I recently sat down with Dan Holt (Sl: Profdan Netizen) of Lansing Community College to discuss his first term of teaching writing with SL.
We had a wide-ranging discussion and I learned a great deal; Dan avoided some of the errors I made my first term, in 2007, in a similar course! Notably, he spent time in-world before bringing in a class of students.
Dan provided some post-interview clarifications, and I've silently tipped them into our conversation.
Links to Dan's Courses & Assignments:
WRIT 121, fall 2009: http://web.lcc.edu/personal/holtd/writ121sl/index.htm
Example of an SL assignment: http://web.lcc.edu/personal/holtd/writ121sl/oaf09week5.htm#chat
WRIT 121, spring 2010: http://web.lcc.edu/personal/holtd/writ121/index.htm
Example of an SL assignment: http://web.lcc.edu/personal/holtd/writ121/oasp10week3.htm#chat
Wish You Were Here: Learning in Second Life: http://web.lcc.edu/personal/holtd/wishyouwerehere--pd_1-2010.pdf
Iggy: welcome to Richmond
Iggy: House of Usher is creating awful lag
Iggy: I'm working on it :)
Profdan: Is it? Not too bad at the moment.
Iggy: may be me
Iggy: I'll clear cache after our meeting
Profdan: So how've you been?
Iggy: we have 6000+ prims up there, though!
Profdan: Wow!
Iggy: I've been fine...only one class I'm teaching this term
Iggy: so you are meeting students in an hour--same course you did last term?
Profdan: Sort of. Last semester, I did one fy comp course, hybrid, two hours f2f, 2 hours online, with one of those hours in SL, most weeks. This semester, I'm doing 2 fy comps, as one class, and fully online. So part of the work is in Angel LMS, part of the work is here in SL.
Iggy: wow..how do you think that will change things as compared to hybrid?
Profdan: I'm also teaching a creative writing course, online, part of the time here.
Iggy: creative writing in SL!
Iggy: very cool
Profdan: Will it change things?
Profdan: Well, that's a good question. Certainly, the orientation was different.
Iggy: that was one of my questions I'd prepared
Iggy: How did you handle student orientation and "the first hour"?
Profdan: Last semester I was with the hybrid class the whole way with the hybrid orientation at Virtual Ability Island.
Profdan: This time, gave them instructions to sign up through Virtual Ability, and do the orientation on their island. I also did a video of a walk through signing up so, and starting the orientation. Then--during the same week--I had them meet with me at Angel Learning Isle, where my office/ classroom space is.
Iggy: yes--wise move.
Iggy: You decided to avoid the public island, then.
Profdan: Yes, I did, though this semester some students got started earlier through public help, though I did ask them to go through the VA island orientation as well.
Iggy: It seems you are taking Kathi Yancey's call for "Composition in a New Key" seriously
Profdan: lol, well in some ways, yes, but the writing they do is similar to my other f2f classes, just enhanced by the interaction in SL.
Iggy: Dan, what sort of prior experience have you had teaching with technology in the writing classroom?
Profdan: Well, in 1996, the president of L Lansing Community College wanted us to have the first online degree program offered by a Michigan CC. So he gathered some admins, and faculty and said, see you in 11 months. I was asked to do the first writing class for the online degree program.
Iggy: your "charge" was pretty broad but the goal was specific
Profdan: Yes, and when I was asked, I told them, I'm not interested
if they foresee the model as a glorified correspondence course. That it had to be as fully interactive as a f2f class. They said, no problem, we can do it. So--I've been teaching online since, of course with a mix of f2f and hybrid.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia agrees...otherwise you get that lecture-hall model here, and that's anathema to composition in the wake of the [writing as] process model
Profdan: exactly-- there had to be community built or no go.
Iggy: Did you use Course Management Systems before? Any tech in the classroom?
Profdan: I had some, like Daedalus or DIWE.
Iggy: yes! I loved DIWE [Daedalus Integrated Writing Environment] back "in the day" but SL was a huge leap, I'm sure. And why SL?
Profdan: Well, one of the things I've always valued in online instruction is real time interaction. Much to the dismay of many at our institution.
Iggy: right--that made DIWE so great for me...the Interchange module
Profdan: Techs and admins wanted to be primarily asynchronous, so that students who were busy didn't have to meet at the same time.
Iggy: well, keeping in mind that this may appear (after you check it for accuracy) how did you convince them to let you try SL?
Profdan: I did a sabbatical last fall exploring web 2.0, and especially SL, to see what could be done with virtual worlds and education, because, one of the things I soon noticed with online learning, is that students do not usually have a sense of place when taking online classes.
Iggy: true. A sense of person can be created, a Web site is not a place though even it is dicey.
Profdan: But a sense of place was lacking, and I think it detracts from their experience. So I've for quite a while thought that some type of VW was needed.
Iggy: so, keeping in mind that you'll be able to review and edit this later, did you encounter any resistance to your project?
Profdan: Not really--but then again, I've not really asked for any money--yet. I did have to make sure students knew beforehand
Iggy: hah--at least SL has low overhead costs
Profdan: what they were getting themselves into in the schedule book, and steer away age 17 and under students.
