Metanomics | mondays, 12pm pacific time - Metanomics® explores the serious uses of virtual worlds. We are a passionate community with an interest in understanding the evolving use of virtual world technologies.

Jun 8

MCF: 2011.Jun.09 | Andy Hughes, Designing Digitally and Virtual Business Success

Teaching students how to build airplanes, robots and simulations is serious business, but Designing Digitally, Inc. plans to make it a game -- literally. Join us for the Metanomics Community Forum on Thursday, June 9th at 12pm PDT/ SLT when Andrew Hughes of Designing Digitally updates us on his firm's virtual activities. He claims that he is bringing a secret guest who has very real information on how DD gets things done.

Designing Digitally, Inc., the web-based training firm that specializes in E-learning, virtual worlds, and 3D simulations, was recently awarded a 2011 Air Force Virtual World contract from the United States Air Force Research Laboratory located in Dayton, Ohio. This means the simulation experts at Designing Digitally, Inc. will dedicate the next year to creating an OpenSim virtual world grid, called Virtual Discovery Lab (ViDL), in which high school and college students can explore these technical topics in a hands-on, educational environment.

"We are extremely honored to have been selected for this contract," said Andrew Hughes, President of Designing Digitally, Inc. "It is going to be a fantastic and rewarding challenge to create the OpenSim virtual world infrastructure for United States Air Force Research Laboratory's Discovery Lab."

The contract award not only calls for Designing Digitally, Inc. to help create the Virtual Discovery Lab OpenSim virtual world grid, but also to work hands-on with students interested in the field over the summer at WPAFB Tec^Edge office. Students in the program are able to explore a number of areas of interest in an educational, hands-on setting that is challenging and fun.

Resources: http://www.designingdigitally.com/

You can join us in Second life for this event or watch it on our web site: www.Metanomics.net where it will be streamed live from the Studio.

SLurl: http://bit.ly/MCForum

PLEASE NOTE - MIXED TEXT AND VOICE SESSION: The Metanomics Community Forum is a mixed voice / text discussion session. Please feel free to participate in voice or in text, to your preference. The facilitator and some participants will be using voice, so you may wish to enable voice in your viewer so that you can hear the voice portions of the session. Thanks for joining us!

Questions: Jennette Forager, Metanomics Community Manager jennfor@gmail.com

Jun 1

MCF: 2011.Jun.02 at 12pm SLT | Lisa Dawley, 3D GameLab and GameCamp

Educators have a special energy in the summer. Perhaps it is the freedom from classes, grading and being so adult. Summer is a great time for learning, exploring and yes, professional development but why choose something dry and serious. How about camp? And why not, GameCamp!

Project Lead Lisa Dawley, PH.D. has assembled an incredible team to guide campers at 3D GameLab's first ever, GameCamp in August of 2011. Join us at the Metanomics Community Forum, this Thursday in Second Life to talk about the project and her concepts for using this format in education. Lisa is Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Technology at Boise State University. With over 20 years of experience in teacher education research, practice, and policy, Dawley provides innovative leadership in the design and pedagogy of virtual environments for teaching and learning. She is co-author of the Going Virtual! research series studying professional development for K-12 online teachers.

Dawley received a Top 20 Bestselling Books Award for her text, The Tools for Successful Online Teaching. She is a co-inventor of 3D GameLab, a quest-based learning software, and she created EDTECH Island, a virtual world resource supporting international teacher education. Dawley is also co-founder and Chair of the Applied Research in Virtual Environments for Learning Special Interest Group (ARVEL SIG) affiliated with the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

From 3D GameLab Web Site:

"We are thrilled to finally announce the launch of the beta version of 3D GameLab, an online learning platform that lets teachers turn their classrooms into a living game! Chris Haskell and I have been developing and using the platform for over a year with a variety of students from teens to college graduate students. We’re really excited about our August summer camp, when we launch our new closed beta version platform, inviting in other teachers and instructional designers for the first time!

"For those of you who know me, I’ve been interested in using games and game-like environments in education for many years. I believe learning should be fun, joyful, something you’re excited to be involved with on a daily basis, something that excites your passion. Chris has really helped me understand that to create a game-based learning environment, you have to game it, you can’t “teach” it. In our camp last summer, we started exploring the development of a meta-game quest tracking tool, something that would allow our kids to choose quests and track their own achievements across a variety of games and learning experiences. 3D GameLab was born.

3D GameLab will grow and evolve in ways we can’t even imagine at this point. We built the tool, but the content will be evolved by the users of the system. I hope you can join us this summer, or at a future time, to explore new ways of thinking about learning in a digital era."

Video displays here, please re-load your browser if it fails to appear.

