| Week | Name | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Please Read: Online Classes by Jami Schwarzwalder | Schwarzwalder, Jami. "Online Classes." YALSA Blog. March 15, 2006. http://blogs.ala.org/yalsa.php?title=online_classes. . | |
| 1 | Powerpoint: Avatar Creation | Brief introduction to avatars. |
| Assignment: Avatar Creation Tools and Applications | A list of online avatar creation resources. Please try 3 and report on ONE. | |
| Instructions: Uploading Your Avatar to Moodle | How to upload your new avatar to your Moodle profile | |
| Library Avatars presentation by Shaun Seibel | Seibel, Shaun. “Library Avatars.” Tech Talks Presentation, May 21, 2008. University of North Texas. http://www.library.unt.edu/digitalprojects/tech-talks/avatars | |
| Article: "Avatars and Inservice" by Joyce Valenza | Valenza, Joyce. “Avatars and Inservice.” School Library Journal, June 24, 2007. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/1410010941.htm. Accessed 12/07/08. | |
| “My Avatar, My Self" by David Kushner | Kusher, David. “My Avatar, My Self.” Technology Review, April 2004. http://www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspx?id=13536&channel=web§ion= (free access, requires login) | |
| 2 | Article: 7 Things You Should Know About Virtual Worlds | 7 Things You Should Know About Virtual Worlds (Educause Learning Initiative 2006). http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7015.pdf |
| Video: Metaverse Tour 2008: The Social Virtual World's a Stage | Hayes, Gary. Metaverse Tour 2008: The Social Virtual World's a Stage. PersonalizeMedia. 2008. http://www.personalizemedia.com/2008-metaverse-tour-video-the-social-virtual-worlds-a-stage/ Accessed 12/07/08. | |
| Assignment: Virtual Worlds to Try | An annotated list of virtual worlds to try. Please visit 3 virtual worlds and report on one. | |
| Virtual Worlds by Category | Virtual Worlds by Category http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/categories.shtml | |
| "Virtual Worlds: A First-Hand Account of Market and Society on the Cyberian Frontier." by Edward Castronova | Castronova, Edward. Virtual Worlds: A First-Hand Account of Market and Society on the Cyberian Frontier(December 2001). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 618. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=294828 | |
| Librarianship in Virtual Worlds by Tom Peters | Peters, Tom. "Librarianship in Virtual Worlds." Library Technology Reports, 2008. ALA Techsource. http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/librarianship-in-virtual-worlds.html | |
| Mediashift | Glaser, Mark. Mediashift. http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/10/your-guide-to-virtual-worlds283.html. Accessed 12/07/08. | |
| Book: Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries: Innovators Describe Pioneering Library and Educational Projects in Second Life and Other Virtual Environments edited by Lori Bell and Rhonda B. Trueman. | Bell, Lori and Rhonda B. Trueman. Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries: Innovators Describe Pioneering Library and Educational Projects in Second Life and Other Virtual Environments. Information Today, 2008. | |
| 3 | Article: Machinima Goes Mainstream: Digital Filmmaking for the 21st Century." by Kelly Czarnecki | Czarnecki, Kelly. "Machinima Goes Mainstream: Digital Filmmaking for the 21st Century." School Library Journal, February 1 2008. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6526714.html. accessed 11/27/08. (article) |
| Video: What is Machinima? | Fox, Frank L. What is Machinima? YouTube, 12/20/2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPLzKur06Vo. Accessed 11/27/08. | |
| Assignment: Machinima Examples | Please watch a sample of the movies from the following sites. Share your favorite and least favorite with your classmates. | |
| The Machinima FAQ | The Machinima FAQ. Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences. http://www.machinima.org/machinima-faq.html accessed 11/27/08. | |
| Machinima Filmfest | Machinima Filmfest. http://festival.machinima.org/. accessed 12/7/08 Check out the nominees for 2008 | |
| Machinifeed | Machinifeed. http://www.machinifeed.com/. Accessed 12/07/08. | |
| Make Movies with WeGame | Torley, Linden. Make Movies with WeGame. | |
| Screen Capture Programs | A variety of free programs to use to record activities in virtual worlds. | |
| Book: Machinima for Dummies by Hugh Hancock & Johnnie Ingram | Hancock, Hugh and Ingram, Johnnie. Machinima for Dummies (Wiley, 2007) | |
| 4 | Article: "Real-Life Migrants on the MUVE: Stories of Virtual Transitions" by Cathy Arreguin & Ross Perkins | Arreguin, Cathy and Ross Perkins. "Real-Life Migrants on the MUVE: Stories of Virtual Transitions." Learning and Leading with Technology. May 2007.http://www.asaecenter.org/files/images/Awards/2008GoldCircle/Muve.pdf. Accessed 12/07/08. |
| Models: Libraries in Virtual Worlds | Review several of the models listed below for inspiration. Do any appeal to you? How would you like to apply virtual worlds to your library work? | |
| RezEd Podcasts | RezEd Podcasts. http://www.rezed.org/page. Accessed 12/07/08. Podcasts from educators using a variety of virtual worlds in their classrooms or librar | |
| Virtual Worlds: A Teen Tech Week Guide | Virtual Worlds: A Teen Tech Week Guide. http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Virtual_Worlds:_A_Teen_Tech_Week_Guide. Accessed 12/07/08. | |
Introduction to Virtual Worlds
Online Continuing Education course via Simmons College GSLIS, March 2010
You probably have heard the term “virtual world.” You might be curious about them or even regularly take part in one yourself. There are hundreds of virtual worlds that exist (and have for many years) and are being used by public, school, and academic libraries.
Not all virtual worlds are alike and chances are they will not all fit your needs. There are some similarities among them that will help to get started -- dressing your avatar, networking with others, and learning and sharing knowledge. Don't be afraid to jump in and find what suits you best. Customization is important for people everywhere and our library users are no different. Interact in virtual worlds to find what fit is right for you and discover library applications for avatar creation, easy machinima, community building, library programs and more!
REGISTER for Introduction to Virtual Worlds
Recommended Minimum System Requirements:
- Windows 2000 OR Mac OS X or better
- Pentium or better chipset
- 2 gig RAM
- Sound & video card less than 5 years old
- Multimedia plugins on computer: javascript enabled, shockwave, Quicktime and Windows DirectX 9 (for PCs)
- Ability to download and install software
Faculty: Kelly Czarnecki, Technology Education Librarian, ImaginOn, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Library Journal Mover and Shaker (2007), owner of Eye4You Alliance Island in Teen Second Life, writer for SLJ column, "The Gaming Life", kczarnecki@plcmc.org; and Beth Gallaway, GSLIS Alum, library trainer/consultant, Library Journal Mover and Shaker (2006), and author of "Get Your Game On: Video Games and Libraries"; informationgoddess29@gmail.com. Both are on the Gaming Expert Panel for ALA/Verizon.