On this page you can find information about our weekly inworld meetings, list of participants (add yourself!) and a summary of the meetings.

 

Important: The entries on this page are in reverse order (latest on top) to avoid scrolling. This is not the case for the comments, however, as this is programmed by Pbwiki and we cannot change this (unfortunately). Check former meetings on the following page: Weekly Meetings

 

Note from Nergiz: I'd just like to thank those who kept the SLExperiments meetings going during my absence, especially Dennis, Cyber, Anna, Carol and the others who have been active. This a sign for me that the meetings are benefitting members and that a community has formed.I'd like to encourage all members to participate actively. When you have an idea for the agenda, want to invite a guest, demo something, etc, simply add it to the agenda and lead that session if you want. Set up a meeting if nobody else has done it yet and if you want to set up one on another day for some reason, feel free to do that, too. We have so many members from so many different time zones now that it's impossible to find a time and date that suits all. Although, I do like to have one regular time in general. 

Also, if you want to add resources/links to existing pages or want to create a new page, do so, as long as it is at least broadly related to our topic(s). If you want to make pages look nicer, you are very welcome to edit them. 

Remember that we also have an in-world group, which you can use to send out group notices to which you can add objects, notecards and landmarks for all members. If you don't know how, ask here or in the next meeting :)

If anybody has some spare time, we need somebody who could collect all the Builder's Buddy scenes and put them in boxes and then in Dudeneyge's shop and maybe also in the resource centre of EUROCALL. Make sure your scene has the "clean" button when next owner wants to use it (test it with someone). 

I'll probably be away for another two Fridays but I will read my email and the summaries of the weekly meetings :)

 

Have fun!

 

Short note from Su: Hello everybody. I'm so sorry I could not attend our last meeting. It is getting more difficult for me to be home by that time on Fridays and NOT ONE of the computers in our university (which is an Institute of Technology (!!!!) ) supports SL.

However, I'll try my best to be around :)

My research is still slowly (this one being the buzz word) going ahead ... I am in full time teaching so I'm doing what I can in my spare time (mostly weekends ...).

See you soon :)

Su

 

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November 20th 2009 

 

Hi all! I can't believe it's been so long that I haven't been able to participate or set up a meeting :( I hope to do better in December.

Here is some news if you haven't heard of it yet:

Linden Lab has decided to charge fees for freebie objects listed on XStreetSL, Second Life's official online shop. This means that many objects including free educational objects are being pulled from the shop by their creators. That's not good news at all. 

Some time ago, we started a page on this wiki where we listed educational tools. It has been quiet there for a long time but if you had tools on XStreetSL and would like to list them here instead, you are very welcome to do so. You can either link to your in-world shop or (if you are not afraid of being swamped with IMs) offer people to IM you to get a copy of the tool. 

There are also some alternative shops, which are listed in this blog post.

 

Graham Davies writes: Yes, this is bad news for education, but there are still many places in SL where you can find educational freebies. We have a number of freebies that you can pick up in the EUROCALL/CALICO HQ's Resources Centre. Just go to our Welcome Pavilion and use the teleporter to get there - it's 1000m up in the sky! I have found some really good educational resources on the International Schools Island. I have just picked up a really efficient presentation screen called Preso-Matic there. I have installed three copies of it in the EUROCALL Building, all containing different slide shows. You are welcome to use the EUROCALL Building for SLexperiments meetings if you wish - no charge! And if you want to hold a meeting where you won't be interrupted just teleport to the Skydeck and use the holodeck to rez the Conference setting for a formal meeting or the Tree House for a more informal meeting in a very cosy venue. BTW, have you visited Randall Sadler's amazing Snow Globe, next door to the EUROCALL Building? Have a look!  

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November 19th 2009

 

I have really missed these meetings, but I now have a conversation class with teenage  children with "with an immigrant background" as politicians say here on Fridays 15:00 GMT so that cuts out this strand of meetings. Sob! Sob!

Osnacantab Nesterov, born Dennis Newson

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November 6th 2009

 

Apologies: 

1. Karelia Kondor - but hope to meet up with some of you at another time.  I am really excited, as I have been invited to take part in a Teengrid project with Skoolaborate, so I will be taking less of a 'dilettante' approach in future! Sadly can't make it until 27th Nov meeting but I'm in SL most evenings now! (hooked)

 

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October 16th 2009

Time: 2pm GMT (7.00 am SLT)

Meeting Point: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation%20II/176/93/21

 

Agenda: 

Pawlus (Pawel): I hung around for about an hour. Had a nice short chat with Anna Begonia. Mostly relaxed in one of those comfy club chairs, feeling that fresh ocean breeze on my face :-)

Who can attend:

1. Anna begonia will try to, but will be only "partly" there (finishing to prepare my class, putting my shoes on, ironing a shirt etc), since I have to leave at 7:55 am SLT to work (as usual: friday evenings and saturday mornings... you can envy me)
2. Pawlus Twine: I shall be there :) and try to stay as long as possible (some meetings on Friday afternoon).

