I am beginning to wonder if my classmates who are participating in the Live Discussions in SL might be gaining more information and at a more rapid pace than I am. By the time I get home at night and sit down to SL it is at least an hour later for almost everyone else and EdTech Island is generally empty. Now, while I tend to lean towards traditional learning methods, at least for myself, I am aware that a bit of scaffolding might help me move a bit more quickly through SL. As it is, I am still trying not to walk into walls, or get stuck, on occasion, in the fountian.
"Knowledge, at least according to social constructivists is the artifact of decisions made by people in groups, based on their on-going interactions. It is grounded in the inquiring activities and comingled task through which people relate" (Gibson pg 93).
Learning in a 3D eviroment, such as SL, seems to require that people get involved in a communtity in which they can learn and bounce ideas of others who are working with the same ideas or material. "Social constructivists view learning as the result of neither solely intrinsic nor purely extrinsic motivations but, rather, as a contiguous process that exists each time people willfully interact with each other in the world around them" (Gibson pg 93).
Throughout Gibson's Chapter 5 there seems to be a common theme of providing scaffolding to the new learners in online learning environments, especially in the 3D type learning evironments. While scaffolding is generally considered to be important in most learning situations, I feel that it is more so in environment such as SL. There is a significant level of disorientation for many learners (myself included) when they first enter such an environment. What that scaffolding looks like, I am a bit unsure of at this point.
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What time do you typically login? I will be happy to show up and help you with some of the basics etc. I am sure we can help you build that scaffolding. Besides, I keep getting stuck on things as well. I have a different difficulty: I have played/participated in several other MMOs and I am VERY used to the controls and interface that they have provided me. So I really am still a novice @ SL. So, like you, I am still figuring out what the scaffolding looks like too!
SL is a particularly social environment. Other MMOs lend themselves more to being "solo" functions with other "non-player-characters" that you can choose to interact with. A new game that is coming out later this year forces you to be in "single player mode" until you reach a certain comptency. So, by the time you interact with other players, you should have all the skills you need to be successful. Do you think that kind of graduated environment would be beneficial for learners who are experiencing the same difficulties you are?
Good post and seriously, let me know when you are on if you would like some additional time interacting.
I feel exactly the same way, Katie. I am so new at this and by the time I get home from work, my mind is no longer sharp and things in SL are winding down. I feel I am playing a game of catch-up, and losing! My wonderful classmates are helping me so much, and without this network, I may as well just give up. I would love to see a "single player mode" requirement for a while, until I can learn the lay of the land. Perhaps a series of solo projects, with some sort of self-tutorial would be the best idea. That way, us "late-comers" could go to SL any time we wanted to and still be able to do the activities that I feel we have missed out on because our schedule does not match that of the optional group activities.
I appreciate your honest reflection of your own thoughts, feelings, and assessment of learning. I've noticed you've been on the last couple of nights--it's been good to chat!
While I would agree more time online makes one more proficient (just as practicing any activity would), I'll also say there really isn't an expectation that everyone will perform at the same level while in SL, or in the class itself, for that matter.
I very much believe that while learning may be socially constructed, at the core, that construction still happens in the individual's own brain--thus, I'm most interested in your own personal growth, pre and post. What are YOU getting out of it? How have your own understandings and conceptions evolved by participating in class activities (including blogging and other non-SL activities)? Stay focused on this aspect of your professional growth, and don't worry about "keeping up." Let your own interest and motiviation drive your learning, instead of the anxiety, and see what happens :)
I am glad you feel the same way about not being able toparticipate often in SL. I haven't been able to log in at all this past week. I dunno what is new and feel as if I am not gaining as much as my classmates.
In my opinion, yo run an effective class using SL it needs to be set up in a synchronous environment. For example: I have not been able to make a building class and now I am very scared and nervous about this week's project.
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