Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments. This open conference is organized by educators, for educators, to provide an opportunity to showcase the learning that takes place in this community of practice. All educators are encouraged to present, attend and take part in this discussion of collaborative deeper learning and co-presence in virtual worlds and games.
What qualifies as a virtual world?
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a unique environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create ideas irrespective of time and space. Virtual worlds can be either 2D or 3D. They may be co-located or distributed. The core aspect that defines a virtual space is that a virtual environment provides a uniquely shared space for emerging relationships and serves as a foundation for the development of knowledge creation and sharing.
Examples include Second Life, OpenSim, Unity, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinestest, World of Warcraft, Eve Online and many others. These virtual environments are characterized by an open social presence and where the direction of the platform’s evolution is manifest in the community. This is unlike systems such as WebEx, Sococo, VenueGen, and other platforms which are focused on more utilitarian purposes to a closed audience.
What will I learn?
Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education is a meaningful way for presenters to share their research and experience about the rich learning systems in virtual worlds and games. This free online conference is produced entirely by volunteers. Conference proceedings are published as the Journal of Virtual Studies by Rockcliffe University Consortium.
So, how does an unaffiliated group of educators come together without being part of a formal professional development organization and yet consistently produce a 3D immersive event of this scale? – It’s a mystery. Or it is until you have participated in this type of collaborative learning environment.
Who attends VWBPE?
Over 2000 attendees representing 90 countries participate in 150-200 online presentations including theoretical research, application of best practices, virtual world tours, hands-on workshops, discussion panels, machinima presentations, and poster exhibits.
Who can I talk to for more information?
Each year the organizational committee is represented by different members of the educational community. This year, the organizational committee is made up from the following individuals:
- Kevin Feenan
- Dirk McKeenan
- Leticia De Leon
- Logistics: Kevin Feenan (SL: Phelan Corrimal)
- Programs: Leticia De Leon (SL: Letty Luckstone)
- Volunteers: Becky Adams (SL: Elli Pinion)
- Marketing: Elisa Butler (SL: Bevan Whitfield)
- Information Technology: Dirk McKeenan
- Social: Roseanne Vojtek (SL: Roxie Neiro)
- Outreach: Lorraine Mockford (SL: LoriVonne Lustre)
For more information please contact:
Phone: 613 276 1911
E-mail: Send an Email