Creating a community of practice and searchable database of

learning objects in Second Life

The SaLamander Project

Jonathon Richter, Ed.D.

Center for Advanced Technology in Education

University of Oregon

There are many educationally sound objects, builds,

activities, and events in SL

but where are they?

Faculty, students, and educational researchers have been using Second Life in greater numbers to create immersive environments and experiences for such wide ranging content areas as psychology, history, cultural studies, literature, the sciences, and teacher education.

Other disciplines have also discovered Second Life:

• Business• management• marketing• economics

• Social Ventures• Architecture• Journalism• Visual Arts• Music• Performance Arts

There is not yet, however, a resource enabling its many users to locate, share, or compare the relative quality of valuable builds within the 3D learning environment.

“...what is THAT place all about?...”

• Growing number of things to experience

• Continuous reusing and repurposing of places, objects, and tools.

• Physical evolution of the environment

• New cultural patterns emerging and changing

complexity

The SaLamander Project will provide the educational community with a much-needed resource to index, describe, and rate the growing number of useful educational builds within Second Life.

General Specific

Content area Grade level

To allow people to make better sense of all that SL has

to offer:

• What is out there for “x” purposes?

• Is it appropriate for my students?

• Where are other builds in SL that I should consider?

• What do other educators recommend?

SaLamander has three

components:

MERLOT

Salamander Wiki

SL Landmark/Descriptor Tools

1 ~ Second Life tools for people to identify, describe, submit nominations for, and vote on landmarks denoting a Learning Object of value.

.... Others?

• Sloodle toolsSloodle tools

• BlogHUDBlogHUD

• Chat logsChat logs

• Landmark and note deposit boxLandmark and note deposit box

Multiple ways to nominate Multiple ways to nominate Learning Objects in Second LifeLearning Objects in Second Life

Different people will likely want to use different tools to accomplish the same goal.

Motivations to scout SL for Learning Objects to describe:

• Help to create a more connected teaching and learning community in SL.

• Get your own builds, tools, and places logged in the SaLamander Wiki.

• See Second Life gain more credence and exposure in the teaching and learning world through MERLOT.

2 ~ A Slurl-enhanced Wiki Media Community of Practice to critically assess and synthesize characteristics of submitted Learning Objects to develop a practical, yet encompassing typology of relevant dimensions of teaching and learning in Second Life.

SaLamander Wiki Communityhttp://www.eduisland.net/salamanderwiki/

Motivations to join the Salamander Wiki community:

Gain a rich understanding of the Learning Objects submitted by the Salamander Scouts.

Help develop the typology of dimensions relevant to teaching and learning in SL.

Be part of a Community of Practice comprising professional educators in SL.

3 ~ ... and a small, dedicated group of professionals and content experts who, through dialog with the Salamander Wiki community, place the best educational builds, objects, and tools into the searchable database in MERLOT at http://merlot.org.

WatchThe Center for Advanced Technology in Education’s

plot on EduIsland: Eduisland/158/60/22

for further developments OR

Send email inquiries to salamanderproject@gmail.com

Or IM: Wainbrave Bernal

Get Involved!