Day 1 of the PLC

The six members of my PLC had their first session today. I had provided them with a little "light reading" last week dealing with the aspects of synchronous and asynchronous online environments and the skills necessary to teach in such environments. We clarified some of the research as a group.

I then gave them an overview of the history of Lighthouse Learning Island and went online to show them what Second Life was all about. I just did a simple fly-over of the island and gave them an in-depth tour of the Nauset Public Schools building. I showed them a tiny bit about inventory and we registered one of the participants together.

They left with Beth Kohnke's great introductory packet and the promise to at least create their account by next week! (We have had to move next week's meeting until Wednesday afternoon due to a conflict.)

All in all, a packed 40 minute session! They did not appear overwhelmed or confused, and I tried my best to keep the SL jargon out of my presentation, since that is often a problem for newbies. I am looking forward to this PLC and working with these educators who are willing to take a risk!

(BTW, Kevin Jarrett (SL KJ Haxx) posted a very nice overview of the project on his blog earlier this week!)

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Kathy Schrock
Nauset Public Schools
Lighthouse Learning Island

Skoolaborate

I took a jaunt over to the project I am involved with on the Teen Grid, Skoolaborate. I still do not have anything in my inventory or any Lindens, so I could only alter my avatar by making new clothing with what I had on hand.

Since the area of the world currently collaborating on the project is Australia and other countries in nearby timezones to them, it makes it hard for me to meet anyone in-life. I did get a chance to try out the new dance floor, but it is really no fun dancing alone! :-)

Kathy MLCAmicus (SL TG)

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Kathy Schrock
Skoolaborate
Lighthouse Learning Island

Streaming Media

I have been trying to find MOV files online that would support teaching and learning to stream into the Media Center in the Nauset building on Lighthouse Learning Island. I have found that it is truly only MOV files that work by conducting some tests.

I did find submissions to student media festivals that were available as MOV files, so I have added them to the video library of my media center. I think the multimedia aspects of streaming video will make a big impact on the educators attending our PLC sessions.

Kathy

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Kathy Schrock
Nauset Public Schools
Lighthouse Learning Island

Moving ahead....

Well, I am moving ahead with the PLC planning. Yesterday I purchased a bunch of Lindens and distributed them equally among the tech people of the four school districts. They can then mete them out to teachers as they are needed. For my PLC, teachers will need to purchase a whiteboard and upload JPEGS for the presentations they are doing later in the fall, so I will pass the Lindens along to them.

I have also prepared the reading packet for the first session, which contains portions of seminal articles dealing with online collaborative environments. My first goal is to get the participants to understand the pedagogical backbone of this type of environment.

Kathy

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Kathy Schrock
Nauset Public Schools
Lighthouse Learning Island

PLC: Synchronous Online Educational Environments

My district's first foray into professional development on Lighthouse Learning Island is now planned and ready to roll. Up to ten teachers will participate in a 10-session professional learning community focused on the use of synchronous online collaboration to enhance teacher professional development.

The PLC will consist of 6 face-to-face meetings (using SL in these sessions) and 4 meetings held in SL. The schedule is as follows. All times are in EST (GMT -4 or -5 depending on the date of the meeting.)

Session 1: 9/27/07 3:30pm-4:10pm
Pedagogy of the use of online collaborative spaces and research discussion
(I am thinking of throwing on a headphone for this one and being in life, although my attention will be focused on the people in the lab with me. If you think this is a good idea, and have voice, let me know and I will do it. I will be in my office located in the Nauset Public Schools building on Lighthouse Learning Island.)

Session 2: 10/3/07 Wednesday 3:30pm-4:10pm
Intro to SL and orientation for the users (part 1)

Session 3: 10/11/07 Thursday 3:30pm-4:10pm
Intro to SL and orientation for the users (part 2)

Session 4: 10/18/07 Thursday 3:30pm-4:10pm
Taking the users on a tour of sites in SL. Starting at the geodesic dome on Lighthouse Learning Island. Most probably a tour of Eduisland II and ISTE island with the newbies.

Session 5: 10/25/07 Thursday 8:30pm-9:10pm
In-life PD presentation by Kathy Schrock in the backyard presentation area on the Nauset Public Schools land on Lighthouse Learning Island. All are welcome.

Session 6: 11/1/07 Thursday 8:30pm-9:10pm
In-life PD presentation by Kathy Schrock in the backyard presentation area on the Nauset Public Schools land on Lighthouse Learning Island. All are welcome.

Session 7: 11/8/07 Thursday 3:30-4:10pm
Instruction in the use of presentation boards within SL. Instruction will probably be held in the sandbox area of Lighthouse Learning Island. All are welcome.

Session 8: 12/5/07 Wednesday 8:30pm-9:10pm
In-life, PD presentation by half of the members of the PLC in the presentation area behind the Nauset Public Schools building. All are welcome.

Session 9: 12/6/07 Thursday 8:30pm-9:10pm
In-life, PD presentation by half of the members of the PLC in the presentation area behind the Nauset Public Schools building. All are welcome.

Session 10: 12/13/07 Thursday 3:30pm-4:10pm
Wrap-up and plans for the second PD PLC for the winter months. If there is a request, I will use voice in SL to share what is going on and our final plans. I will be in my office located in the Nauset Public Schools building on Lighthouse Learning Island.

SLURL for Lighthouse Learning Island:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lighthouse%20Learning%20Island/6/134/24

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Kathy Schrock
Nauset Public Schools
Lighthouse Learning Island

Proceedings from the SL Education Conference 2007

Take a look at this great collection of articles from the SL Education Conference held in August 2007! Lots of great ideas, rationale, and exemplary practices.


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Kathy Schrock
Second Life Education Conference
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