MICHIGAN DOWNUNDER: February 2012

Tuesday 21 February 2012

FAREWELL TO ISTE ISLAND

I am very sad to report that ISTE Island in Second Life will be "no more", as of the 28th February 2012. There will still be an ISTE presence in Second Life on one of the nearby educational islands, but the full ISTE island sim will go off the grid in a few days time. Scott Merrick explains the reasons for this in his Blog post: http://www.sl-educationblog.org/?p=363

ISTE Island was one of the services provided by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). In its "hey day" ISTE Island involved four sims and hosted a range of learning spaces and events. There were many docents who mentored "newbie" avatars and it created a safe haven when the virtual world became a little overwhelming.

I have many fond memories of a range of events on this island over the years, especially the Eduverse sessions and the monthly Guest Speaker Series held in the auditorium. Being able to log-in and be in a room with avatar-people from around the world was an amazing experience. The cost and time involved in travel was non-existent and the opportunities to learn from each other and dialogue on a range of topics was wonderful. At times these sessions involved excursions to other sims where educators showcased their various learning environments. I had such a wonderful ride in this environment. It rekindled the wonder of learning for me, reminiscent of my childhood. Yet the topics were very much relevant to my interests as a middle-aged educator!

So I feel a great sense of loss here. Although ISTE Island was a virtual space, and not real as in bricks and mortar, it was a real place in another dimension, where educators from all parts of the world gathered to network in real time. I shall miss this island greatly. Yes, I know that the ISTE presence and new opportunities will continue, but nevertheless I will miss the aesthetics of the island and the happy memories it held for me.

Thank you to all the docents in giving of your time and support. Thank you to the ISTE designers and to everyone who contributed to the ISTE community.

Stay tuned, as I will post some photos and video clips shortly, as part of my farewell to ISTE Island.

Terminology and Acronyms

1L - First Life
2L - Second Life
2VCC - 2nd Vitual Counselling Conference (Hosted by CESL)
3VCC - 3rd Vitual Counselling Conference (Hosted by CESL)
Animations - a mini program which moves the avatar in a sequence of motions e.g. dancing, diving, jumping.
AO - Animation Override. These are small programs which determine how your avatar sits, stands, walks and displays other movements
Avatar - digital/graphical representation of the virtual world user
CESL - Counselor Educators in Second Life
Client - Another word for "viewer". See definition below.
CMS - Course Management System
Emoticons - are keyboard combinations which convey facial expression and tone e.g :-) . These are used across a range of electronic communication devices such as mobile phones and computers.
FL - First Life
Gestures - are similar to animations, but involve the addition of sounds and text chat. So your avatar may dance, say "yeehar" with voice and music, as well as typed text appearing in chat stating "yeehar" and emoticons.
Inworld - in one of the virtual worlds.
ISP - Internet service provider (network).
JG - Jokaydia Grid
LMS - Learning Management System
Machinima - is machine cinema; 3D computer animation video clips.
MOODLE - an acronym which stans for Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. It is a free Learning Management System (LMS), which can be used in conjunction with SLOODLE to maintain a number of educational records and processes inworld.
MUVE - Multi User Virtual Environment
Network - refers to your internet service provider (ISP).
OS - Open Sim
OTI - Online Therapy Institute
Prim - short for "primitive", the basic building block in virtual worlds. These are resized and reshaped to create virtual environments (e.g. buildings, furniture, vehicles, clothing)
Rez - to create/bring an object into the virtual world
RG - Reaction Grid
RL - Real Life
Sim/s - abbreviation for simulation. This may refer to a video game that simulates an activity or event e.g. flying or sailing. But the word may also refer to an area on a virtual world, which is a simulated area. It may simulate a real place or period of time, an organisation setting (school campus, hospital, shop) or a theory speculation, or just a place of make believe, and so on. Some of these areas will also have simulated activities within them.
SL - Second Life
SLOODLE - an acronymn which stands for Simulation Linked Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. An inworld object/process which integrates the virtual world (Second Life and OpenSim) with the Moodle learning-management system (LMS).
Terraform - the shaping of the land in a sim (land and water topography)
VCC - Vitual Counselling Conference (Hosted by CESL)
Viewer - There are a number of different programs you can use to view and interact in the various virtual worlds e.g. Second Life Viewer, Hippo Viewer, Imprudence etc... Note that some virtual worlds have preferred viewers and policies about these, especially if you use a third part viewer and not the recommended one for the relevant virtual world. Another word for viewer is "client".
VLE - Virtual Learning Environment
VR - Virtual reality refers to computer environments that simulate physical presence in places/events relevant to the real or imaginary world.
VW - Virtual World
VWBPE - Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education
VWs - Virtual Worlds