Instructor: Kimberly Reed
Phone: 715.675.3331 extension 1729
Fax: 715.675.9776
E-mail: reed@ntc.edu
Office:
Office Hours:
Credits: 1
Descriptions
This course is an introduction to Second Life. This course will introduce the students to the Second Life software and how to navigating the virtual world. We'll investigate current practice in teaching and learning in virtual worlds and explore how we might use virtual worlds in our own classes. Students will create an introduction to Second Life for use in their classes as well as create a learning activity within Second Life.
Textbooks
There are two recommended texts:
Sarah 'Intellagirl Tully' Robbons, Mark 'Typewriter Tackleberry' Bell. Second Life for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc.. 2008. ISBN: 978-0-470-18025-9.
Michael Rymaszewski, Wagner James Au, Cory Ondrejka, Richard Platel, Sara Van Gorden. Second Life The Official Guide. Wiley Publishing. 2008. Edition: second. ISBN: 978-0-470-22775-6.
Course Competencies
1. Conceptualize Second Life
2. Investigate the use of Second Life to enhance learning
3. Modify an avatar in Second Life
4. Customize your preferences in Second Life
5. Navigate in the Second Life Environment
6. Communicate in Second Life
7. Interact with prims & avatars in Second Life
Core Abilities
Core Abilities are broad outcomes or skills that every graduate of a Northcentral Technical College program is expected to achieve. These skills go beyond the context of a specific course or program and are the skills employers tell us they expect employees to have. Northcentral Technical College has identified ten (10) Core Abilities that are important in every area of learning. Five of these core abilities have been identified as important in this course:
Communicate clearly, Act responsibly, Think critically and creatively, Value self positively, and Work productively.
Grading Information
The grading scale for this course is as follows:
pass performance based course info demonstrates competencies
fail performance based course info- does not demonstrate competencies
Guidelines for Success
NTC Policies
Students with questions regarding affirmative action, equal opportunity, harassment, computer use policy or information about any other NTC policies should refer to the current NTC catalog or student handbook available in Student Services or at this website: http://www.ntc.edu/about/policies/htm.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is a core principle of learning and scholarship. When you violate this principle, you cheat yourself of the confidence that comes from knowing you have mastered the targeted skills, knowledge and core abilities.
All members of the learning community share an interest in protecting the value, integrity, and credibility of the outcomes of this learning experience. Since we value acting responsibly and demonstrating integrity, please avoid the following behaviors as they will negatively impact your success in this course:
Plagiarism - presenting someone else's words, ideas, or data as your own work.
Fabrication - using invented information or the falsifying research or other findings.
Cheating - misleading others to believe you have mastered competencies or other learning outcomes that you have not mastered. Examples include, but are not limited to:
1. Copying from another learner's work
2. Allowing another learner to copy from your work
3. Using resource materials or information to complete an assessment without permission from your instructor
4. Collaborating on an assessment (graded assignment or test) without permission from the instructor
6. Taking a test for someone else or permitting someone else to take a test for you
Academic Misconduct - other academically dishonest acts such as tampering with grades, taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of an assessment, or selling or buying products such as papers, research, projects or other artifacts that document achievement of learning outcomes.
Disciplinary action may include failure of the course and other actions by the College.
ADA Statement
If you feel you may need an accommodation or special services for this class, please see me or call the Caroline S. Mark Center for Disabilities at 715-675-3331 or 1-888-682-7144, Ext. 4085 or TTY 715-675-6341. Information regarding these services is available at www.ntc.edu/students/studentservicesdisablity.htm
Performance-Based Learning
You as the learner are the most important part of instruction. As a result, performance-based tasks will identify what you must be able to do as a result of your learning. The tasks you are asked to do will determine how you can show that you have learned these skills. This performance-based course is designed around [INSERT CORRECT NUMBER] competencies. Your grade will be based on your performance of all of those competencies according to the criteria outlined in your learning plans.
Help Desk Information
NTC has a Help Desk to provide technical support for faculty & staff. Requests for help may include login and password problems, course software use, software technical problems, and browser questions. If you have questions or need assistance when you start working on your course, you can contact the NTC Help Desk via e-mail at help_desk@ntc.edu or call 1-888-682-7144 ext 1160 or 675-3331 ext 1160.
Nettiquette
Each member of our cyber community should expect courtesy and respect from all other members. Because it's a new and different kind of class for some of us, we may not realize it when we are rude or inconsiderate on line. There are some dos and don'ts of courteous behavior on line, called "netiquette."
Please visit the Albion Netiquette Web Site at http://www.albion.com/netiquette. Read details about "The Core Rules of Netiquette:"
1 Remember the human.
2 Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life.
3 Know where you are in cyberspace. (Adjust your behavior to fit the site or "lurk before you leap.")
4 Respect other people's time and bandwidth.
5 Make yourself look good online.
6 Share expert knowledge.
7 Help keep flame wars under control.
8 Respect other people's privacy.
9 Don't abuse your power.
10 Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.
The "Core Rules of Netiquette" quoted from NETIQUETTE by Virgina Shea as presented at http://www.albion.com/netiquette. At the site you'll find a complete online edition of NETIQUETTE by Virginia Shea. Follow the links from there. Test your netiquette knowledge by completing the ten-question netiquette.