Second Life: Educators Working with Teens

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Second Life: Educators Working with Teens

Welcome to the Second Life: Educators Working with Teens page. If you are currently running an education project in Teen Second Life, please feel free to log in and add your own SLEDT-related content in the project section below.


Some things you should know before starting a project in Teen Second Life

Second Life presents a novel way to engage students in distance learning. If you've spent time in Second Life you'll no doubt see a broad potential in the environment as well as aspects that may present challenges. You will not be as likely to see the potential difficulties presented by Teen Second Life without an awareness of the unique nature of this environment and its relationship to Second Life. In an effort to provide a place where teens can choose to interact without adult contact, both social and technical limitations are put in place. Some of these limitations, though serving a valuable purpose, may make it difficult or impossible for you to accomplish all of your goals. As such we present this resource as a way for you to come to better understand how TSL might, or might not, work for you. Please also consider talking to others in the community who are using TSL for their own projects.

We would like for you to find TSL a valuable medium in which to engage your audience, but please remember that Teen Second Life was designed primarily as a safe environment for teens to engage their peers and that, like the whole of SL, it can be considered very new in the grand scheme of things. Keep in mind, while you consider the investment of your time and resources versus the grand potential of virtual worlds, that nobody ever said the cutting edge wouldn't hurt a bit!

Update on TSL Registration

We have repaired PayPal as an alternative to SMS for TSL account creation for teens ages 13-17. Currently US teen residents can create their own accounts in Teen Second Life with SMS or PayPal. Because SMS is US-centric, non-US residents will need to use PayPal to create accounts. Teen-created accounts will be restricted to the teen-only mainland, to teen-owned private islands, and to public access adult-owned estates in TSL like Eye4You Alliance, the teen library project. If your students cannot use either of these methods, you will need to budget for account creation services for your student accounts. Post an email to the SLEDT list inquiring about what TSL-approved developers are offering the regAPI service. Accounts created using regAPI will be restricted to your private estate.

The differences between closed and open estates

Closed estates and open/public access estates each have their own unique advantages and constraints.

Closed estate model

We have many successful projects in TSL using the closed estate model. Ramapo Islands, also Skoolaborate and Pacific Rim Exchange are examples of education projects using this model. Their islands are closed to everyone but their own students. Adult and student accounts are all assigned to the same estate. This allows them to form groups, IM and exchange objects with each other. The adult and student accounts cannot leave the island. The residents of the Teen Grid have no access to these estates.

On the closed estate model, educators need to work with a TG-approved developer to set up the accounts with the registration API.

  • Adult and teen accounts will all be able to communicate very easily
    • They can form groups
    • They can IM
    • They can exchange objects.
  • All accounts will be confined to that particular estate -
    • This is an advantage for groups who want to control the student experience
    • This is a disadvantage for groups who would like teens to be able to roam freely in TSL
Open estate model

In contrast, Eye4You Alliance island for example is an "open" or "public access" estate. Teens from the mainland of Teen Second Life can come to their island and participate in activities.

  • Advantage: Teens from the mainland of TSL can visit.
  • Challenge: Adults cannot IM or form groups with mainland TSL teens.
    • Teens who have created their own TSL accounts are technically on a different estate.
    • Avatars on different estates cannot form groups, IM or exchange objects. They will not be able to see each other in Search.

To set your island to open, first you will have to follow some requirements in close cooperation with Linden Lab. Estates are delivered in the closed mode. Please DO NOT enable the Public Access option without following the process here. If you choose the open estate model with its unique features and limitations:

  • Advise concierge
  • Linden Lab staff adds estate owner and lead developer to Approved Adult group inworld
  • Linden Lab provides a notecard dispenser for you to set up. You can edit the script to include information you want visitors to have, but it should state the name of your island and that the approved adults will be wearing their TSL Approved Adult nametags.
  • You set the estate for single point of entry and set up telehub.
    • You must disable *Allow Direct Teleport* on the *Estate* tab of the Region/Estate window.
    • Search telehub in the Knowledge base for instructions on setting up a telehub.
  • Place notecard dispenser at entry point to announce to visiting teens the presence of Approved Adults. Always wear your Approved Adult group nametag when on the island.
  • Add this text to the description of any parcel on the estate: "Approved (non-Linden) adults may be present". Right-click on the land or use World>About Land to change this information on the General tab.
  • Then, you will set to open
    • Menu>World>Region/Estate>Estate>choose public access

