ied summit 2011 - middle school rural students, stem subjects, and virtual worlds
DESCRIPTION
This slide show describes the year-long Virtual World Builders Academy, developed by Rich White Greenbush Educational Service Center for rural middle school students of leadership potential. These students learned STEM subjects through inworld collaborative activities in OpenCobalt, OpenSim, EduSim and also used Scratch, MyAvatar and other communication, building and drawing tools, as well. Some guidelines are presented for doing inworld STEM with middle school students, based on teacher and student feedback and focus groups.TRANSCRIPT
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Rich White - Greenbush Educational Service District
Rosemary Talab - Kansas State University
Purposes
• Purpose – Leadership for at-risk rural middle school leadership-capable students and their teachers (October 2010-April 2011)
• Goal – To experience a more realistic approach to STEM subjects through immersive environments
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Activities
• Read Seven habits of highly effective leaders
• Explore and build in Scratch, Edusim/OpenCobalt, OpenSim
• Learn STEM subjects through project-based learning inworld
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Activities Timeline
• October 12th: Introduction to the Technology - MSLA Social NetworkAccount Setup , Scratch, Edusim/OpenCobalt, OpenSim
• November 16th: Scratch - Generative Art & Game Building Exercises
• January 12th - Introduction to Opensim & Edusim/OpenCobalt
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Activities Timeline
• Feb 9th: Create “Me” Museum in Edusim/OpenCobalt – via Adobe Connect & inworld)
• March 9th:Collaborative Pyramid Building on GreenbushGrid (Opensim) & Edusim/OpenCobalt Tools (Objects & Images)
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Tools
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Scratch
Tools
My Avatar
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Tools
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Greenbush Social Network
Tools
• Greenbush Grid
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Tools
• Whiteboard
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January 12th
– OpenSim/Greenbush Grid, the menus, and adding in-world resources
• Imported pictures• Created objects with 3D sketch tool
-- Introduction to Opensim & Edusim/ OpenCobalt
• Built a building with in-world tools – • Used simple shapes & textures
Avatar Skills
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Building with Texture
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February 9th
• Create “Me” Museum in Edusim/OpenCobalt – via Adobe Connect & inworld)– Students in home districts watching the
instruction remotely
– Students constructed “Me Museum” of their interests, family, friends, and school
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Building with Roof
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Building with Floor and Lights
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Building with Roof, Lights, Door
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March 9th
• Collaborative Pyramid Building on GreenbushGrid{Opensim} & wrapping up the Edusim-Cobalt tools introductions– Edusim-Cobalt - Students created avatar of
their own picture, and– In-world billboard of their picture, – Drew a “pet” for their building using the 3D
painter (pictures attached)
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Red and Blue Team Competition
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Completion
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Room with Pet
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Room with Pet and Picture
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Room with Pet and Picture
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Room with Pet and Picture
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Student - Final Comments
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Tips for Teaching STEM InWorld
• Inworld STEM:
• Was enjoyable for all students • Was more motivating than realworld STEM for
those who did not like STEM subjects• Was particularly when:
– Teams were involved in collaborative competition– Students could design graphics, games, etc., of their
own design
• All students found Scratch enjoyable
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Tips for Teaching STEM InWorld
• Draw linkages between inworld and realworld STEM applications. Students do not always see this.
• Gender differences applied:– Girls enjoyed collaborative and drawing
activities more– Boys enjoyed collaborative and competitive
activities more– More boys enjoyed building than girls
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Tips for Teaching STEM InWorld
• Students need:– An agenda – Written explanations of in-world activities and
their STEM purposes– Re-teaching (spiraling)– Individual review opportunities (videotaped
sessions or other means)– Explanations of how inworld STEM is used for
realworld STEM purposes
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Resources
• 1) Scratch– http://info.scratch.mit.edu/About_Scratch
• 2) My Avatar – http://www.myavatareditor.com/
• 3) Greenbush Grid– Imprudence Viewer Download for Mac and PC– http://roots.greenbush.us/3/wordpress/?p=1214
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Resources
• 4) CSI Greenbush/avatar navigation controls– http://grid.greenbush.us/CSI_world/
CSI_introduction2.mp4• 5) Whiteboard for In-World Audio
– http://labs.greenbush.us/whiteboard.php?room=hpkvd2
– http://www.youtube.com/ImmersiveED#p/u/4/9HYH1yB2D2g
– See video of the whiteboard
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Slideshare URL
• http://www.slideshare.net/rstalab/ied-summit-2011-middle-school-rural-students-stem-subjects-and-virtual-worlds
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