3 D Virtual Connexions Advice Center
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3D Virtual Connexions Advice Center Michael Larbalestier
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Presented at INACOL Virtual Schools Symposium, Austin, TX November 2009.We began with a bright idea of having a virtual, "Second Life"-style counseling center for our local 13-19 year old students. This case study explores how we overcame various barriers and obstacles to commission and establish a safe, virtual environment, where teenage students in our area can access resources, chat with counselors, and join live group sessions on topics such as career, health and personal welfare. We also discuss how you might develop your own virtual center at low cost.
Transcript of 3 D Virtual Connexions Advice Center
3D Virtual Connexions Advice CenterMichael Larbalestier
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pathfinderlinden/
Regular user
Once saw a 3D moviehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/playerx/
What’s your 3D world experience?
Dabbler
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilwykes/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Concrete_Cowboy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdpettitt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arenamontanus/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdpettitt/
Connexions
• Government youth support service in England
• For 13-19 year olds
• Most funding devolved to 150 districts
• Also a nationally run contact centre web/phone
• Health, careers, relationships, housing, money, jobs, college applications, resume advice
• Services delivered from the city office and at local schools, colleges and community centers
Why go virtual?
• We proposed it in our bid to run the service
• Counselors not using technology effectively
• Young people want us to use web 2.0 tools
• Connexions services don’t reach everyone
• With web 2.0 can reach more young people
• Maybe it will cost a little less....
• Huge budget cuts are planned from 2010
The Brief
• Browser based – no large download• 2D accessible version• Reach more young people• Friendly and fun• Relevant information • Technology familiar to young people• Safe• Build user confidence• Accessible• Easy to build rooms and change content
TPLD
World leader in team game-based learning solutions.
Integrate multi-player game technology with the
psychology of learning
Build generic collaborative platform
Build tools that create 3D team learning
environments
Partner with subject matter experts
AGILE Development Process
Phase 1: Requirements Workshop
Prototype design
Phase 2: Development
- Back end system- 2 D site
- 3 D site
- Beta testing
Phase 3: Deployment and testing
Demo
Virtual Reception PA Room Radio Station
Training Fair Assessment Room MK College Room
Resume Maze game University Room Job Cafe
What can young people do here?
• Explore different rooms
• Consume/Contribute video, audio and images
• Join live workshops
• Play resume game / Update resume
• Play infiniteams team development game
• Chat & share files with counselor
• Download logs of chat and activities
What can counselors do here?
• Greet visitors & engage proactively
• Review visitor’s prior chat/activity logs/files
• Guide to rooms and content
• Offer counseling chat session
• Push content for live groups
• Facilitate radio/video content generation
• Assess needs in a different way
Challenges
• Record levels of youth unemployment
• Counselors lack web 2.0 skills
• Professional belief that FACE TO FACE is best
• Worries about child safety
• Our IT network is not built for web 2.0
• Accessibility – how far to go?
budget 3d counseling center
• sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses
• arianeb.com/more3Dworlds.htm – list of worlds
• Google “browser based 3d virtual world”
• gogofrog.com
Thank you
Michael Larbalestier
Please visit www.virtualconnexionsmk.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Blog: careerswork20.blogspot.com
