Sign-Up

Anyone can follow a course on P2PU. Participating is the next level of engagement. The sign-up is a space where interested individuals can express their interest and background in the topic and commit to working with the rest of the participants. Please answer the following set(s) of questions if you want to become a participant or organizer.

Standard Set

This set of signup questions is common to all study groups, courses, ... in P2PU. The answers to these questions will be public once you get accepted.

Public Custom Set

This set of signup questions is particular to this course. The answers to these questions will be public once you get accepted.

Between Participants Custom Set

This set of signup questions is particular to this course. The answers to these questions will be visible to all participants once you get accepted.

Answers

• 
  Cat Flippen   March 7, 2012, 2:13 p.m.

  Bio:

  I am an educational technology evangelist and integrationist who serves as an example and instructor of effective digitized pedagogy in the K-12 classroom. Also, I recently was admitted into the Educational Technology Doctor of Education at the University of Florida. In Second Life and all other MUVEs, I am "Cat Thexios."
  
  You can learn more about me at my digital footprint, on Twitter, or at my blog Ctrl+Alt+Teach.

  Location: Georgia, USA

  Standard Set Answer:

   

  What made you interested in this topic?
  I am heavily involved in virtual worlds and games/simulations in education. Also, as part of VWBPE committees, I wanted to assist in the running of this MOOC. Hence the reason that I am signing up!

  What do you hope to achieve by participating?
  1 - Gain a deeper understanding of MUVEs and Games/Simulations in education (all levels
  2 - Expand my PLN to include more people interested in the cutting edge (Bleeding Edge!) of educational technology
  3 - Learn from people already deeply involved in my interests and see how I might incorporate those things into my classes/school.

  Are you interested in helping with the course organization?
  I already am helping as Discussion / Social Media facilitator for the World of Warcraft week and the Bleeding Edge week as well. 

  Public Set Answer:

  Do you think there is a difference between a virtual world and a MMORPG? 
  
  Yes, definitely. At the most basic form, a virtual world can be either a game or NOT a game. So, World of Warcraft is a virtual world (of Azeroth), and Second Life is a virtual world as well albeit NOT a game. I define a game as something with levels, achievements, and quests to complete. So while you can have RPG in both WoW and SL, you do not have the traditional gaming aspects in SL.
  
  Do you think most people would agree with you?
  
  Yes, I do.

• 
  Don Elliott   March 7, 2012, 11:45 a.m.

  Bio:

  Coordinator in a continuing education division of a large community college.  Interested in uses of technology in arts, education, and community building.  Special interest in virtual worlds and content creation.

  Location: Baltimore, MD

  Standard Set Answer:

  What made you interested in this topic?

  I have been a participant in virutal worlds, mostly Second Life, for over two years now.  I am always eager to learn more about education and virtual worlds.

  What do you hope to acheive by participating?

  I hope to visit some educational sites I have not previously encountered.  I have not experienced World of Warcraft yet, so I hope to learn some basics about that enviornment as well.  Lastly, I have never participated in a MOOC, so this would be a learning experience in that as well.

  Are you interested in helping with the coruse organization?

  Not having participated in MOOC before, I am not sure what I could offer.  However, I am always wililng to lend a hand when needed.

  Public Set Answer:

  Do you think there is a difference between a virtual world and a MMORPG?

  Not having participated in a MMORPG, I don't have the expereince base to have an informed opinion.  However, from what I do understand, I would say yes, there is a difference.  A MMORPG to my understanding is a more "scripted" experience - there are levels of play, specific goals to acheieve, defined roles to participate in.  A virtual world is unstructured (although users can create their own structures) by nature.

  Do you think most people would agree with you?

  I say in jest that this is a trick question, since most people I know don't know what a virtual world or MMORPG is.  I think with my virutal world peers what I describe would be accepted, however I don't know that many people who do MMORPGs.

• 
  Gridjumper   March 7, 2012, 11:26 a.m.

  Bio:

  Educator looking for innovative ways to help teachers and students.

  Location: Florida USA

  Standard Set Answer:

  • What made you interested in this topic?

  I have been exploring the concept for a couple years and want  to know more about what colleagues are doing.  I believe there is great potential for teaching and learning in Virtual worlds.  I know little of MMORPGs so that will be a totally new experience for me.

  • What do you hope to achieve by participating?

  I hope to interface with colleagues who are using Virtual worlds successfully and learn enough so that I can implement similar strategies.  Long term I hope to build my own world in Opensim and use it for professional development with educators.

  • Are you interested in helping with the course organization?

  Absolutely - what can I do to help?

  Public Set Answer:

   

  • Do you think there is a difference between a virtual world and a MMORPG?

  Yes - My understanding is one is more open-ended than the other. MMORPG have a predetermined objective.  I would like to see or perhaps develop a matrix showing the similarities and differences.

  • Do you think most people would agree with you?

  Not sure, depends on who you ask.  I think most people who have not expereinced either Virtual Worlds or MMORPG would think they are all kind of silly games, whereas those who have experienced one or the other would be able to point out potential educational benefits.