I have been working as a member of the Advisory Group for Harrisburg University on the planning for LEEF 2011 – their annual Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum – a discussion of how games and simulations in the cyber-sphere can influence learning technologies and environments and collaborative spaces. Harriburg University has a marvelous masters program in learning technologies and we have been working with them for the past two years to integrate a portion of their program and curriculum and experiences into Second Life.
I started thinking about what it is we are trying to do and say to the world at large by working in Second Life and the emerging and expanded universe of Virtual Spaces and Hyper-Grids. That led me to question something fundamental (for me) – is the Virtual World a tool, as it is often portrayed in business applications, or is it, rather, a place, a new sort of place, in which we find ourselves? Is it a place which is outside of the ordinary limitations of geography and national boundaries, outside of the ordinary limitations of siloing and isolation of thought? Is it more than just a communications medium, but rather a universe in which we can live a part of our lives in greater connectedness with the human community around us, and with which we can learn to make a different world, and make a difference in our own?
So many experiments have been done with learning inside of the Virtual Universe, and the data and evidence are quite compelling that we learn better when in the universe of VR than we do in almost any other setting. Why, I wonder, is that? Is it because we are so engaged in the process, which requires more of our attention than sitting in a lecture hall or classroom or meeting room or diner or coffee shop? We can’t just slip into our ordinary day-dreaming, but, rather, need to stay attuned to the needs of the interaction required, which doesn’t come naturally and automatically, but requires the acquisition of skills we don’t have yet, and the use of tools with which we are less familiar, less automatic.
Is it because we are interested in the newness, the innovation of it, the quality of it and us both being beyond our ordinary limitations, witnessing things (flying, teleporting, beautiful structures built beyond the limits of physics, the freedom to explore that which is distant with others who are also exploring) that we don’t expect to see in our neighborhoods and workplaces and schools?
Is it because there is something happening, a melding of our lives and the increased ability to process and acquire information, which is a continuation of an evolutionary trend that has been ongoing for thousands of years?
And are we engaging in a new medium, a new communication style, which we just find enjoyable, or are we change agents bringing about a new approach to collaboration and learning? Are we about to see a tectonic shift in how we live together, as human persons, and how we solve problems?
I don’t know to what extent any of these thoughts contribute truth to our conversation – but I do know that the conversation about it can only be fascinating and mind-expanding. And so let’s make sure that we have such a conversation – and engage in all those discussions which help to make this VR our new place rather than confining it to being our new tool, and rather than making it a device we use, let’s make it our own, to live and work and learn in.
I invite everyone to join in the discussion. It should be fascinating.
For those who want to learn more, information about LEEF 2011 is here - http://www.harrisburgu.edu/news/event-details.php?id=292&cid=5&page=1 and here http://leefblog.com/ and information about Harrisburg University’s innovative program leading to a masters in education and learning technologies can be found here http://www.harrisburgu.edu/academics/graduate/learning-technologies/
Leave a posting here of your thoughts and experiences – I will pass it along. Engage in a dialogue with the world through this new space we are all co-creating. Let’s hear from each other.