Technology & Learning - February 2009 - (Page 29)

W W W.T E C H L E A R N I N G . C O M developed meaningful, substantive relationPerhaps the best evidence of this evolution ships that have just as much significance to is the attendance at the Second Life me as their “real world” counterparts. Community Convention this year. The educaThe evolution of the international education strand has evolved from a tiny cluster of tional presence in Second Life has been nothhopeful pioneers (NYC, 2006), to a dedicated REZED: Global Kids’ Second ing short of remarkable. What began as a few ensemble struggling to get their voices heard Life Curriculum is a key component of Second Life probold and curious explorers has now grown to (Chicago, 2007), to a shining and powerful fessional-development opporthousands of teachers spanning over one host of creative, collaborative, and unstoptunities. It covers everything an hundred regions used for educational purpospable educators: truly a force to be reckoned educator or student would es. Nearly 400 universities around the world with (Tampa, 2008). need to know to use Second teach courses or conduct research in SL, and What does the virtual landscape offer us Life, whether on their own or ISTE, Discovery Star Educators, New Media that is absent from other online learning within an educational setting. Consortium, PBS, Google Certified Teachers, communities? The answer is that sense of (www.rezed.org) and ALA all have a presence in Second Life, presence, the ambiance of place and with more organizations joining us every day. connection—that feeling of “being there.” As our professional-development groups in Second Life Other distance-learning vehicles may offer flexible time extend, word is getting out to the mainstream education com- options but are mostly impersonal. The avatar encounter is munity that the potential for collaboration is not only more highly interactive, and interpersonal, providing the same effective and efficient, but free! It’s also playful, engaging, at convenience of not having to travel while offering a richer, times unpredictable, and always “on.” more immersive, and generally more congenial experience. Understanding that some may find the Second Life learning curve a bit steep, groups such as ISTE have taken measures to ease the way, streamlined the orientation process, and even Second Life Resources Jennifer Wagner, AKA Macsmom Alcott, presenting on Online Project Possibilities, shares a presentation in the DEN amphitheater. Be sure to see the machinima (video) from real-life educators in SL: http://tinyurl.com/ISTE-video TECH & LEARNING | 29 http://www.techlearning.com http://www.rezed.org http://tinyurl.com/ISTE-video

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technology & Learning - February 2009

Technology & Learning - February 2009 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends How It's Done - The Science of Class Collaboration Put to the Test: T&L Editors Take Some New Products for a Test Drive NComputing X550 Epson DC-10s Samsung UF-130DX Digital Presenter Brother MFC-6490CW All-in-One Adaptive Curriculum: Science Dukane AirSlate 3 A Second Life for Professional Development Control Room 11 Tips for Better Laptop Learning One-to-One Veteran Advice What's New They Said It

Technology & Learning - February 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.