Other 'open estate models' include:

  • British Isle
  • Digischool (Netherlands)
  • Eye4You Alliance
  • Global Kids
  • Land of Lincoln
  • Metaversa
  • Tech Savvy
  • US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Mailing Lists

Educators Mailing List

Linden Lab maintains an Educators Mailing List to keep interested individuals alerted to education opportunities and events in Second Life. This is an ideal way for you to share experiences as well as connect with colleagues and potential collaborators. You can add yourself to this mailing list by visiting this page. Discussion on this list covers a wide range of topics, from pedagogy in immersive worlds to specific Second Life scripts and tools that can be useful in facilitating a rich learning experience. If you have questions, ask them here. List has 4171 members (10.19.07)

Educators Working with Teens Mailing List

In addition, we have a special mailing list for educators working with Teens (13-17yrs old)! You can add yourself to this mailing list by visiting this page. We recommend that you join both lists if you are an educator working with Teens. List has 500+ members (10.19.07)

In-World Groups

Teen Educators in SL (TED)

TED is a collaborative community of real life educators seeking to support, inspire and train other teachers interested in using the Teen SL interface to educate students ages 13-17.

We are deeply interested in the development and implementation of effective, engaging instructional experiences that result in real learning! As such, we are focused on issues of pedagogy and assessment as well as the supportive systems and tools necessary for both teacher and learner success.

Our overarching goal is the development of usable Teen SL instructional environments that are being used and enjoyed by students worldwide.

If you are a real life educator working in the field of youth education, or have plans to do so, we welcome you to join us! Membership is free. To join, use the Search button > Groups tab > Teen Educators In SL.

Note: TED currently has an open structure of leadership. Initiative is encouraged! Group member permissions are set to support collaborative efforts.

Teen Educators in SL does not currently have a permanent place in the adult version of Second Life. Please contact Mari Asturias if you are interested in being part of team designing a space dedicated to needs of educators teaching teens.

The Bridging Project

Bridging focuses on the issue of "bridging" the Grids for teens. Why a "bridge"? Linden Lab has set up Teen Grid for teens 13 to 17 years of age, with little provision for what happens when a teen turns 18. This is in keeping with LL's policy of allowing for maximum user content. However, for "aged-out" teens, this means a total disruption of one's social life, cutting off daily contact with friends and/or projects.

Building the "Bridge" requires two ends. BRIDGE group on the Teen Grid has teen and approved adult members, while the BRIDGING group on the Main Grid has some of the same adult members as in the TG Bridge group, but more importantly includes teens who have "rezuated" to the MG. Eventually, these Bridge groups should have teens on both Grids running the Bridge for themselves.

This metaphor of a Bridge signifies both a continuity and a transition. The strong bonding within the community of teens on the TG need not be completely broken off. And on the other hand, coming to the Main Grid can be overwhelming without "a little help from my friends."

To date (Jan. 2008), the Bridge project has created, and LL has accepted, a "rezuation pack" for teens departing the TG, with directories to identify some of the adults and teens they already know, for finding popular teen groups on the MG, and for a few dedicated sites that an older teen can temporarily call home.

A workshop is proposed to cover the topic of creating a business (something that several teens ask about). On the TG, a "memorial" or grafitti wall could be set up where teens about to depart may leave their mark. Other possibilities...?

Communication directly between Grids is forbidden by the TOS, but that stricture does not apply to indirect web chat, Sloodle, or other neutral venues. A mentor or buddy system on either Grid might be helpful. Finding teens who have already migrated to see if they would like to reconnect, is another idea. There is a group, Teen Grid Survivors, that may be a useful resource as well.

The Educator's Coffee House A place to meet in cooperation to share ideas and to advance real life education in SL - and drink coffee, eat cookies :-) Come over anytime and see who's around! Post notices on Bulletin Board. Hold meetings or classes . Get help for projects. Volunteer! Try new things~Have fun! Note: Please keep all activities centered around education! http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island%202/175/161/23 (Founded by Peggy Sheehy/Maggie Marat in SL.