Iggy: a few of mine dropped last term after the first class
Profdan: Yes, and I've had that as well, probably more in my venue with a commuter CC. I've found that a good number of students didn't even know there would be SL in the class! Even though it was in the schedule book, and online when they signed up.
Iggy: here, it was--surprisingly--a fear of technology among 18 year olds..I find they are not all that good at it beyond Facebook and not adventerous
Profdan: Or afraid of it. That's been a big reaction I've gotten from many students--SL is so engaging, that they think they'll get addicted.
Iggy: but you must get a more diverse demographic
Iggy: yeah--my kids have been warned about online predators and over-exaggerated fears like that
Iggy: it's hilarious, really, that "addiction." Did you ever ask them how much time they spend online already?
Profdan: I didn't. That would have been a good question to ask. Especially if you include their cell phone. I may try that this semester.
Iggy: It's a great assignment, to have them track one technology they use to communicate
Iggy: journal about it for a week and reflect in light of a reading we do. Speaking of assignments...tell me about yours. You can include links if you wish
Profdan: Sure. Well first off, I did three basic things with students in SL. One, was chats, dome with me, some by themselves. The second was SL field trips,where they would search for sims related to the topic they were working on for the essay, and then go as a group to visit them.
Iggy: I love that! We even went to Burning Life, and Olivia's camp was a home base of sorts
Profdan: Yeah, I found that most students enjoyed it.
Iggy: so how did they do, on that task? Did they find sims? What were some topics?
Profdan: Well, it was hit or miss--with both me figuring out how best to do it, and with them using the search feature, which is clunky at its best.
Iggy: OMG that search "feature." I had to give them a list of good spots :(
Profdan: Yeah, I finally realized I needed to have some possibilities in my back pocket.
Iggy: that is a good transition for a Q I have...What sorts of changes are you making now, in your next go-round with SL?
Profdan: Well, first off, let me say that this whole experience has been deja vu--much of what I've been experiencing with students and SL is very similar to initial forays into online ed in the late 90s.Like searching.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia nods an recalls my botched attempts in the 90s to connect to our MOO from home!
Profdan: The promise of finding all kinds of cool stuff on the web often came up dry in the late 90s. Same happens now in SL, though even this semester is better than last.
Iggy: you mean search is improved? Did you give them any advice to improve their odds?
Profdan: Not really--I've just found that searching this semester pulls up more intriguing content than it did last semester. As happened in the 90s--within a couple years, much more fruitful to search the web and get something worthwhile.
Iggy: LL says they are improving search, true.
Profdan: The other thing I plan to include this semester, is using voice chat to have students read essays (poems and stories for the CW class) out loud to each other. That's been one clunky thing about online classes, having students read work aloud.
Iggy: excellent! You should contact Jena and Marty about Storybook Island and send a few to see the Uncle D story. They'll publish their work later, you know.
Profdan: That's an excellent idea.
Iggy: anything else you are adding? Changing?
Profdan: Well, I did do one full class meeting last semester, which went well, but this semester, I'll only do small group. Next fall, though, I plan to do one section, as a hybrid class in SL, which took some time to explain to my chair--it's hybrid, but it's all online, where students will be required to meet as a class, once a week at a prescribed time for two hours. The time will be in the schedule book like a f2f class.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia wonders if humanities faculty over a certain age will ever really "get" something like SL
Iggy: that brings me to a question about assessment and goals, by the way.
Profdan: That's a good question, though I did get some faculty excited about it during our PD days--I did a presentation about last semester.
Iggy: cool. I completely BLEW my presentation in 2007. I was too evangelical about SL then..not the bitter soul I am today :)
Profdan: lol
Iggy: but my Q: Did your course have to meet any assessment outcomes? State requirements?
Profdan: We have an externally assessed portfolio that is read and evaluated by other writing instructors, and yes, their portfolios went through the external assessment.
Iggy: as do we. Did you get comparative data for your class and others not using SL?
Profdan: Yes--I had one section online with only the LMS, and one with SL. No difference is success rates. . . . Actually, I take that back, the SL class did a little better.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia breathes a sign of relief
Iggy: what about student responses? Both about SL as a tool and how it influenced their progress as writers?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia had 1 of 10 respondents (15 in class) who thought SL was a waste of time
Profdan: I found that students generally found using SL engaging, much more so than find, say, a text chat engaging. I had students actually complain in weeks that we weren't using SL. About not going inworld.
Iggy: wow...my kids were soooo jaded. Did they have technical problems?
Profdan: Yes--and some are this semester.
Iggy: you may recall my angst about laptops, wireless, and SL
Profdan: Yes, I'm having some have problems with all of the above.
Iggy: But your students are connecting primarily from home? Or on campus?
Profdan: It seems that if there is any weakness in a computer, SL will find it! Primarily at home. We put in the schedule book that they must have high speed at home.
Iggy: very different. Mine are all on campus wireless and laptops were universal
Profdan: But--I'm finding that most are doing with wireless.
