Winding Down......or Not!

Mikenfushdos and ram, riding off into the virtual sunset.......

This blog represents many of the activities and adventures I have had while working through a course called Teaching and Learning in Virtual Worlds.  As the course winds down, I wonder where I will go next?  Will I continue working in virtual worlds as a way of teaching elementary students?  Will I continue working in World of Warcraft to go to new and higher levels?  Gibson, old friend and Mikenfushdos, the warrior shaman...........will they ever cross paths again?  Ponderings of a learner and teacher.  

So how weird can it get?

Ok, so maybe I have been in WOW a bit much the last few weeks.  Hey, why not...I am a level 20 now, and feel pretty good about that!  I have had help from my personal heroines Olive, Esme, Grandpachris, and somewhat notoriously, an avatar named professor akashari (I think that was it) which was one of the more interesting moments.  Ok, so here I am battling some creatures in Redridge Mountains somewhere, and suddenly out of nowhere.....(well, isn't that really what the cloud is all about anyway?).....this avatar comes in, asks for me to add to a group, and then proceeds to smash the villainous creatures single-handedly by himself....or herself?  Okay, well level 85's can do that to probably just about anything.  Here I am a lightening bolt away from death every minute or so.  Now I have this magnificently strong ally with a "nuclear-like" killing wave that just knocks enemies down with a single blast.  Meanwhile, I die a few times and this avatar is racking up the loot I collect from the leftovers he/she destroyed.  Not that I minded so much, but then I had this wierd moment...what if they are tapping into my coins and somehow can take my strength from me without even me knowing?  Wow, (no not WOW), but wow, a stranger is my ally and I am having some distrust.  So then I find my backpack is full, and I tell this person I need to sell some stuff because I cannot collect the loot....then neither can he/she I suppose.   Out of nowhere (again, yep...the cloud....) comes this spaceship thing, he/she says climb aboard.....Geez, now I'm being abducted...I felt like a kid when a stranger drives by with an open door.....really!  So yes, I get in.  Stranger Danger!   And off we go...two avatars on a highway to hell.... (ACDC.......good song, needed to use it here...)  What!   We stop at a trade station, he/she says "sell something....!  So I do....now I wondered...are they getting that money too?  How much control did I just give this person?  They patiently wait, we hop back on the spaceship...back to the battle zone.   We finish up the quest.  I say, "nice work!"  He/she says..."What do you mean?"  "Thanks for helping me? I say.  "Oh, sure, NP" is the reply.   You can friend me if you want".  Bye.  And off he/she goes!  Was I trusting or what?  I honestly felt very strange during this moment....like nervous and concerned that somehow my info was getting hacked......very strange indeed.....and that's how weird it got this week for me!

PS  Too wierd for pictures......bummer, post with no pictures...like cake with no frosting.....   ME.

A Little of this, a little of that........

Mikenfushdos, fearless warrior shaman, continues on his quests as he achieves Level 16.....a force to be reckoned with now....will he ever meet Gibson, suave SL avatar who scuba dives, parachutes, and zip lines through jungle kingdoms and flying dragon-filled floating islands?  And then there was Grandma's party...Gibson did so well, he forgot to pick up Grandma for her own birthday party!  A visit to Poem's this week and working with her students from Uruguay on their English: Gibson, the volunteer concierge in the virtual hotel lobby......How could on avatar ever do so much in one week?  Virtual Worlds, of course.  Limitless energy, many lives, broad horizons.......How shall I use what I learned for my elementary students?   Open Sim, Jokaydia.....more to explore...........

WOW! and SL!

