Virtual 21st Century Skills
Handout -
virtual worlds handout Letter.pdf
Articles / Research
The Metaverse -
http://www.metaverseroadmap.org/overview/
The Metaverse Overview PDF -
http://www.metaverseroadmap.org/MetaverseRoadmapOverview.pdf
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| augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror worlds, virtual worlds |
Definitions
- Avatar : Computer representation of a user. Can mean “incarnation”.
- MetaVerse : Fully immersive 3D virtual spaces where humans interact (as avatars) with each other (socially and economically) and with software agents in a cyber space that uses the metaphor of the real world without the physical limitations. From the book “Snow Crash” by Neal Stevenson. (Wikipedia)
- RPG : Role Playing Game. Players typically take on fictional characters such as elves, vampires, dwarfs, wizards, etc.
- MUD : Multi-User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension, a multi-player computer came that combines elements of role-playing, hack and slash style computer games and social chat rooms. Usually text-driven where players read descriptions of rooms, objects, events, other characters, and computer controlled creatures or non-player characters (NPCs) in a virtual world. (Wikipedia)
- MOO : MUD Object Oriented - a text-based online virtual reality system in which multiple users (players) are connect at the same time. Object oriented means that users can perform object oriented programming within the server that changes how it behaves to all the users. Examples include creating new rooms, objects, and new interfaces.
- MMORPGs : Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.
- Pervasive : A pervasive game may be a game that runs 24 hours a day (though the game’s internal concept of a day may be different). Players can enter the game and interact with each other at any time. Second Life is an example of this type of pervasive game. Or a pervasive game may be a place independent game. For example a player may enter the game on a computer or on a cell phone, integrating to a degree the physical and virtual world. There are add-ons to SL, such as being able to text message into Second Life from an IM and receive messages live from SL, that make it pervasive in this context as well.
Virtual Worlds
Accessibility Resources
Games
Game Development Software
Groups in Second Life
Education/Cognition
RezEd . educators resource for virtual worlds and education . developed by the GlobalKids through a MacArthur Foundation grant .
http://www.rezed.org
Pacific Rim Exchange . great resources for educational uses of Second Life -
http://pacificrimx.wordpress.com/
Route21 . a roadmap for 21st century skills -
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21/
Resources for Visual Spatial Skill Development
Students today are growing and developing in virtual environments where success may depend upon good:
- visual memory
- perspective coordination
- spatial organization
- mental rotations
- patterning
Students that have problems with these types of skills may need support. One model of support involves continued movement from concrete spatial skill development to representational skills to abstract. Here are some resources to help support visual spatial development and making the connection between concrete, representational, and abstract.
Drawing & Painting
Modeling
Visual Spatial