Iggy: did you get any complaints about content in SL? From students or your admin?
Profdan: No, there were a couple of students that found some shady areas, and just laughed about it.
Iggy: they must be mature and not 18 :)
Profdan: I've had faculty tell me that all there is in SL is sex.
Iggy: I had a few kids "creeped out" by skin signs in freebie stores
Profdan: Even as I'm showing them not.
Iggy: how did you convince them it's not?
Profdan: One way is to point out that such views were made about the web in 1998!
Iggy: exactly
Profdan: That yes, there's sex in SL, just as there is on the web, you may stumble upon it, but to really get into it, you have to look for it.
Iggy: and it seems to me that LL has segregated content better than the 2D Web has done
Profdan: Very true.
Iggy: one more on my list of Qs. How much outside support did you need?
Profdan: Well, I found it quite necessary to be in world for a number of months before I was anywhere near feeling comfortable dealing with students here. But once I made the commitment, I just kept things very simple.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia realizes that Dan is a lot smarter than he is...
Ignatius Onomatopoeia jumped RIGHT into SL with a class
Profdan: lol
Iggy: I've since realized that you need a few months on your own to learn.
Profdan: The other reason is that in order for me to persuade others at my campus to consider using SL in online classes,if it isn't readily recognizable to things they already do, they won't buy in.
Iggy: yes. Any luck getting recruits?
Profdan: I've got one instructional designer/criminal justice guy who's exploring the use of SL,
Profdan: and an English lit adjunct interested,
Profdan: and I just got one of my comp colleagues to create an avatar.
Iggy: you are doing better than I am!
Profdan: and the provost is very interested in what I'm doing.
Profdan: I had her daughter in my class a few years ago, so I think she will be open to support when the time is right.
Iggy: Our senior admins are, however, interested. It's convincing faculty to take the time you noted to learn this technology.
Profdan: That is if the state budget doesn't crash and burn this year!!!!
Iggy: hey, every school faces that...even Richmond. We have a budget-cut coming
Profdan: I bet.
Iggy: So...so in keeping with the last Roundtable meeting...what do you, as an educator, need from LL beyond a better search engine?
Profdan: But you're right about faculty.
Iggy: yes, faculty need incentives and rewards for this stuff--always
Profdan: In world web access would be really helpful, as well as some way to remove the under 18 barrier.
Iggy: you mean web-on-a-prim?
Profdan: Yes.
Iggy: would document sharing help? Or to you go to the browser for that?
Profdan: But I'm beginning to think Opensim may be the only way with that last one.
Iggy: why do you think that, about OpenSim?
Profdan: Yes, document sharing would be good as well, especially with the ability to do live mark up, like with a marker.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia loves his Smartboard...even when he calls it a "dumboard."
Profdan: Just seems that LL is so concerned about lawsuits with under 18, that I don't know if they'll ever budge.
Iggy: it's tragic for their global audience; many first-years outside the US are 17
Profdan: And a good number in CCs with dual enrollment.
Iggy: Have you explored other grids?
Profdan: I haven't much yet.
Iggy: good point about CCs
Iggy: hey, one more Q! You have always brought a very consistent appearance to the Roundtable.
Iggy: Why does Profdan dress as he does?
Ignatius Onomatopoeia pretty much stays the same, too
Profdan: I want at some level for my avatar to look like me--beard, longish hair, bald, jeans, tennis shoes.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia agrees--except for the dreads, and the lack of gray in ther beard, the avatar is me
Profdan: I'd like, though, to get some better hair down the road, maybe a long braid.
Profdan: Yeah, gray sucks in SL.
Profdan: I tried to do gray in my beard, didn't really work.
Iggy: A lady in my UU church is into SL and she saw me in my tophat at a party IRL and said "MY GOD it's Iggy!"
Profdan: lol!
Iggy: when worlds collide
Iggy: anything else you want to tell my readers about teaching with SL?
Profdan: Well, the one thing that I expected, but yet still surprises me in SL, is that the sense of person and place is very strong. Last night, I had a chat with a group of students, where we talked about toys (the topic of their first essay), then we went to a bicycle riding sim.
Iggy: the embodiment changes everything.
Profdan: exactly.
Iggy: they must love all that. I took a few on road trips in the car
Profdan: Then when done, I went back to my office, to change a URL dispenser, and one of my students had gone back and was sitting on the roof, watching the sunset. I sat down with her and we talked for a half hour.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia smiles in wonder at the monitor...and not for the first time in SL. That's the magic of teaching well, Dan.
Profdan: I'm still wrapping my mind around the experience. Simple, but very profound.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia agrees
Profdan: No online student for 12 years, has done that with me until now.
Profdan: Yes, we've chatted in text chats, emailed, joked on discussion boards, but this was something different, much more immersive.
Ignatius Onomatopoeia grins...indeed
Iggy: I know you have an appointment, but Thank you for your time. I'll post this at my Web site for your review before I run it.
Profdan: You're welcome, Iggy.
