campus wide day-long conference about
SL Use SL to build more patient communities in support
of clinical care
Concerns
“Presentations are good, just don’t often hit the sweet spot of my particular interests”
“I usually miss these. How are they announced?”
“This forum is not of interest to me or my primary clientele”
“I wish I could participate, but I just do not like Second Life at all”
“I’d love to participate, but can’t at the current time”
Kudos
“I look forward to attending every week.”
“This is an amazing group and effort!” “Many thanks for organizing the SLUM
events. I find all the topics quite interesting”
“An incredible job” “A big THANK YOU for … time and
effort”