Virtual Worlds - Jeremy W. Kemp

Using 3D virtual worlds like Second Life for teaching, learning and library services may be the new trend, but are they merely decorative chat rooms? From helping people choose avatars to building immersive content to making sense of it all, this presentation will give hands-on practical advice gathered over two years with 1500 graduate students in the world's largest MLIS program. It will describe several research-based strategies that ease the transition from Web-based services to trans-dimensional library environments, objects, settings and tasks. Learn how demographics play a role in whether your patrons will love it or leave it. Is having a gaming background less important than being Web 2.0 savvy? How do gender, age and technical ability tip the adoption scale? Participants will gain an overview necessary to begin planning a 2D/3D structured learning activity and surefire strategies to attract the public based on skills and backgrounds.

Jeremy W. Kemp is an instructional designer at San José State University and started teaching online in 1999. He keeps the official wiki for educators using the Second Life immersive environment - www.simteach.com. His instructional technology project connecting Moodle and Second Life has attracted hundreds of participants from around the world - www.sloodle.com. He is a doctoral student at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA working on educational and social issues in immersive environments. Kemp has master's degrees from Stanford and Northwestern University and has been awarded "Picture of the Day" twice on Wikipedia.com