LTDC Online News

Each of the UW institutions are invited to participate in the pilot Learning Space Repository project. Please read the attached e-mail for precise background information. TheLearning Space Repository is a pilot project to provide a clearinghouse of effective examples of learning space design which are showcased and explained through web casting.  This pilot program is a collaborative effort with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Sonic Foundry through the Mediasite system. This initiative is the opportunity for educational institutions to highlight best practices and examples of effective learning space and environment development and implementation.  You are invited to participate in this project.

Let me know if you have additional questions. We would very much like to include your institution in this repository.

Submitted by:

Jim A. Jorstad

Director of Educational Technologies/ITS
Frye Institute Fellow
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
1725 State Street, Wing Technology Center, Room 165
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-785-8048 (phone)
608-785-8825 (fax)
608-790-4813 (p-cell)
www.jjorstad.blogspot.com (blog)
www.uwlax.edu/edtech (department web site)
138.49.103.16 IP Teleconferencing

As of May 1, the UWGB Nursing Complex Island is now available for the public. Until now, it was a private “invite-only” region as we worked on the initial development and construction.  While the various projects and buildings are not yet complete, progress has been tremendous.  Some of our Nursing staff have become very savvy with Second Life as they have been actively exploring other regions, experimenting with audio conferencing in Second Life, decorating offices and other spaces, and getting used to the settings and controls of the interface. 

The Nursing Complex region includes a replica of Mary Ann Cofrin (MAC) Hall, complete with classrooms, offices, furniture, and textures that were created from still images of the real MAC hall. Our region also has representations of other notable features from the GB campus like the arboretum and Lambeau cottage as well as some structures that take advantage of the creative freedom afforded by a virtual environment e.g., a custom-built amphitheater with a large display screen.

Two of our Learning Technology Center Students, Kyle MacDonald and Julie Harvey have been involved in the development of a poverty simulation with one of our Social Work/Nursing instructors, Christine Vandenhouten.  The simulation involves very innovative use of Second Life scripting language in order to assign avatars to different families and keep track of their finances and health.  The poverty simulation includes many buildings including a police station, grocery store, and others.

The initiative is supported with a WI-TECNE grant and the involvement of the UWGB Nursing department in conjunction with the Learning Technology Center. We have learned much about virtual island management, group settings, hardware settings, 3D design, and even a new scripting language. There are plans to use our Second Life region for course activities in Fall 2009 (and perhaps sooner) by our Nursing Department.  Eventually, we will have a virtual nursing lab and other health-related items, and other GB faculty and staff have expressed some interest in future possibilities.  We look forward to seeing instructional activity in our Second Life region.  Feel free to stop by the island and look around. SLURL:http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWGB%20Nursing%20Complex/93/107/35  I’ll give you a tour if I’m in world.

Submitted by:

Leif Nelson (SL name: Alf Alter)
Learning Technology Center
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
nelsonl@uwgb.edu

The LTDC held its semi-annual – Spring Meeting as part of the ITMC meeting in Green Lake on April 20 and 21. We spent the two days with a diverse and jam packed agenda. Over 30 LTC professional staff from all UW campuses attended. We sincerely thank our OPID friends, LaVonne Cornell-Swanson and Donna Silver for joining us and reaching out for collaborative opportunities. After wading through the uncertain budget concerns, Tanya Joosten at UWM gave an excellent report on her ET grant project in Second Life. We did serious planning on the LTDC led projects in the coming year (more details forthcoming soon), shared on copyright issues with media, and online training options for faculty. Amy Mangrich led the discussion on media file handling and generated a lot in discussion on best practices. We even had relaxation Gigong exercises led by our OPID guest, Donna Silver.

Many thanks to the out-going executive committee members- Jim Jorstad and Carole Turner, and the leadership of Pat Fellows, chair, on many projects accomplished, and initiatives started.

As we move into the new year, we elected a new Exec Committee:

• Andy Speth – UWGB – Chair
• Gene Leizs – UWEC – Chair elect
• Margy Imgramm – secretary
• Mary Mielke
• Pat Fellows

We are looking forward to new leadership taking the group through many challenges and exciting projects.

Lorna