Learn 4 Life

Vodcasting from inside Second Life

The new Hoprizon Report under it’s Technologies to Watch Section states :

Virtual Worlds. Customized settings that mirror the real world—or diverge wildly from it—present the chance to collaborate, explore, role-play, and experience other situations in a safe but compelling way. These spaces offer opportunities for education that are almost limitless, bound only by our ability to imagine and create them. Campuses, businesses, and other organizations increasingly have a presence in the virtual world, and the trend is likely to take off in a way that will echo the rise of the web in the mid-1990s.

It also reckons that there is a 2 - 3 year minimum before there is a massive mainstream takeup of the technologies. So in the spirit of investigative journalism I went over to a virtual conference being held on EduIsland and did a bit of filming.

Here is a brief Vodcast from my encounter with SmittyGuy Torok inside Second Life. I was at the Second Life Best Practices in Education International Conference 2007. Click the pic for a vid of our brief conversation - imagine loud rock music playing all around us.

I even got a Goodie Bag for turning up - not seen what’s in it yet.

Expect the odd foray into this virtual world and Vodcasting back out from time to time. Read about my trip in more detail at my personal Elgg blog.

And even though I was fumbling around a lot, people were so helpful. I was a bit miffed to see I had missed Peter Twining’s Schome presentation - but word gets round fast and he pointed me to a copy of it on the Schome Wiki.

I haven’t slept for 24 hours and I am totally bowled over by the whole experience and would urge educators to try and investigate the possibilities. Amazing!

Interview with Ian Lynch about INGOTS

This month I talked to Ian Lynch about the INGOTS qualification given accreditation status by the QCA. INGOTs are International Grades in Open Technologies. They are a coherent set of certificates providing a progression route from complete beginner with learning disabilities to the level of secondary school leavers. They are designed to support international and social inclusion and to reflect contemporary learning through participation in on-line communities.

What is unique about INGOTS is that they are to do with competencies and can be started by children as young as 5. At the higher levels pupils are encouraged to engage socially in online communities. The costs to schools for this are minimal, far less than traditional outgoings and the concept fairly unique in the world of exams. Not a pencil and paper test in sight it’s all by observable outcomes and what is more there is online validation of certification through the website.

You can read about INGOTS and download sample packs etc. from the INGOTS site. If you are thinking of offering certification through the QCA then attending the training day in June is essential. You can get details from here.

Some people are reporting that they can see the integral player on their feed but not on the site so click here for the file.