 

Apologies:

1. Cyber (cannot make it it at that time)
2. Nagora (will be on business trip- sorry to miss meeting again)
3. Juniper will be in class (sigh) so I'll try next week.
4. Karelia (really sorry - have an outof world meeting  in Soho (!) and won't be able to make next three either, so hope to meet people inworld another time - please say hi if I'm there and you're there!!.  Will be promoting Second Life at the London Language Show on Sat 31st and Sun 1st Nov and at our London Show and Tell... you're all invited!!)
5. Nergiz (Daffodil) Seeing the long list of apologies, I feel bad about adding one more :( I am preparing and giving an English course in SL and preparing a teacher training course. At the same time, I am trying to get used to being a student again. I'm very happy to have started the MA EdTech & TESOL but at the moment, it's A LOT of reading and writing.

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October 9th 2009

Time: 6pm GMT (11.00 am SLT)

Meeting Point: 

 

Agenda: look at what Osnacantab (né Dennis) has written and uploaded in the "old" weekly meeting page! Most fascinating Castle as part of a holodeck! 

Who can attend:

1. Cyber (been to SL Jokaydia unconference (25-27Sept) - I can briefly report on the use of Quest Atlantis for 8-12 y-o, World of Warcraft for a college accounting course and SL Teen Grid at a high school in Sydney for French, math, etc...(Karelia you might be interested in having a look at this teacher's blog http://www.happysteve.com/ )
2. Su Nacht

 

Apologies:

1. Ruddell Weatherwax - Back from SL absence but can't make this Friday
2. Nergiz/Daffodil - Sorry, was planning to be there but my nephew is with me and if I log in to SL, he'll want to travel about with me there and not sit in a meeting …
3. Cyber, sorry everyone, I got the time wrong since NZ time moved to Summer time, I sat for a while but no-one was there so I didn't hang on. It is only later that I realised where I got it wrong. :-) Next time for sure I will be setting my clocks right!

     4.  Juniper After a very long absence ( house move, job change ) I hope to join in  again for  the 6pm

          meetings - I'm at work before that :((     I hope I can still remember how to walk in SL  !

 

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October 2nd 2009

Time: 2pm GMT (7.00 am SLT)

 

Meeting Point: 

Agenda: Who and how to collect the builder's buddy scenes, as requested by Nergiz above? Bring your scenes with you :-)

Who can attend:

1.   Lynn (but I don't have any BB scenes)
2. Mmvcentro Jewel (Maru)
3. Su Nacht: was there late but saw nobody ... see you all next week :)

 

Apologies:

1. Osna, I cannot be present myself - I'll actually be teaching. Someone else  take over?
2. Cyber (I can't attend at 2pm - 3am in NZ)

 

 

 

 

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Friday 25 September 2009

Time: 6pm GMT (11.00 am SLT)

 

Meeting Point: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation%20II/176/93/21

 

Agenda: Special Visit to Calisto Encinal Interactive village for Spanish Mi cas es su casa http://slurl.com/secondlife/GCCAz/76/72/2 

Who can attend:

1. Cyber Placebo 

2. Daffodil Fargis (Nergiz) I think I'm back now :) Looking forward to seeing you all again. I haven't checked the unconference schedule yet (Jokaydia) but hope I can make it the meeting.

3. Marisolde Orellana (Marisa) Hoping to be able to make it thoough I am afraid I do not have any holodecks to contribute :-( 

4. Karelia Kondor (Helen)-  nothing of my own to contribute, but  I'll offer lots of admiration!

5. Carol

6.  

 

Apologies:

1. Pawlus Twine (Pawel): seems like I am missing another interesting meeting. I have just returned from a journey where computers are rare ;), and now going to a conference...  Hopefully next time. Best to All :-)

2. Mary Roussel (Mary Pinto): sorry I could not make it, personal issues needed my attention. Looking forward to being with you next time!

    

 

1.  

2.  

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Friday 18 September

Time: 2pm GMT (7.00 am SLT)

 

Meeting Point: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation%20II/176/93/21

 

Agenda: I hung around for about 20 minutes, trying to get a quiz board thingie to do what I want, and then headed off to bed! Catch you next time :)

 

Who can attend:

1. anna begonia (i apologise: arrived 2 hours late... very Italian, lol)

2. lynn carlucci

 

Apologies:

1. Cyber (by then, I will have built my tropical forest for Osnacantab to reflect on SL:)

2. Osnacantab?

3. Karelia (on patrol at school!!)

 

 

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Friday 11 September

Time: 6pm GMT (11.00 am SLT)

 

Meeting Point: http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation%20II/176/93/21

 

Agenda: Building environments - sharing free objects/scripts and how to ideas? at the sandbox

If Anna Begonia comes along, I would love to hear about her experience in leading the Italian conversation groups on Monday.

 

Who can attend:

1. Cyber Placebo (I will be in between the Eurocall 2009 Virtual Strand and SL so bare with me if I come and go) I can talk to you about the mistakes I made when building my first room.