Well, this week has been interesting for sure.  I have reached level 10 in WOW, died in the game probably 30 times by now, but I notice that I get back to my dwarf body very quickly these days.  Maybe a benefit of leveling up?  I also have more powers, and lots of cool lightening things to battle with.  Still working on talking with people on using these types of games with elementary students as the games seem to have young teens and up as their audience...not that younger kids are not playing, just that it would not work in a school setting quite the same.  Lots of educational potential, but a bit of a paradigm change would be needed from all involved.  I also explored a bit in SL this week.  I like to show these explorations in this blog, so here are some pictures I took from Isle of Wisteria, which includes many floating islands of very different natures.  Surfed on a flying dragon in the sky, took a ride in a dragon boat, and moved from island to island on a zip line...now how cool is that!

So there you have it.   My continuing saga of life in Virtual Worlds.....!

Well, this week I spent a lot of time in WOW.  Probably way too much, but I am a level 8 now, with all kinds of cool powers.  Also,  got to ride in a helicopter thing as the pictures will show.  Unfortunately, there is a large chat caption in the middle of the second one.  I died probably 12 or more times trying to do the quests, which I think were over 12.  I have been doing 2-3 at a time.  WOW seems to have more draw for older students with all the "violent" activities.  But not for me to use with 4th or 5th graders. I also did some time in SL, talked with new friends Jos and Sax last night,  Sax is a firefighter, Jos is a laser "physicist".  We had a nice conversation about what we do for a living.  We also went to a Botannical Garden of sorts in SL.  Nice trees, etc for sale...expensive.  I have been researching how to get into 3D for elementary students.  Went to a Poptropica 3d site...kind of babyish though, would prefer to work in a more sertious environment where they would take it more seriously, but no adult content!  Open Simulation, Reactive Grid have been discussed with various people, trying to connect to someone again about how to set up the Open Sim I downloaded...will see what happens.  Lots of potential overall for teching and learning in virtual environments...just need safe environment without silly little bears and cutesy avatars....!

My Life ended in WOW...I'm a ghost!

The group gathers in WOW!

Ok, on the list of things I did this week?  Completed Gibson's Grotto, did two sessions in WOW, and basically became very busy with everything.  So, how about some pictures of the house and my WOW adventures?                      See that I had my first visitor: Batman (as the Joker).  Anyways, the house is done, the WOW adventures have started, and the pace is incredibly fast and full.  Doing lots in this course, seem to always be busy but swamped as well.  MAny directions to go, only one of me to direct...Arrrgh!  Loving it all, still hanging cool with it, want to learn as much as I can. 

Gibson's Grotto Begins!

Yes it is true, Gibson's Grotto has taken a true form.  While still in the construction phase, the Grotto will be open for business soon.  And let me tekll you, building a house FROM SCRATCH is a bugger.......lots of time, effort, but worth it.  After searching for just the right look, I realized nothing would fit my idea....so I built it myself.  I tried about 6-8 downloaded houses....I felt like I was terrorizing the neighborhood with some of the structures.....they all seemed to be monstrous, taking over lots of the neighbor's lands!!!!Invading their houses!!!  I would be an outcast forever!  But I have to say, at least a party started on my first structure.....check out the picture...it had a hot tub (working) and notice the drinks are already out.....but it was just too industrial for the neighborhood....it had to go. So, I will show you how it started and where it is as of today!

first, the floor.

I added working french doors and windows.

The floor was started, I added WORKING french doors, and have been working on the roof! It has been a few days at this point.  don't I look tired?

A roof was started..almost done.

The roof was very hard, but I persisted.  Landscaping is also underway.  After all, it will be the center of the neighborhood, a place to meet and greet....so stay tuned, the Grotto is coming!!!

Virtual World Rocks!

Here's to Batman, sender of the Marguerita's

Well, things have certainly livened up for me in the Virtual World SL.  One night, I ran into the Dark Knight and Lilla9.   Batman was rather entertaining, and provided us with drinks and conversations.  I decided to pass on the good cheer to Tisgirl the next night.  Oddly enough, the drink went to her left hand and she hoisted up her right hand...we couldn't quite figure out why it did not go into the correct hand.  Anyways, she spilled a little, but with the size of the glass that was not a problem.  I also visited ISTE one night and connected to a teacher from Maine who has information to share about virtual worlds she uses that are appropriate for younger kids.  We will connect another time.  Took a tour with the class to library sites Thursday night and learned quite a bit about what can be done in virtual worlds.  I have been building a little, taking some chances and using some patience as I just "learn by doing" which has always been my format.  Here's a picture of the pier I built in the Sandbox area by the water. 


