The LeBow Center for Teaching Excellence

in conjunction with the

LeBow Department of Instructional Technology

is pleased to present

 

3-D Virtual World of Second Life:

Premier Emerging Digital Learning Environment

 

Led by Bart Pursel, Virtual World Technology Expert

 

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Pearlstein Room 403

 

Drexel has opened a new educational portal in "Second Life" that offers revolutionary opportunities to explore new digital modes of learning.  The "Second Life" environment provides opportunities to build upon and enhance teaching via informal, networked, and collaborative learning styles. 

 

Second Life offers many new opportunities for teaching and learning:

  • Allows faculty to simulate real life experiences they may not have been able to do otherwise
  • Appeals to the "gamer generation" – the current generation entering school
  • Offers authentic activities in authentic contexts for experiential learning
  • Encourages interactions in a social environment conducive to peer learning
  • Facilitates collaboration and co-creation

 

Faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to join this interactive workshop to consider:

·          Design considerations for 3D spaces/SL

·          Collaboration among faculty, staff, and learners

·          Current projects Penn State is developing Second Life

·          The pros and cons of using "Second Life" in academic education programs

 

The workshop will also include a "Second Life" tour, examining ideal and questionable places in Second Life based on instructional technology design principles.

 

Bart Pursel serves in a variety of roles at Penn State University involving designing learning environments (specifically with games and virtual world technology), teaching introductory courses in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, and working with Education Technology Services on educational gaming initiatives.  Bart has been with the IST Solutions Institute for eight years, primarily as an instructional designer and project manager, working within a multi-disciplinary team to create innovative online courseware and learning support systems.  Bart received his Master's degree from Bloomsburg University's Department of Instructional Technology as well as a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications, and is currently working on his Doctorate at Penn State, which focuses on virtual teaming in 3D virtual environments.