On Pionia Destiny's (Doris Molero) plot, Heike Philp enthusiastically presented the outcome of EVO ViLLAGE 2016* and the moderators' team, together with the usefulness and necessity of training teachers to create games in 3D world.
On 28th April 2016, on EduNation Island, with my presentation "Lessons from a Skybox - Using SL immersive environments to teach EFL", I explained how 3D World can bring on positive backwash effect for different types of learners on exam oriented classess. Based on a short scale survey, learners find lessons in Second Life® useful, interesting and friendly. According to this mini survey, confidence is boosted in the target language, learner concentration span increases, course participants prepare for real-life scenarios and they become more observant through "digital events" in this VW. Through holodeck scenes especially created for the purposes of language lessons, learners are given witty tasks to carry out which encourage language in use, natural communication and promote language development, while at the same time learners acquire new digital skills which enhance cognition and different domains of learning.
The third annual Second Life MOOC 2016 was an unforgettable series of educational events wonderfully hosted by Dr. Doris Molero (Prof. English, Urbe University), Dr Nancy L. Zingrone (Prof. Psychology, Northcentral University), and Dr Nellie Deutsch (Curriculum Consultant, Online Facilitator, University of Phoenix online). (Pionia Destiny, Maggie Larimore and Nellie Homewood, avatar names in SL).
The MOOC took place from April 1-30, 2016 and its theme this year was "Connecting for learning in Virtual Worlds".
On my part, I presented an aspect only of the multi-purposeful, interdisciplinary use of 3D environment, for the purposes of teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Thank you Doris, Nellie and Nancy. Looking forward to more SLMOOC events to come in the future.
Helena Galani
* EVO ViLLAGE stands for "Virtual Language Learning and Gaming Environments"