And look, there's the "new look" BAtman with...Tisgirl?  No, Lilla9?  Oh no, do they really look alike....Are they really the same?   Tune in next time, same bat time, same bat channel......!

Photos of SL Fun!

 Greetings once again.  I must say I am having quite the time in SL these days.  This week I enjoyed hanging with Golfbot and TechnoToolTim as we tried to unravel the mysteries of traveling through "walls".  Well, I still have some unraveling to do.  I also was given a parachute by Esme, and got to try it out today after our class meeting.  And of course, who could forget me trying to sit down on anything besides the grass.  But wait, check out the third photo!  I actually sat on the green box-like structure that I created!!!!  YAY!

I am also finding it easy (too easy) to spend lots of time away from my other work and family stuff....Hmmm, we need a balance soon.  But right now, I am keeping up somewhat I think with all that we need to do in the course....or at least I hope I am.

Cube and Prism by Gibson!

Hmmm, which one is heavier?

So here I am with my two friends:  cube and prism.  I fooled around a bit in the build menu and decided to have some fun.  Met up with a few friends from the class the other night as well.  Took a trip to Dublin with Lilla9 for a bit, met with Technotool Tim as well.   Glad to see people from the group when I log on.  We all go to SL at so many different times.  

More fun in SL!

Do I look pensive or what?

Ok, so I have been to "the Island" a few times this week.  Racking up some Linden dollars for the activities I am doing.  Here I am at the Sandbox checking out the cool couch Esme put there.  I actually sat in it the first time the right way.....ok, well after I sat on the armrest first.  In any case.  I have visited a few other worlds, and I have to say it is bizarre sometimes.  In real life, I would never walk into a group of people and start talking, which is probably why I feel more comfy in the MGC worlds, as my classmates are more like friends.  Some of the names of the avatars are inappropriate in  my mind, and some of the conversations are "lockerroom talk", which I find offensive.  So I leave those worlds for more "friendly" spaces.  I really like the technology that must be involved in making these virtual worlds, can't imagine how much coding goes into just a few objects or scenery, let alone flying and wearing different attire.  But can a virtual world (safe and appropriate of course) be used for teaching elementary children?  I hope so, or at least I would like to create that one if I could.  But I will see what is out there already....no sense reinventing the world, virtually.

PS:  I did get to wear the big Dr. Seuss hat!

More Traveling!

So  I have been exploring SL for a number of times.  I don't see anyone from the class there at the Marlboro site, so I do some of the activities from the bowl.  I am successful at times, not so successful at other times.  That Dr. Seuss hat has been a bit trying...maybe I will work on that soon.  Went to Dublin, the Blarney Stone Cafe.  It is very strange entering as virtual space, then talking to someone I do not know.  Feels very much like an intrusion.  And nothing I would do in real life, never have.   And creepy in many ways...like who is this person really?  But above this text is a picture of me in the Blarney Stone.   Found it without the map! 

pictures from the "Other Side"...........

Ok, so I finally made it to the island!  Proof in the picture.  Cool place, lots of flying, and learned the chat and speak functions.   Still working on seeing my "face" in SL. 

Yay, finally got my password reset for this blog.  In the meantime, I have been exploring SL, so  added some screen shots....kind of like "hey look where I've been!"  Well, once the bugs are worked out today maybe I'll add a few pictures.

New Life

Started an avatar in Second Life.   Gibson Stratman (Gibsonstratman), pretty basic avatar for a starter.  Found out that we could walk, jump, and even fly!  I liked the flying part......did not get hurt.  Maybe I'll add a picture of Gibson here sometime soon.