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Village 2011

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Return to the EVO Call for Participation

VILLAGE

Language Learning and Community Building in Second Life

(VILLAGE is an acronym for Virtual Language Learning and Group Experience)

Abstract

In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in the use of virtual worlds like Second Life (hereafter referred to as SL) as a tool for synchronous oral communication. It has opened up opportunities for interactive, immersive language learning through “new kinds of social encounters, new kinds of communities, and new kinds of learning environments'' (Kern, 2010, forthcoming). Indeed Second Life is “the third most popular social software application after YouTube and Facebook” (Gilly Salmon, 2010) and could be used to help improve our learners’ communication skills in the target language. Teachers in turn need to know enough about the technological options available and their suitability to support authentic communication needs of their learners.

In this EVO session we hope to facilitate this process by helping them to develop basic SL skills which are appropriate for and relevant to teaching and learning foreign languages. We will introduce the participants to various language learning scenarios in SL. We will make them familiar with the affordances of SL such as interactions across cultures using simulated real-life scenes, recreations of historical monuments, real life cities and places which are suited for role plays and scaffolded conversation practice.

Apart from exploring this virtual world, we will meet regularly in-world in round table expert discussions, invite SL experienced language teachers to relate their experience and reflect on the experiences in learning conversations in a relaxed atmosphere so as to experience the social side of Second Life.

Target Audience

The session is specifically aimed at newbies to virtual worlds. However, we expect participants to have some experience of using web 2.0 tools in teaching and have access to a computer that is capable running Second Life ( This can be checked here: http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php). Where possible we will be using voice, so a headset is required.

Experience of virtual worlds like Second Life is not a pre-requisite for joining this session. There will be ample help and practice offered on the skills necessary to participate in the SL activities of the course. However, those who have experience of using Second Life and virtual worlds in language teaching and learning are also welcome to join this session as believe the participants can also draw on their experience of using Second Life.

Sponsoring TESOL Entity

CALL-IS

Syllabus

Session Objectives

We have identified the following objectives for the course:

to help the teacher learners to get to know each other
to help them to open a Second Life account and change their appearance
to introduce basic features of Second Life: e.g. sitting & standing; moving from place to place, turning round, flying using voice etc.
to visitdifferent spaces in Second Life to explore their potential to be used for language learning
to visitsome spaces in Second Life where languages are taught to understand how Second Life is being used or may be used for language learning, teaching and practice both informally and formally
to participate in a learning conversations with experienced educators in Second Life and reflect on them
to reflect on what they have experienced during the course and to share their ideas with others in the discussion forum
to facilitate formation of active community of practice.

Weekly Outline

Week 1 - Introductions (Jan 11 - 17, 2010)

This week we will be meeting each other and introducing ourselves. Participants will be encouraged to sign up for a basic account in Second Life using the website and provide us with their Second Life name. We will send them an invitation to join our Second Life group (the group name to be decided later). Then meeting in-world, we will help them change their avatar appearance, and usecamera control. We will introduce them to ways of avatar movement (walking, running, flying, sitting, and teleporting), and ways to set up and use text and voice chat.

Week 2 - Second Life Tools and Resources (Jan 18 - 24, 2010)

This week we will help them to develop basic ‘navigational skills, e.g creating landmarks & teleporting to other places & map and mini map reading. They will also consider ways of ‘networking’ in SL: using the ‘add friends’ feature; filling in your user profile, and using the IM facility.

Participants will try their first building skills, become familiar with the use of various teaching tools and Holodecks on offer.

Week 3 - Exploring Educational Spaces in Second Life (Jan 25 - Jan 31, 2010)

This week we will take the participants to different educational spaces in Second Life so that participants form an understanding of SL environment. We will arrange meetings with experienced language educators teaching in these places. As we will be focusing on exploring ‘learner friendly environments’ this week, so we will take them to those places where English is taught.

Participants will continue to network for informal get together and invite experienced Second Lifers to join us for a learning conversation.

Week 4 - Simulated real-life scenes, role-playing and active communities in Second Life (Feb 01 - 07, 2010)

This week we will focus on simulated real-life scenes, recreations of historical monuments, real life places, and lively, active communities in Second Life.

There will be opportunities for the participants to experience immersive environments and the challenges involved in learning a language in SL.

When meeting during ‘happy hour’, we reflect on the experiences made and talk about how active communities in Second Life may be used for language learning. Again guest speakers will be invited to relate their valuable expertise.

Week 5 - Evaluation and Wrap-up (Feb 08 -14, 2010)

This is a time to get together, wrap-up and to sum-up the experiences. It is also a time to enjoy each others company whilst preparing the party. Participants will be asked to reflect on what they have experienced during the course and to share their ideas with everyone about good practice. People will also be encouraged to continue learning and sharing through in-world groups.

Moderators

Dr. Kalyan Chattopadhyay, who holds Masters in English Literature, and TESOL and ICT (Leeds), is currently Assistant Professor in English in B.S.College, University of Calcutta. He is Vice-President IndiaCALL (www.indiacall.org), and Executive Committee member AsiaCALL (www.asiacall.org).

SL: Kalyan Horatio

Dennis Newson M.A.(Cantab), P.D.E.S.L (Leeds)

Taught EFL in Africa, Arabia, Norway and Germany in middle schools, secondary schools, teacher training colleges, a technical university and an arts university. He was consultant for short periods in Bosnia and Kosovo and conferences have taken him to Poland, Hungary, Las Palmas, Russia and England. He has developed his interest in SL since alleged retirement.

SL: Osnacantab Nesterov

Heike Philp, head of LANCELOT School^TM GmbH and co-initiator of both EU funded LANCELOT and AVALON projects. She looks back to more than 2 decades of teaching experience, amongst others as a German teacher in Japan and England.

SL: Gwen Gwasi

Maria Pinto is a Bachelor in Education (Major in English) and an Educational Technology Specialist. She is also a specialist in Usability and a web-based material designer. She worked as EFL/ESL professor in the area of ICT in the English language teaching (ELT) at the University of Carabobo. She is currently working as an eLearning facilitator and consultant in her hometown, Venezuela.

SL: Mary Rousell

Nahir Aparicio M. holds a Bachelor degree in Education with a Major in teaching English as a foreign language. She is a professor at http://www.upel.edu.ve/ where she belongs to the Chair of Linguistics, teaching Applied Linguistics related courses. Her main interests are interculturality and ICT use in language teaching.

SL: Nahiram Vaniva

Carol Rainbow B phil Ed (hons) has taught in the UK for many years but is now in service as an ICT Consultant for Oxfordshire LA working with teachers to make sure ICT plays a key role in enhancing pupil education in Oxfordshire schools. Her main interests currently are using Second Life as a teaching platform and e-safety.

SL: Carolrb Roux

Our Session Online Spaces

Besides Second Life, we will use Wiki and Grouply for sharing information and facilitating interactions.

Join this session

To join this group:

From January 3 to 9:

1. Go to: http://village.grouply.com/

2. Click on the blue button in the right sidebar: (this is just an image)

3. Follow the instructions

Note: When you register for the group, you will have to be approved by the moderator. In order to reduce the possibility of "unwanted" members (such as spammers), please be sure to explain who you are and why you want to enroll in the session. This message will only be seen by the session moderator.

The Electronic Village Online is a project of TESOL's CALL Interest Section.