3D GameLab Resources:

http://3dgamelab.org.mmoguildsites.com/

http://lisadawley.wordpress.com/

YouTube - 3D GameLab: Turn Your Classroom into a Living Game! http://bit.ly/lGV44t

You can join us in Second life for this event or watch it on our web site:www.Metanomics.net where it will be streamed live from the Studio.
SLurl: http://bit.ly/MCForum

PLEASE NOTE - MIXED TEXT AND VOICE SESSION: The Metanomics Community Forum is a mixed voice / text discussion session. Please feel free to participate in voice or in text, to your preference. The facilitator and some participants will be using voice, so you may wish to enable voice in your viewer so that you can hear the voice portions of the session. Thanks for joining us!

Questions: Jennette Forager, Metanomics Community Manager jennfor@gmail.com

May 18

MCF: 2011.May.26 | FCVW.2011 and the Media Stream

The Metanomics Community Forum will re-visit the Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds 2011 conference which took place recently in Washington, DC. One day of workshops followed by two days of presentations from both government and the private sectors covered many topics and way streamed to a number of virtual platforms. The media stream that resulted continues a week later and we'll look at how that affects the reach of an event.

Join us, Thursday at 12pm PDT in Second Life at the Metanomics Studio. Please feel free to post comments here with links to coverage that I may have missed.

Resources:
www.Metanomics.net
SLurl: http://bit.ly/MCForum

Storify with Links: http://storify.com/jennfor/mcf-federal-consortium-for-virtual-worlds-2011

May 12

Botgirl's Typist Sketching FCVW.11 Sessions

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May 12

2011.May.12: Watching FCVW.11 at Metanomics Studio All Day Long

Snapshot_metanomics__metanomics_ii_248_124_23_-_general

The Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds Conference is taking place today and tomorrow. We're watching it at Metanomics, you can join us here: http://bit.ly/MCForum

The National Defense University Website is once again live, and schedule is here: http://1.usa.gov/ihBmsK David Smith just finished with a historical overview as he looked to the future which he feels will be totally about Augmented Reality. In concluding he shared an Alan Kay remark: "The computer is an instrument whose music is ideas. The augmented conversation is jazz."

May 12

FCVW.11: Schedule for Thursday

I am having trouble connecting to the FCVW.11 website so here the schedule from my notes. Great to see so many virtual friends!

Start	End	Day One, May 12, 2011
7:30	9:00	Welcome Reception and Early Registration Complementary Continental Breakfast (Marshall Hall Atrium)
8:00	8:30	Welcome and Announcements: Dr. Robert D. Childs Chancellor, National Defense University, iCollege (Lincoln Hall Auditorium)
8:30	9:30	Keynote: Mr. David A. Smith Lockheed Martin “The Augmented Human” (Lincoln Hall Auditorium)
9:30	9:45	Break
9:45	11:15	Panel: “World-wide Application of Immersive Environment in Administration, Politics and Education” (Lincoln Hall Auditorium) Moderator: Mr. Serge Soudoplatoff, Independent Consultant Panelists: Mr. Chris Moore, CIO, City of Edmonton Mr. Claus Nehmzow, CEO 3D Avatar School, Hong Kong Ms. Mandy Salomon, Sr. Researcher, Swinburne University
11:15	11:30	Break & Networking
11:30	1:00	Lunch & Vendor Fair
1:00	2:00	Keynote: Ms. Mk Haley Carnegie Mellon University "Innovation in Virtual Worlds. And Then Back Out into Our Own" (Lincoln Hall Auditorium)
2:00	2:15	Break
2:15	3:15	Panel: “You Can’t Get There From Here: An Ecosystem Approach to Designing in Virtual Worlds” (Lincoln Hall Auditorium) Moderator: Ms. Sandy Kearny, CEO e426.org *Panelists:* Mr. Ian Hughes, CEO, Feeding Edge Mr. Jay Iorio, IEEE Standards,Virtual Worlds Ms. Claudia L’Amoreaux, Learning Technologies Strategist, Community Developer Mr. Ren Reynolds, Founder: the Virtual Policy Network, HMG Digital Policy Mr. Michael Steele, Duke University, Project Manager, Healthcare Simulation Ms. Michelle Roper Fox, Chief Strategist, Education and Training at U.S. Department of Energy
3:30	4:30	Panel: Virtual Worlds in Government: State and Federal Perspectives (Lincoln Hall Auditorium) Moderator: Dr. Keysha Gamor, Education Innovation Coordinator, National Defense University iCollege *Panelists:* Mr. Andrew Boyarsky, Project Director, School of Professional Studies, CUNY Mr. Kevin Holloway, Psychologist, National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) Mr. William May, Director of the Office of Innovative Engagement (OIE), State Department Mr. Douglas Maxwell, Science and Technology Manager, U.S. Army Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC)
4:30	8:00	Conference Reception, with Government Project Poster Sessions & Vendor Fair (Marshall Atrium)

Filed under // FCVW FCVW11 OpenSim SecondLife

Apr 28

MCF: 2011.Apr.28 | What's Your Cup of Tea? Wedding? or Endeavour?