Teen Second Life Educational Projects

  • British Council Isle - The idea behind this project is to to create a 3D virtual self-access centre aimed principally at learners of English, and also to offer an engaging intercultural space for English language learners and native speaking teens to meet. We do not, for the moment, aim to teach English here, but to encourage our globally-based language learners and existing TSL residents to come to our island to practise English. We will be providing a wide range of materials for students as well as games, quests, and treasure hunts based on linguistic clues. In short, the British Council Isle will be both an iconic virtual representation of Great Britain, and a rich setting in which learners of English can further their learning of the language and culture of the UK as well as raising awareness of visitors to the work and opportunities provided by the British Council.
  • EdBoost A Campus: TSL project where students script the contents of the island and adults teach computer programming.
  • Global Citizenship in a Virtual World - a project in Virginia to bring middle schoolers into Second Life to create exhibits and interact with other teens from around the world about pressing global issues.
  • Global Kids Island - Global Kids Island in TSL is a place for teen residents to learn about important social and world issues. The island recently hosted (winter, 2006) a digital media essay contest, the SL version of the Save Darfur charity wristband campaign, a photo show from Global Kids Leaders, Camp Gk (summer, 2006, Fall 2006 UNICEF A World Fit For Children Festival, the Henry Jenkins lecture/dance party, and interactive, experiential workshops led by GK staff on issues related to digital media. In the fall of 2006, a real world machinima program and a real-world gaming program, both using TSL, were launched in NYC. Information about all of these projects - teen posts, comics, video, press coverage and more - available at our web site.
  • Kidz Connect Island - Kidz Connect is a program that connects young people in different countries via media art, performance and collaborative creation in virtual worlds. In our pilot program, participants connected and created with other students in New York and Amsterdam via video streaming and on Kidz Connect Island in TSL. Guided by artists and educators from theatre and new media, they learned skills like VJ-ing, Playback Theatre, digital storytelling, and 3D modeling. In TSL, they met and collaborated to build a hybrid city combining aspects of both New York and Amsterdam. Within that common space, they created a performance that occurred both live and online simultaneously. In summer 2008, students at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa, Florida, will write, create and perform a live show with students at the IVKO Montessori School in Amsterdam, Netherlands, learning about each other's culture in the process through music, dance, digital art and/or storytelling within Teen Second Life.
  • Land of Lincoln sim is sponsored by the Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. The goal of this sim is to create an immersive environment about the 1850's and 1860's with period clothing, architecture, events, and more. The project will involve teen leadership through designing and organizing events for the sim. Adults and educators are encouraged to bring their classes to the sim to help contribute.
  • Metaversa Island - Metaversa Island is a german educational project with partners from all over Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The main goal is to establish a self-organized youth community. We also offer workshops and courses for teens and run by teens.
  • Pacific Rim Exchange - PacRim X is a collaboarative project between two school districts, one in California, and one in Japan. The island will be private and only open to exchange students from the two school districts, and their teachers. The blog will catalog the progress of the project.
  • Project Cabrillo Project Cabrillo's goal is twofold: We will use SL to display 8th grade Digital Art students' work from Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Bryce 3D as well as Second Life constructions. We will also use SL to explore the virtual environment with a focus on social interaction and presentation of the self in relation to real world situations.
  • Skoolaborate MLC -Sydney Australia, Global Citizenship is an essential part of a rounded education. Skoolaborate aims to bring together like minded schools from around the globe so that their students may collaborate and learn from each other through a variety of educational experiences. We hope that Skoolaborate will act as a vehicle that promotes educational engagement, global awareness and understanding. We will initially target our time zone (China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and other interested Asia pacific countries) as it is difficult at this point, due to the time differences, to work with schools in other zones - no one is ever there when our students connect. Of course, we will also work with some US and UK schools linking them together, in their relevant time zones, as well.
  • SOLVE A project funded by the Office of Educational Research and Outreach in Virginia Tech's School of Education [1]. This is a private grid on TSL for use by educators primarily in Virginia (Floyd & Goochland Counties as of late Jan. 2008). The project will primarily be a pilot project that will focus on using older students to learn by building problem-based STEM content for students of lower grades.
  • Tech Savvy Girls Our project focuses on identifying the various paths to becoming “tech-savvy” that are associated with computer and video gaming. Our out-of-school girls’ clubs are designed to build middle-school and high school girls’ tech-savvy skills, knowledge, and identities. These clubs make use of the participant’s interests in games and media creation to foster practices associated with, for example, modern science (e.g., hypothesis testing, modeling, and theory building), and that also are driving forces in technological and scientific innovation. We are opening an island in TSL Fall 2007 and are creating a parent/community awareness curriculum that should be done by December 2007.

