Thanks to Twitter (a post forthcoming because 140 characters is not enough for me) and a twittering avatar-Fleep I discovered this free online event for educators in Ohio. Excellent- since I live in Ohio…not so excellent because I am not an educator. I would hardly even call myself educated.

However, my wife is an educator and synethetic world enabled. I am sure she will like this free event. The details on the event below. Registration at TeachUOhio.org. Another one looks even better: May 16, 2007: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm - Some Telling Experiences: Engaging Students through Digital Storytelling.

Ohio Learning Network
Description

* Virtual Worlds for Educators
* Creating Teaching Aids in Synthetic Worlds
* Exploring the Virtual Center for Emergency Preparedness: Fighting Fire with Pixels.

Each of the presentations will last 45 minutes and we’ll have 45 minutes for questions and for platform transitions. Be prepared to move among virtual world software (details TBA) as our facilitators take us on a tour of cutting edge synthetic learning environments.

Intended Audience Other
Learner Outcomes Session One with Michele Dickey: Virtual Worlds for Educators

Online virtual worlds are emerging technologies that offer unique learning opportunities for teaching and learning. Various virtual worlds are now being used as game-based and interactive learning environments. This presentation will provide examples of how various virtual worlds are being used for education as well as provide low cost and easy-to-use resources for educators to create their own environments.

Session Two with John Bowditch and Benjamin Schneider: Exploring the Virtual Center for Emergency Preparedness: Fighting Fire with Pixels

In game tour of the virtual Center for Emergency Preparedness developed by the Game Research and Immersive Design Lab in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University in collaboration with Owens Community College in Toledo. This demonstration will allow participants to actively explore the Burn Building portion of this first responder simulator. The presenters will give a guided tour covering production decisions, instructional design, and academic merit.

Session Three with Dr. Chang Lui: Creating Teaching Aids in Synthetic Worlds

Synthetic worlds, developed in tools such as Second Life, have great potential for teaching and learning. The development of engaging, effective teaching and learning tools in these environments, however, is not trivial. We will discuss how to get started on this and show a few existing teaching aids in Second Life.

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