Week+Four

toc Monday February 5th - Sunday 11th =**//Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG)//**=

//"If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world" (Ludwig Wittgenstein)//

Outline
This week, we will be looking at the increasingly popular world of MMOGs. In addition to Second Life, there are many other environments that could be used for language learning. We will be examining the educational and language learning possibilities of some of these games.

Joining in with Skype Discussion Notes
 * //**Synchronous Session:**// Please skype 'eflbridges' on **[|Saturday 10th February at 15.00 GMT]** Please join us to let us know how you are getting on and to discuss anything related to Digital Gaming & Language Learning. We are also meeting at Boracay in Second Life afterwards, at [|16.00 GMT] and Nick will be giving us a balloon tour of the **[|NMC]** facilities. ||

Listening:
Presentations at Mediasite: [|MMPG] - [|Gaming Literacy] - [|Learning Simulations] - [|MMOGs & Learning]

Viewing:
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Reading:

 * **Terra Nova** http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/ - //a blog about virtual worlds and their implications//
 * Which MMORPGs are the most popular? See http://www.mmogchart.com/
 * **Is World of Warcraft addictive?** [|Add your audio comments to this Chinswing audio discussion forum here]
 * [|Using World of Warcraft to Teach English] - a summary of a case study
 * Education Arcade - [|Warcraft Teaches Spanish]

A selection of Games / Worlds
Alternate Reality Games (ARG) [|Pt1] [|Pt2] World of Warcraft
 * MMOG:**

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The Sims2

**Virtual worlds / MUVE:**
Second Life There Croquet

Activities
//We invite you to try out one / some of these games this week. In particular, we will be announcing dates/times to try out World of Warcraft and There, but please mention if you are interested in trying other environments / games.//

Discussion

 * What do you think people find so engaging about these environments / games?
 * How can we use student interest in these games and feed this back into class?
 * Based on the examination of the Sims and its' potential for language learning, do you think there is much potential in any of the other games / environments mentioned here?

=Second Life=

Outline
//Try Teaching in Second Life.// Participants who want to will have the opportunity to try teaching or demonstrating something in Second Life. We will also be investigating building and the potential to use it for teaching language in this world.

//Synchronus Sessions://
 * We are meeting at Boracay in Second Life at 16.00GT on [|Saturday 10th February], and Nick will be giving us a balloon tour of the **[|NMC]** facilities. ||
 * Building sessions/classes will be organised during the week (the first will be **Monday 5th February at 20.00 GMT @ Boracay**) ||

Viewing:
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 * Advanced Snapshot Magic**

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 * NOAA's prototype virtual island**

Reading:
Second Life - Our collection of resources, links, tips, etc. Please help us add to this Sim Teach - Second Life press coverage : http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Press
 * 101** **Uses for Second Life in the College Classroom:** http://trumpy.cs.elon.edu/metaverse/gst364Win2005/handout.html

Activities

 * One of the foundations of Second Life is building. It is important to try your hand at this to fully understand how the environment works. This week, join us for a building class, take part in an Academy of Second Learning class, or go to a sandbox and investigate this yourself.

Discussion

 * What potential do you see in building as a way of teaching languages?
 * What are your impressions so far of Second Life as an environment for teaching / learning languages?
 * How do you think you would introduce students to Second Life? Do you think a [|video introduction such as this one] would be a good idea? ([|there are more listed here])

//Please share your views with the Yahoo Group//