2. Anna Begonia. If you want, I can show you my last Italianiamo activity, explain you how i did it, give you scripts and elements if you want to use some of the parts to prepare one yourself for your students. (to see what it is about: http://italianiamo.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/giochiamo/ it's in italian.. use google translator ;o)

3. Nagora Yakubu. I will definitely join this time. It was a hard time of the  new academic year - was dead busy. I'd like to learn more around with such a wonderful SL community. Thank you everyone for keeping informed here.

4. Mariosolde Orellana (Marisa)

5. Maru del Campo (Mmvcentro) I'd love to hear about Cyber and Anna's experiences. Thanks for the offer.

6. Rian Staheli--also interested in Cyber and Anna's experiences. (I picked up a few cool tools from NMC Learn island-L$1 and would like to share if time). 

7. Karelia Kondor (Helen Myers) - experienced Anna's wonderful lesson first hand - a 'MUST  SEE'!

 

Who attended:  

1. Cyber

2. Osnacantab

3. Ann Monitor

4. Mary Roussel

5. Rian Staheli

6. Karelia (note taking)

7. Carol (at the end)

8. Marisolde (on the sidelines I think!)

9. Nagora (disconnected unexpectedly due to internet problems, so sorry)

 

Please add yourself

 

INTRO: We decided to use SL names .. easier to remember.  (But I notice we all call Dennis Dennis ...!) 

Cyber mentioned that she is currently updating some of the wiki pages here, she added this weekly meeting page, the news and event page and now updated the SL objects and Tools 2 to add AnnaB's instructions for the game mentioned below.

 

Discussion about SL ...

Dennis will force people to hear him talking about SL .. 4 people have said they want to see it

Discussion about use of technology in class ... his granddaughter is a convert ..!! (expects RL to imitate SL now!)

Does technology provide an answer to a language issue ... Or do we see the technology and ask 'how can we use this for language teaching?' Actually, does it matter? Suggest both are valid

Good for adults returning ...Good for activating what you already know ... can give confidence

ACTION PROPOSED BY DENNIS: go into a quiet forest somewhere and follow up all the ideas!

Rationale for game play discussed along the way .....

Cyber referred to Stephen Thorne - whose current research partly examines the use of multiplayer gaming as settings for second and foreign language (L2) use and development .. students use language far more if they have an incentive. They will ask assistance anywhere and use the language - e.g. Russian and American gamers collaborating. Had a reason to need language. Resource discovery. Create a reason for communication.

Anna- adults like games more than children? Beware - some children don't like playing games 'we're not children'

Ann has seen people opening up with games

Games: main aim to learn verbs ...

Anna would like to do role plays - build a story together - give people roles an they have to build their character - needs commitment and a large group. Important that people want to do it.

 

We saw and tested Anna's game which easily filled our time productively:  

Anna's game  

For Instructions to use the scripts of  The Game, follow this link 

[Anna Could you have a look at the instructions and correct if need be?)

Intro / background:

Anna Begonia has created a game. Wants to share so that others can use it at least once... really stressed the value of sharing. Aim of the game = to make people talk with each other - and to see what works and what doesn't work.

What she has learnt while experimenting in SL: You need land; SL has limits. Learn by doing and observing.

Karelia urged people to look at her blog (in Italian)- and look at the reflections... worth making the efforrt and using google translate to understand (or learn Italian!!!)

The riddle on the wall

(Sloodle quiz chairs at the bottom to reach 2nd level's riddle)

 

 

Sequence of game:

1. Sit on sloodle chair and answer 6 multichoice cultural questions.  Chair moves up in response to each correct answer.  You reach the roof which has two walls to get through ....

2. Riddle on the first wall - have to write the word in chat to open the door in the wall

3. Letter block wall . have to find the words and reconstruct to get the sentence. Wall collapses dramatically when correct sentence entered.

4. Picture box: Sloodle metagloss + texture menu script- click on the box - write definition ... /def THE WORD .. then get a leteter clue to the following task .. (transfer the letter into the box .. )

5. Anagram: ..... collaborate to solve the anagram ... write the answer, rewarded with ...

6. The directions to the treasure! Follow directions through the corridors and reach the treasure.

7. Click on the box and you get a copy of the scooter.... reward!!!!

 

Technical:

How long does it take to make the maze?

Start from an existing script .. then build all the other things around.

Take time to look at scripts and decide what to do.

SL free scripts - see picks on Anna's profile and http://www.freeslscripts.gendersquare.org/index.php

Anna bought 2 books about scripting -and fell asleep at page 10

 

Après meeting ...

The meeting then developed into a totally self indulgent activity. Trying on clothes. Changing avatars. Exchanging gestures. Dennis gave encouragement. Carol laughs a lot, but I have never heard her laugh quite as long and as hard as after one particular gesture which I shall not commit to this record....! Cyber has an impressive array of clothes and avatars .. amazing. Lastly joined by Enne (an Italian drawn to Anna's class) who was treated to synchronised (yes, synchronised) Baywatch runs and Hamster dances while Carole displayed a fabulous dance to the BennyHill show chase music. Cyber and Karelia will demonstrate given the slightest encouragement ..... Yes Please, again again (dixit cyber)

 

 

Time: 2pm GMT (7.00 am SLT)