Machinima

Create a link here to a wiki page for your project and post links to your machinima there. Machinima is a great way to see what we're all doing.

Eye4You Machinima

Diana Hooper's Art Gallery rtsp://213.246.56.32:554/shared.merlinrocket.fr/Eye4YouGalleryDianaHooper320x180.mov NASA rtsp://213.246.56.32:554/shared.merlinrocket.fr/eye4youmachinima_NASA_hintedmovie.mov NASA Test Clip rtsp://213.246.56.32:554/shared.merlinrocket.fr/eye4youWaterGirl320x240.mov

Ramapo Islands Machinima Project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U34JMyRMKM Please note credits: PROJECTS / PLANNING: Kevin Jarrett / K.J. Hax SOUNDTRACK: Chris Hambly/Audio Zenith Audana Design http://www.audiocourses.com MACHINIMA: HVX Silverstar / Bernadette Daly Swanson Bernadette Daly Swanson & Peggy Sheehy © 2007


The Nutrition Game
A short machinima about a Nutrition Game created in Second Life by members of the VITAL Lab at Ohio University.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLhNNYRJwJ4

More from the VITAL Lab: http://www.youtube.com/user/VITALLab

The Schome Park Project
We are working with the students to create machinima - check out the machinima page in the Schommunity wiki for info on how to create machinima as well as links to some of the ones we have created/are working on.

EdBoost script-based machinima

Projects considering TSL and seeking collaborators

  • Land of Lincoln sim. This sim is owned by the Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. It is a public sim but will consider making parcels private while a class is in session. The intention of the project is to be a historical sim focusing on the 1850's and 1860's. Activities such as designing clothes from the time period, role playing, and creating machinima are some things that will take place on the sim. Please email lbell927 at gmail dot com or eye4youalliance at gmail dot com for more information.


  • SimCEO This simulation is entirely online and played by schools in 4 continents. It is considering entering the SL world. SimCEO is the web's only online simulation in which participants: 1) create their own companies online by completing assignments to define a business plan 2) research each other’s companies via the internet (through an online database) 3) manage portfolios by making buy/sell decisions which influence each company’s share price instantly (banking transactions: loans and deposits are also available options), and 4) react to daily news postings (real or fictional) that can push them to modify their business and/or investing plan

Instructors set the simulation's environment, determine the specific participants, and have the option of influencing prices behind the scenes (if they choose). Its flexibility allows for varied complexity. We are open to collaboarators / suggestions in bringing this online marketplace to SL.


  • Skoolaborate We are seeking around 8 like minded schools from around the globe who are willing to give it a go - long term. To start, we wish to target the asian pacific time zone for collaboration in teen second life. It is relatively easy to participate in this environment from the US or UK due to numbers and similar times zones that allow mass participation. To date there is very littte for the Asian time zone. This means that when our kids log on, everyone else is asleep and the place is empty. Lets change that and have it populated during our days so that we can easily integrate the work into our normal school life - Ofcourse, we will always welcome any other school that wants to be involved.

Campus:Teen Second Life

Linden Lab has a special free offer for educators of students ages 13-17 interested in trying out Second Life for the first time - Read the details here if you are interested in participating - Campus: TSL page. PLEASE NOTE: Campus: TSL is currently full with a waiting list.

You can visit our Campus region in the adult Second Life for a preview of how Campus: TSL will work. This area is a main hub for classes participating in our higher ed Campus: Second Life program. You can meet students and educators currently working on class projects as well as find other real-life education projects happening in Second Life.

Please note: Projects with estates on TG with students turning 18 will have a designated space on Campus on the MG to use for the duration of your class. Contact iridium@lindenlab.com for temporary space on Campus MG for teens 18+. This is only for teens who started class on TG and have birthdays in the middle of the program.


An Important Reminder for Educators about Teen Second Life

Second Life is for adults only (18+). We also have a Teen Second Life.

Teen Second Life has a mainland, and several teen-owned private islands which are strictly for teens (13-17). We don't allow anyone under 18 years old in the adult world of Second Life, and likewise we do not allow adult Residents (18+) into the mainland and teen-owned islands of Teen Second Life. Both of these worlds are separate from each other, and we do not allow inworld travel or communication between them. The Teen Second Life mainland and teen-owned islands provide a world for teens, created and shaped by teens. Please remember that falsely registering as a teen to gain access to Teen Second Life is a serious offense, and cause for permanent banishment from all of Second Life. The only adults allowed on the mainland and teen-owned islands in Teen Second Life are Linden employees.

