What do we notice about the first few moments of this video? What is the date of this song by Maroon Five? 2003. 12 years ago. Karaoki Nikiri was an immersive environment of sorts, was it not? Not the type we're going to consider in today's blog, however.
When I started teaching ESL in Honolulu in 2001 my students were mostly from Japan, with a few from China, Taiwan and Korea in the mix.
The Japanese students were crazy for Karaoke and carried out reconnaissance missions the few clubs in Honolulu within their first week. They enjoyed singing in English and, being from a very social culture, they didn't think 5 hours in class per day was sufficient time spent with their classmates. They were eager to lure their teachers out with them, but we were all Americans and just as eager to go home at the end of the day. Our students, however, would become She-devils and Casanovas after hours with their inhibitions thrown to the wind in the Karaoke scene. It occurred to us we were missing out on a secret, immersive activity that was creating a fast bond between them. If we didn't venture out with them we wouldn't know what we missing.
Cut to 2015 and this class at USF: Digital Literacy. Our mission today is to "examine three immersive environments per day and write your impressions. You are not required to join or enter any of these environments...you will do your investigation and discovery to become better informed about this rising trend in social media worlds."
To examine 3 environments in an educational framework, I'll start with these 3: Second Life, World of Warcraft, and Google Earth.
Second Life
I'm just getting my first taste of what life is like in Second Life. I can tell there is plenty of potential there for create and engaging learning environment for students to visit. My question to our teacher yesterday was how long it will take students are are unfamiliar with it how to become proficient. I know it's taking me awhile to figure out how to get around it. The teacher will need to be proficient with the use of any site in order to help students get the most out of it.
Age appropriate: Can be
Underlying values: Relies on the teachers discretion
Hyper sexualization: A danger
Learning goals: Relies on the teacher
Ultimate goals: A very good supplemental tool, with ultimate goals needing to be clearly defined.
Strengths: Captivating environment which can fully immerse student in the target language.
Weaknesses: Slow startup time for adoption and navigation. Sexual predators might be around.
World of Warcraft
I'm not a Warcraft user but have friends who are and so I mainly basing my comments on what I've read on the Virtualworldforteens.com review of it. It is the all-time bestseller with gamers, I've heard. If the games can be played in English with the L1 in subtitles, it might be useful with beginners. For intermediate learners there might be some value if the players are already familiar with the game and can deduce what some of the dialog is, based on that familiarity. I don't really see it as a learning tool, more of an entertainment one. It is easy to use and that is one advantage it has over something like Second Life, which requires a bit more training.
"There are also various selections for what you can become, depending upon whether you choose Alliance or Horde. Regardless of your decisions, you have the chance to become entertained with and even addicted to all that is offered."
Age appropriate: Can be
Underlying values: Relies on the teachers discretion
Hyper sexualization: A danger, and also includes what might be considered violence for some users.
Learning goals: Probably minimal
Ultimate goals: Entertainment, relaxation of the affective filter.
Strengths: Captivating environment which can fully immerse student in the target language.
Weaknesses: Sexual predators might be around.
Google Earth
This was one of the first amazing applications I explored when I became more computer literate. Like many people, I explored it by zooming in on my current house and then the home I grew up in. The ability to delve into our real world in a visual Smörgåsbord was a thrill! I've never used Google Earth as a teaching tool, but if I decide to, it will be easy to figure out lessons to first do with students, and then assignments and homework for them to do on their own. The sky's the limit here. Also, it is edu-oriented in the same way that Wikipedia and National Geographic are.
Age appropriate: Yes
Underlying values: Strong informational and educational content can be made valuable.
Hyper sexualization: None
Learning goals: Relies on the teacher
Ultimate goals: A very good supplemental tool, with ultimate goals needing to be clearly defined.
Strengths: Captivating environment which can fully immerse student in the target language.
Weaknesses: Will require imaginative teachers to create substantial and solid lessons.
As a result of today's investigation, I was intrigued by an ad I saw on the Virtual Worlds for Teens website: Star Stable. www.starstable.com
I've already downloaded the application to my computer and will report on my progress in the next blog. I want to be a Star Rider and compete against all of the other little 13 year old girls who are likely to create the main demographic of the audience. I was a bit worried when I put in my age to enter that I might be considered a predator. So, I took 5 years off my age just to be safe. ;-)
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