Over the last month or so, I’ve been working with the NSW LearnScope team to prepare for their end of year festivites. The major focus of my work has been getting ready for the virtual portion of eLearning07 – the NSW LearnScope end of year event. I’ve written a detailed post about what I’ve been up to on the NSW Learnscope Blog.

The process has been lots of fun, and I’m really looking forward to the event. If you’re interested, you are welcome to attend:

• Some of the panel sessions will be broadcast in Second Life and Adobe Connect throughout the 2 days – we’ll post specific info on the eLearning07 Protopage shortly.
• Sean FitzGerald aka Sean McDunnough will be coordinating tours and demos in Second Life at the live venue throughout the event. Come and say hi in-world and meet him and other conference participants.
• Visit the eLearning07 Virtual Conference Centre and Poster Display on jokaydia.
• Join Kathie Warren and Alex Hayes in the Adobe Connect Room for discussions and sharing throughout the event.
• Attend our Connected Keynote Panel which is being hosted by Bee Dieu aka Bee Kerouac live in Second Life. It will also be broadcast in Adobe Connect commencing at 12:30pm on Friday 2 Nov (AEST). For our virtual participants that’s 6pm on 1/11 SL Time or you can check your local time here.

For more information visit the eLearning07 Protopage or the NSW LearnScope blog. Looking forward to seeing you at the event!

On Thursday last week we met over at Enmore College for our final session with the ‘Using the Second Life Virtual World in Teaching and Learning’ LearnScope Team from Sydney Institute. It was fun to meetup with a small group from the team again… although a little bit of a shame more didn’t make it.

We started off with a great session with Dr. Cynthia Calongne aka Lyr Lobo Professor of Computer Science, Colorado Technical University – a fabulous educator in Second Life, who is working on all sorts of interesting stuff. Check out the slides from her presentation here and the recording of the session here.

After a quick coffee break, we managed to do a few building experiments in Second Life. The team experimented with rezzing and manipulating prims and we tried out some rotating textures just for fun. I also gave them a sign frame to experiment with – so I’m expecting to see some creative signs about libraries, disabilities and Sydney Institute projects in the coming weeks! LOL!

We also recorded the momentus occassion by convening for a team photograph on the Sydney Institute plot on jokaydia.

Thanks everyone – I’ve had fun sharing and learning with you this year… and I’m looking forward to seeing your experiments in Second Life in the coming months! A special thanks to Steph for the amazing work he’s done getting us access to Second Life from inside the TAFE network, to Paula for all her facilitation and team rallying, and of course to Sean for all his hard work and support!

Now… back to building… It’s time to get ready for eLearning07!

It’s been quiet on the blogging front lately… but definitely not on the virtual front!

After a few months of tinkering and planning on the Island of jokaydia, we’ve finally moved our projects there officially and the Island is open for business.

We’ve even managed to hold a few events, including a live tour for participants at the UOW’s ‘Serving Up the Future’ Mini Conference and the NSW Learnscope Regional Event – Go Virtual.

Above: Panel Session at Go Virtual, September 2007.

It’s been an exciting few days too – with three new residents joining us on the Island – our first virtual tenants!

Already they are starting to create interesting things on their new virtual plots.. it’s going to be exciting to see what develops. For those who are interested – there’s one plot left!

Meantime, I’m focussing on setting up the information tools on jokaydia – in particular the tools in EduSquare – our Second Life in Education hub on the Island.

The other big move has been demolishing the last pieces of Jo and Sean’s Virtual Meeting Space in Wasp. Although it has been wonderful to move to the Island… I was a bit sad as I removed the pieces of our space from the land and parcelled it up for sale. I’ve come a looong way since I first went land shopping in early 2006!

A special thanks to Sean for all the hard work, creating and re-creating, facilitating, workshopping and managing he did there!

Anyway, below is a series of pics commemorate my original virtual home! Enjoy!

1. Purchasing my first land in Wasp – May 2006

2. My first cabin – Day 1 as a land owner!

3. First Event at Jo’s Meeting Space in Wasp – August 2006

4. Dalek!

5. Two Seans in Second Life!

6. Drumming with Sean

7. Meeting in the Library Hut, Dec 2006

8. Balloon Ride Anyone?, Feb 2007

9. In-World Presentation: Showcasing Australasian Educational Projects in Second Life, June 2007.

10. One of the last events in Wasp – NMC Teacher Buzz Session, August 2007.