Orientation learning design overview
The learning design for Second Life Orientation is based on Second Life user competencies compiled by Clare Atkins. These competencies have been grouped into 12 lesson plans which have been formatted and designed for teachers and learners to pick up and use in a wide range of educational contexts. Each lesson plan is made up of a summary, a list of required resources, a list of learning objectives (drawn from the competencies), a description of learning activities.The following 4 stages to orientating into Second Life have been applied into the lesson plans where appropriate:
- Engagement - Use video, audio or pictures, introductory offline activities, or simple discussion in order motivate interest in using Second Life.
- Initial meeting - Orientation activities that use a known and stable meeting facility such as a web conference tool like Skype or Elluminate as a "home base" can lower the perceived barrier of entry for people, and give them an opportunity to develop a sense of confidence with similar communications technology that may be more reliable or familiar. Some people may start a session with web conferencing facility and then quickly move into Second Life using the conferencing facility as a fall back. Others may prefer to have one or 2 initial meetings in the facility before trying Second Life at all.
- Attend a public orientation event in second life - Many communities in Second Life host "newbie" events that are open to anyone. Attending these events are very often the best way to gain basic skills and knowedge quickly. Confidence or support in first getting to that event is sometimes needed however, and so should probably be considered as a secondary or tertiary step to orientation.
The above 4 suggestions for staging orientation into Second Life should be consider sequential, with each lesson plan being very short, regular and interative in progressing learning.