Educators, non-profit organizations, businesses in Teen Second Life

Adults can purchase private islands in TSL to work with teens. These adult-owned islands are all located in one area to the south of the teen-only mainland and teen-owned islands. Educational and non-profit groups receive an educational discount. You will not be able to leave your private island and visit the teen-only mainland and teen-owned islands of Teen Second Life. Teen residents of Teen Second Life will be able to visit your private island if/when you choose, but they will be automatically informed that there are adults present. Any adult on a private island in TSL will need to provide a background check for security and safety reasons. Students 18+ are considered adults. Any students in your program 18+ will need to submit a background check. Because of this requirement, most programs with mixed age groups of 13-17 and 18+ choose to run simultaneous projects in TSL for students under 18 and in Adult Second Life for students over 18.

Educational Pricing on Private Islands

Private Islands provide the ability to create secure "intranet" spaces with restricted membership for your students and faculty, or you can open up access to allow teens on the Teen Second Life "mainland" to interact with your island (all adults will need Linden Lab-approved background checks). Linden Lab offers a discount for Private Islands to educational institutions and non-profit organizations, and you can find details on the Private Island order page.

Academic Research

Researchers planning on conducting any ethnographic or sociology studies within Second Life should read Linden Lab's requirements regarding Research Ethics in Second Life. The Association of Internet Researchers has a document about research ethics available.

Obtaining Clearance for Teen Second Life

Currently all requests for clearance by individuals are processed by Ascertain. The basic fee is US$40, though an additional fee is applied if you have lived at multiple addresses in the past 10 years. NY state is $100. Allow 3-4 working days for US residents and 7-10 for non-US. DISQUALIFYING OFFENSES FOR TEEN SECOND LIFE PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY LINDEN LAB AS CONVICTIONS RELATING TO SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, DRUG USE/SALES, THEFT OR FRAUD (FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES). Ascertain only processes the background checks; after you have received your clearance, please contact Second Life Support (see below).

  • View Peg Sheehy's blog for more info. Peg is the coordinator and owner of Ramapo Islands.
  • Create an avatar to be moved to the teen grid. You create an avatar the same way you did to get on the main grid by going to www.secondlife.com and clicking 'join now'. The avatar you are creating to be moved to the teen grid will be on the main grid until it is moved over to the teen grid. After clearance has been obtained (an email is received by Ascertain indicating you have passed your background check) you are ready to be moved. Make sure you have PG supplies with you (textures, clothes, etc.-check your freebies so that they are PG) as your avatar does not get to move back and forth from the main grid to the teen grid. Make sure your av to be moved over has gone through and exited orientation island as you can't be moved over if it's in OI. You request that the tg island owner whose project you are affiliated with have you moved over. The island owner contacts the Lindens and lets them know you are ready to be moved. You will know that you have been moved if the next time you log in, you are on the teen grid estate you requested to be moved to.
  • Only estate owners or approved coordinators should request that avatars be transferred to their TSL estate. Please follow the instructions in your approval email from the island sales order, or contact Concierge support for direction.

For school systems bringing an entire team of staff onto your estate in TSL, we will accept a fax from the head of HR, or school principal, verifying that all staff have had background checks.

  • The letter may be faxed or attached as a file to a support ticket.
  • Send Fax attention: Jay Linden to 415.243.9045
  • It's helpful if the fax can be associated with a sales order number, support ticket number, private region name, or SL name of the estate owner.

Visiting TSL

We get many requests from people to "visit" TSL. To gain entrance to TSL, you will need to be an estate owner or a staff member of an existing project. Some adult-owned projects are willing to sponsor guests and visitors from time to time. Join the SLEDT list and announce that you are seeking a sponsor. Explain your purpose. The estate owner will be responsible for adding you to their staff list as a guest. You will be required to provide an Ascertain background check to the sponsor. The sponsor will send that to Linden Lab with their updated staff list. You will make a new avatar at secondlife.com. When Linden Lab receives the updated staff list and a copy of the background check from your sponsor, your avatar will be moved from Second Life to Teen Second Life to your sponsor's estate. You will be confined to the island(s) of your sponsor.

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