virtual learning environments?
Question by thecooltempo: virtual learning environments?
Company name: “Avington College”
Number of employees: 20 (10 teaching staff)
Number of Students:80-100
Nature of Business:Private education for 16 – 18 year olds
The college teaches a wide range of subjects (it has not made any significant use of IT), and new management would like to make maximum use of IT in its teaching. This is to include a virtual learning environment, and the use of a wide range of educational resources and software, such as programming environments including Flash or an alternative, image and audio editors and office software. The budget is limited and they are considering open source and freeware options. Security and safety are also important concerns.
The college would also like to set up an online radio station, which would be run by staff and students, to play a mixture of music and talk for a few hours a day, but this would depend on the cost. Six members of staff are already comfortable with using various virtual learning environments, and are computer literate and would like to set up a virtual college in Second Life.
The college are looking to purchase 40 desktop computers for students, and 10 laptops for staff, and to employ a technician.
The desktop computers will be in two classrooms in different parts of the building, and the staff machines will be connected to a wireless network.
You are a consultant who has been asked to give advice on a range of issues, including the type and configuration of the network required, user policies, hardware and software specifications, the life of equipment and training, legal issues and costs, including those of providing an online radio service and setting up a virtual college in Second Life.
Best answer:
Answer by buggeredmom
I am so not qualified to answer any of your questions…
I did look around the Second Life website to find some helpful links to post but they have recently changed the website and I can’t find the old helpful links that might have offered you some advice on how to find information to get you started. The only one I could find is rather generic: http://education.secondlife.com/getstarted/
You work with students in the 16-18 year range. Teen SL accommodates 13-17 year olds. The main grid is for persons 18/+ in age. Linden Lab is adamant about keeping the children separated from the adults and they adhere to the 18th birthday benchmark. That is a big consideration to keep in mind. The lessons are the same in each grid but it will most likely require you to have a presence in both the teen and main grid to teach a class that includes students under the age of 18 along with students that have reached their 18 birthday.
Try this link: If you do not have a Second Life account, then please email business@lindenlab.com.
Hardware and software specs can be found here: http://secondlife.com/support/system-requirements/
The other questions are too very specific. *I* am not a consultant. It seems that you are. You might best be served by creating an account on Second Life and investigating your questions from within SL or its own forums.
Good luck with your endeavors. The students you serve will probably benefit from the experience if it is offered to them.
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