Relaunching an Educational Grid in OpenSimulator
Session will begin with a recap of the “pandemic paradox” – to highlight how the evolution of online learning in the post-lockdown era features elements that benefit virtual world simulations. The new expectations for online learning include the integration of real time webinars in previously asynchronous online courses. In turn, the mainstreaming of webinars into online courses provides a vehicle for training students (and faculty) on the use of virtual learning simulations. Further, virtual world learning simulations can be used as 3D, walk-around-in screen share alternatives to PowerPoint slides during course session webinars. As a related topic, this session will detail the benefits and pitfalls related to relaunching an educational grid from saved OAR and IAR files. Finally, student feedback on the relaunched educational grid and use of virtual simulations as screen share illustrations will be detailed.
Speaker
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Kay McLennanKay McLennan is a Professor of Practice at the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement. Kay created the Tulane SoPA Metaverse and has been creating and using virtual world learning simulations in her online economics, business studies, and online pedagogy courses since 2008. Kay uses student feedback to continually refine and expand the educational simulations she creates to use in her e-courses. She has written about her creation and use of OpenSimulator-based learning simulations – see “Interactivity, Engagement, and Increased Learning Outcomes in 3D Virtual World Educational Simulations” (@ http://www.editlib.org/p/40849), “Prisoners’ Dilemma” simulation use case example (@ https://sites.google.com/view/the-prisoners-dilemma/home), and “Data Detectives Game” simulation use case example (@ https://sites.google.com/view/data-detectives-game). Also, the video clips from the December 2018 “Mainstreaming Virtual World Learning Colloquium” event – organized by Kay — can be viewed @ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLctERt0Fl50gLOgYPdfHDE8NcPtuO4wb0.
