I made by myself some SL incursions and I found quite of interesting places and events to follow in order to learn a little bit about scripts and some others SL issues (I recommend, for example, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Pinastri/118/177/21).

In the process of beginning the activity I met with Bonbon Braveheart, which conducted me through the main steps. In fact, reading the instructions before made easier the whole process of creating the box and the educational guide.

My general view is just about learning a new tool, and some kind of programming. And that is nice, nothing else but possibilities in some fields of knowledge are very limited, as I expected. In that sense I remember one lovely article published one month ago in a Spanish newspaper “La estafa del enseñar a enseñar” or “The swindle of teaching to teach” (translation is mine) and I am afraid, at any point of time, somebody will write something close to it referred to this inflation of ICT in learning.

Obviously, the experience was really rich. We worked together and helped each other in order to grow as people and increase our knowledge, so I am sure next activities will drive me to share experiences as I did this time.

I did not have that crazy feeling about how marvelous this was going to be; perhaps because brilliant lights are usually converted into brilliant disguise, and nothing else. I trust in my capacity to make critics, and I hope it does not leave me for some years, but I am still supportive, willing to get (and to give) the best of them (and me)… and still very interested in it.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/educacion/Pasion/tecnologia/elpeputec/20081110elpepiedu_3/Tes

I was flying and dancing; I took several pictures, I hang up a picture of me under the supervision and help of other SL avatar, and talked to people. As real life some were really kind, others a little bit rude. Nothing completely new except the environment…

The experience was nice though, I went to several islands, I was teletransported, found some educators groups in my living area and in my subject of research. Many things remain to be met. At some time I was asked for help and although I tried to do my best, my knowledge it was still insufficient.

Just like a collage. Some of the most smiling or reminding moments were:

-         When I received a message saying: “You can not enter this region because the server is full”. I felt like an emigrant… going to nowhere!

-         When I saw some sharks… do you believe me? Here you are: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramiromvn08/3016532197/

-         When other SL avatar left her microphone opened… and she was holding a phone conversation.

-         Finally, the sensation inside the buildings and the desire of going out to meet fresh air and better landscapes.

A. I am your friend. I don’t work in education. You are talking to me about the idea that we all learn from each other, in all kinds of contexts, and that this can often be richer than more formal classroom based learning. I am sceptical. Tell me about an informal learning experience you have had online in which collaboration was involved, show me a concrete example to help me to see what you mean.

Everything is in the books. Yes, you are right Álex, the contents are, basically, in the books; sometimes in the articles published in very specialized reviews… but learning social skills, being used to accept differences and give value to them is not easily apprehended just reading books. You need to train them.

I know, it is not the only new way of learning… and I agree with you in the sense that, perhaps, it is not strictly necessary “living in virtual worlds”, and just by using chats, blogs, forums and threaded discussions you can learn. In some way, is the same as when we used to hang out… anyone gave their ideas, their experiences, related to a topic. Do you remember that? Could you say you did not learn anything from those very informal meetings in the park?

Look, this is not like a pub… where anybody can shout whatever he/she wants to say. It is about making relations among studies, opinions, first-hand experiences, linking to pages where you can reread and check out every detailed issue. And you always con use some books too… it is not a matter of substituting but bringing together directed and well-documented discussions or comments in a very concrete environment and with no other objective than learn (no passing or grading, just learn: accumulate knowledge and open new paths).

B. We all explore new technologies, some grab our attention more than others, some seem revolutionary, others simply bore us. Tell us about that new tool, or set of tools, you have just discovered that really excites you, talk about the potential it has to change your work. What do you want to do with it?

Assuming that my work implies to help people (interested in the contents of the courses I teach) to learn (today and the day after), it is easy to envision that any new gadget brings me a new (sometimes crazy) opportunity to share knowledge and/or experience… Most of the times, only thoughts are made: mainly because the cost of implementation is high, or because insufficient tools are still developed.

Now, addressing the question from the learning perspective, recently some books’ publishers are issuing ppt presentations, videos,  and other learning material in iPod format: since my experience teaching Accounting at the University in a non native language is not long enough, my learning curve is showing a much better achievement than I expected… From the other side, from the teaching part of me:

a) Definitely, simulation tools based in ad hoc software or specifically developed for some areas of economic and financial knowledge improve critical thinking  on making decisions and make easy to get better skills (cooperative, team work,…); and

b) Conceptual map tools and wikis, which allow collaborative work and give the opportunity to report contents, set relations, and promote threaded discussions.

C. Do you see yourself as a pioneer? Do you think you are more innovative than others in your organisation? Do you think your organisation is lagging behind? Tell us how you feel about this?

Resistance to change is far away from being something new. In fact, usually happens that the effort to improve does not pay back an immediate reward. That is the case of being a pioneer (or an updated lecturer, at least): Inflexible structures and poor motivated colleagues drive the experiences in some contexts to a very hard path. And the frustration only is set with confidence (a little bit of resignation) and the feedback that learners usually bring to me.

Nevertheless, the collusion between what should be done and what it is really done is also a consequence of the initial cost of being familiar with new technologies and, in some extents, a consequence of some kind of uncertainty about the global outcome of the learning process using ICT.