Using Quest Atlantis (3D virtual world game) to teach Values in K-12. Presented at Ed-Media 2011. Alex Makosz

1. Using 3D Virtual Worlds – OpenSimulator, Quest Atlantis – to Teach International School Students Computer Science and Human Values David W. Deeds and Alex Makosz Changchun American International School, Jilin Province, China AACE ED-MEDIA: June 30, 2011 Lisbon, Portugal

2. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Quest Atlantis is: 3D MUVE Aimed at students 9-16 It’s a rich, pre-built game environment with structured learning activities Provide both content & character education 20,000 children over the last 5 years

3. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Other important things Quest Atlantis is: Visually appealing Fun to engage in!

4. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis What QA looks like:

5. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Why did we select Quest Atlantis? Increase independent problem solving abilities Inspire students to take positive action, reflect upon the consequences and develop confidence in making a difference Support solid disciplinary learning Provide opportunities for transdisciplinary learning Stay in touch with digital trends in education It’s free!

6. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis The Process of Getting in: Visit http://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/ Teacher induction processes Student signing of release forms Laying down the story and setting up the context

7. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Setting the Stage: YouTube QA Legend Video

8. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis The Importance of Context: There is a rich narrative Skill, attitude and knowledge development are integral to the narrative Students play a key role in the narrative QA engages students in transformational play

9. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Student Experience Immediately drawn into the narrative of the world Open-ended exploration as well as guided interaction through completing ‘quests’ that they find or are assigned by the teacher

10. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Examples Taiga Plague World

11. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Students were: highly motivated able to demonstrate learning of subject specific skills and knowledge independently integrating skills and knowledge from multiple disciplines in practical, problem-solving contexts required to take action, then to demonstrate reflection upon and justification of their decisions able to immediately see the complex results of their decisions Results “I never thought picking up garbage could be so much fun!”

12. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis The teacher was: Able to select and assign quests according to class content and student interests able to monitor student progress and provide specific feedback in context through the game interface supported through a community of real teachers working in QA as well as though in game learning Results

13. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis The administrator is: Confident in the learning value of activities in QA Confident in teacher development opportunities Able to justify the use of QA as an educational tool to parents Not required to swallow large budgetary implications – because it’s free! Results

14. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Not a simple tool, but an extremely versatile environment with many tools inside and space to use those tools in supporting student learning We hope for other educational game developers to consider the importance of teacher education in their development Closing Thoughts

15. 3D Virtual Worlds: Quest Atlantis Thank you! Alex Makosz David Deeds agmakosz@gmail.comdavidwdeeds@yahoo.com Changchun American International School Very interested in working together with more schools in 3D virtual worlds!!

16. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info http://www.makosz.org – resource to support new teachers and admin in understanding and adopting 3D virtual worlds http://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/ - QA home, with downloads & info http://questatlantisblog.org – QA blog, for ongoing updates http://www.youtube.com/user/questatlantis - QA YouTube channel http://workedexamples.org/projects/taiga-virtual-park – focused look at Taiga world in QA http://workedexamples.org/projects/plague-world-a-modern-prometheus – focused look at Plague world in QA http://vhil.stanford.edu/ - Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, for further research on impacts of virtual worlds on identity and behaviour Further Links

17. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info Barab, S. A., Dodge, T., Ingram-Goble, A., Volk, C., Peppler, K., Pettyjohn, P. & Solomou, M. (2009). 'Pedagogical Dramas and Transformational Play: Realizing Narrative through Videogames Design.' Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 59(15), 332-335. Barab, S., Dodge, T., Tuzun, H., Job-Sluder, K., Jackson, C., Arici, A., Job-Sluder, L., Carteaux, R., Gilbertson, J. & Heiselt, C. (2007). 'The Quest Atlantis Project: A Socially-Responsive Play Space for Learning.' The Educational Design and Use of Simulation Computer Games, 00-00. Barab, S. A., Thomas, M. K., Dodge, T., Squire, K. & Newell, M. (2004). 'Critical Design Ethnography: Designing for Change.' Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 35(2), 254-268.. Dodge, T., Barab, S., Stuckey, B., Warren, S., Heiselt, C. & Stein, R. (2008). 'Children's Sense of Self: Learning and Meaning in the Digital Age.' Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 19(2), 225-249. Other Relevant Papers

18. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info 2011 Horizon Report: nmc.org/publications/2011-horizon-report Published by the New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (www.educause.edu/eli)

19. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info OpenSimulator Wiki: opensimulator.org/wiki/Main_Page Maria Korolov’sHypergrid Business Ezine: www.hypergridbusiness.com/ Mary Miner’s Wiki: virtualworldspresentation.pbworks.com/w/page/27991248/FrontPage

20. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info Jeff Heaton Books (www.heatonresearch.com/book/cat/3) “Introduction to Linden Scripting Language for Second Life,” ISBN: 978-1604390049 “Scripting Recipes for Second Life,” ISBN: 978-1604390001 “Introduction to Textures, Animation Audio and Sculpting in Second Life,” ISBN: 978-1604390025

21. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info “Second Life: The TOG” by Michael Rymaszewski, et al., ISBN: 978-0470227756 “Creating Your World: TOG Advanced Content Creation for Second Life” by Aimee Weber, et al., ISBN: 978-0470171141 “Scripting Your World: TOG to Second Life Scripting” by Dana Moore, ISBN: 978-0470339831

22. 3D Virtual Worlds: More Info “A Practical Guide to Using Second Life in Higher Education” by MaggiSavin-Baden, Open University Press, ISBN: 978-0335242146 “The Second Life Grid: The Official Guide to Communication, Collaboration and Community Engagement” by Kimberly Rufer-Bach, Wiley Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-470-41291-6 “The Entrepreneur's Guide to Second Life: Making Money in the Metaverse” by Daniel Terdiman, Wiley Press, ISBN: 978-0470179147