No formal program planned for this afternoon's Metanomics Community Forum at 3pm SLT, but feel free to drop by and chat if you have a topic to propose or questions. I plan to load the YouTube feed of the Royal Wedding (great photo gallery of preparations in the Washington Post.) Coverage begins much earlier but the hour long ceremony takes place at 3am SLT. No souvenirs but of course, also no need to park and be joustled by on-lookers. I propose that we draw upon the wonderful costumes stashed in our inventories and come properly attired, perhaps I 'll rezz out the Landeau carriage and four myself. Tea served.

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Later in the day (12:47pm SLT) the space shuttle Endeavour launches. (Final fueling actually begins as Kate begins her march up the aisle.) Again, the feed will be live at the Metanomics Studio from 12pm SLT. Don your booties and sterile attire and let's send them off in style!

From NASA:

"Preparations for space shuttle Endeavour's launch are continuing as planned at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly and his crew also are continuing their prelaunch activities. Liftoff to the International Space Station is scheduled for 3:47 p.m. EDT Friday.

Mark Kelly commands a crew of six which includes Pilot Greg H. Johnson, Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori. Endeavour will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS), a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper to the station. "

SLurl: http://bit.ly/MCForum

PLEASE NOTE - MIXED TEXT AND VOICE SESSION: The Metanomics Community Forum is a mixed voice / text discussion session. Please feel free to participate in voice or in text, to your preference. The facilitator and some participants will be using voice, so you may wish to enable voice in your viewer so that you can hear the voice portions of the session. Thanks for joining us!

Questions: Jennette Forager, Metanomics Community Manager jennfor@gmail.com

Apr 25

Boellstorff- Rosedale Event at ybca.org

Metanomics was the virtual host for a fascinating Real Life/ Second Life event on Saturday, April 23rd which featured Philip Rosedale, Founder and former CEO of Linden Labs and a regular Metanomics guest, anthropologist Tom Boellstorff, author of "Coming of Age in Second Life." Following their discussion, Michelle Tea, Valencia author and founder of RADAR Productions and Sister Spit, interviewed Amos Mac, founder and editor of Original Plumbing, the SF-based magazine dedicated to exploring the sexuality and culture of FTM transgendered men.

Both audiences then split into small groups to discuss issues that had been raised and submitted questions. Tom Boellstorff managed to participate in both RL and virtual group discussions, sharing the comments and actions of the Second life audience with the audience in San Francisco. Chris Collins of Tipodean graciously served as cameraman for the event, allowing the audience at the metanomics Studio to see the interviews via Livestream as well as having Philip and Tom logged into Second Life.

The video of the event is archived and can be viewed at http://www.metanomics.net/community_forum altho I've also embedded a small version here as well. It's currently called "Saturday" but as soon as we split it into smaller segments, it will have the date and event attached. Philip and Tom are the first 45 minutes, followed by Michele and Amos, and group discussions.

Photo Credit: Tom Boellstorff (via Facebook)

Apr 24

Metanomics Friend, Tony O'Driscoll shares "DDDK" at TEDxDuke

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Tony O'Driscoll, perhaps better known to the Metanomics community as Wada Tripp, addressed the recent TEDxDuke on the horrors that technology might visit upon future generations. Speaking as a father and a grandson, he shared the touchstones he considers vital for raising children who will be prepared to manage the "DDDK or Digital Divide of a Different Kind."

"Many of the folks who came up to me after my talk mentioned how cool the graphics were. This talk was a CO-CREATIVE ENDEAVOR between myself and my friend Gary Zamchick who is a phenomenal visual talent."

Here's the video and slides:

TEDxDuke: Preparing our Children for a World we Can Barely Imagine

Metanomics appearence with co-author of Learning in 3D, Karl Kapp.
http://www.metanomics.net/show/learning_in_3d_-_immersive_environments_in_training_and_education/

Their blog: http://www.learningin3d.info/#

Tony's blog: http://wadatripp.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/tedx-duke-talk-is-posted/

Apr 20

MCF: 2011.Apr.21| A Perfect Jewel of a Forum

The second half of the week is kicking into high gear. Join us for great discussions this Thursday and then again on Saturday!

Metanomics Community Forum, Thursday, at 12pm SLT welcomes the extraordinarily talented Saffia Widdershins and Elrik Merlin from Designing Worlds and the extensive Prim Perfect Enterprises.

Resources:
Designing Worlds Web Site: http://primperfect.net/dw/
Latest issue of Prim Perfect magazine: http://bit.ly/er1tPy

The Prim Perfect Blog:
http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com/about/

And Designing Worlds! on Treet.tv:
http://bit.ly/eYqE3B

Saturday, April 23rd at 1pm SLT/ PDT: Tom Boellstorff, interviewed by Philip Rosedale on a topic dear to all virtual residents: The Customizable Body: The Present Future of Radical Identity (http://diigo.com/0gt0t

Metanomics will stream the live feed from Yerba Buena, California .

Metanomics® explores the serious uses of virtual worlds. We are a passionate community with an interest in understanding the evolving use of virtual world technologies.

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