For those of you interested in language applications in SL, this article might be of interest. The main body of the PR article is in French, if you wish you can translate it using Babelfish
The Institute of Applied Linguistics , Ecole de Langue Varadi - First school of language in Europe to make profitable these new virtual learning techniques, opens its center of linguistic education on Second Life to offer personalized programs in 33 foreign languages in six continents.
Showing posts with label linguistics SL education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linguistics SL education. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I'll be the brave one
I thought I'd get on and post just some of my thoughts from our first class. Don't worry, I'm not normally such an overachiever.
The thing that kept hitting me as we watched what can be done using Second Life is the fact that the possibilities are endless. I had thoughts comming in which are completely absurd now as I realize I can do much more. Most in Anthropology don't take the time to look at "these types" of technologies. As if the use of something designated "gaming" is somehow going to sully the "good" name of Anthropology. In truth, we Anthrops tend to get a little defensive. You would too if upon meeting someone you have the following conversation, every time...
"I study Anthropology"... "What's that?"... "The study of culture." ... "Ok, so what part of culture do you study?"... "Well, I look at.... (glazed expression covers face of other person)...." "Well, what exactly can you do with it?" ... "I plan to flip burgers."
We've also dealt with the stigma of being a "fake" science - or rather being told that what we do is not science. The problem with that is that we employ research methods that follow along the scientific method. It just tends to make us a little irritated.
Now I find myself looking at Second Life from another perspective. The archaeologist that can recreate the structures from a site and then walk through them, as well as allow others to do so. An educational center could be created to allow speakers of Native American languages that are being lost to hear native speakers and perhaps even speak with them, all the while they are walking through a ceremonial center. I think of the Native American children taken in the 70s and 80s from thier homs because the government deemed they did not have a stable situation (cultural misunderstanding is what they call it now). Those people that strive to learn of thier genetic heritage, but are stopped short by an inability to reconnect. This could allow an opportunity to explore thier past from home. Then I started thinking of the medical applications as well as educational. At Shands, we have children in the hospital that are immune compromised as they undergo cancer treatment. These kids miss school, and if they manage to beat the odds and survive, they are so far behind. Why should they have to be? There are tutors and "schools" set up, but it's not the same as having your own teacher explain things too you. In second life, not only could a student meet thier teacher, but they could have streaming video of the class or lecture there, or post reading assingments, etc.
Anyway, it was a little eye opening for me to realize that the possibilities are so vast I cannot quite reconcile myself with them yet. My father has worked with computers and programing since I was very young. He has a degree in electrical engineering and was one of the first people to examine Linux. He told me years ago that the world would change because of things like Second Life. He urged me to examine the community there and to understand that it is a community. While we discussed it, I was too firmly stuck inside my own box to comprehend what he was saying. I focused on the removal of human contact from everyday life as people flocked to these "fantasy worlds." Now I find myself thinking along the same lines as he (a scary thought, really), that it isn't a lack of human contact, as much as a broadening of what human contact entails. Is contact less satisfying because the person you speak with is thousands of miles away? Is there something missing from the intereaction? I still can't answer those questions. I think there has to be a level of trust which is harder to achieve without being able to read expressions and look into someone's eyes, but with Second Life, can those aspects be part of the virtual world experience?
Those are my rambling thoughts for the day. What did you all think? Do you feel like you're mind is broader with acceptance of new possibilities?
Amy
The thing that kept hitting me as we watched what can be done using Second Life is the fact that the possibilities are endless. I had thoughts comming in which are completely absurd now as I realize I can do much more. Most in Anthropology don't take the time to look at "these types" of technologies. As if the use of something designated "gaming" is somehow going to sully the "good" name of Anthropology. In truth, we Anthrops tend to get a little defensive. You would too if upon meeting someone you have the following conversation, every time...
"I study Anthropology"... "What's that?"... "The study of culture." ... "Ok, so what part of culture do you study?"... "Well, I look at.... (glazed expression covers face of other person)...." "Well, what exactly can you do with it?" ... "I plan to flip burgers."
We've also dealt with the stigma of being a "fake" science - or rather being told that what we do is not science. The problem with that is that we employ research methods that follow along the scientific method. It just tends to make us a little irritated.
Now I find myself looking at Second Life from another perspective. The archaeologist that can recreate the structures from a site and then walk through them, as well as allow others to do so. An educational center could be created to allow speakers of Native American languages that are being lost to hear native speakers and perhaps even speak with them, all the while they are walking through a ceremonial center. I think of the Native American children taken in the 70s and 80s from thier homs because the government deemed they did not have a stable situation (cultural misunderstanding is what they call it now). Those people that strive to learn of thier genetic heritage, but are stopped short by an inability to reconnect. This could allow an opportunity to explore thier past from home. Then I started thinking of the medical applications as well as educational. At Shands, we have children in the hospital that are immune compromised as they undergo cancer treatment. These kids miss school, and if they manage to beat the odds and survive, they are so far behind. Why should they have to be? There are tutors and "schools" set up, but it's not the same as having your own teacher explain things too you. In second life, not only could a student meet thier teacher, but they could have streaming video of the class or lecture there, or post reading assingments, etc.
Anyway, it was a little eye opening for me to realize that the possibilities are so vast I cannot quite reconcile myself with them yet. My father has worked with computers and programing since I was very young. He has a degree in electrical engineering and was one of the first people to examine Linux. He told me years ago that the world would change because of things like Second Life. He urged me to examine the community there and to understand that it is a community. While we discussed it, I was too firmly stuck inside my own box to comprehend what he was saying. I focused on the removal of human contact from everyday life as people flocked to these "fantasy worlds." Now I find myself thinking along the same lines as he (a scary thought, really), that it isn't a lack of human contact, as much as a broadening of what human contact entails. Is contact less satisfying because the person you speak with is thousands of miles away? Is there something missing from the intereaction? I still can't answer those questions. I think there has to be a level of trust which is harder to achieve without being able to read expressions and look into someone's eyes, but with Second Life, can those aspects be part of the virtual world experience?
Those are my rambling thoughts for the day. What did you all think? Do you feel like you're mind is broader with acceptance of new possibilities?
Amy
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