OpenSimulator Community Conference 2015

A fundamental concern raised by 3D collaborative virtual training exercises is their direct relevance to real world situations. Trainers require that virtual training exercises match closely their daily practice and expectations in the real world. We demonstrate our approach that allows trainers to mash up Google maps with their customized virtual scenarios in order to facilitate the translation of skills and insights acquired in the virtual world into improved real world competencies.

Thoughtfully constructed virtual world education simulations are a hit with students of all ages and contribute to increased learning outcomes. Still, until this type of learning simulation becomes more mainstream (and educational simulation content is included in textbook ancillary materials), early adopter educators need to create their own simulations or use the open license (or creative commons license) content created by others. To focus attention on the currently available as well as the “wish list” open license content needed, this panel includes presentations from college, K-12, and workplace instructors using and/or sharing virtual world learning simulation content.

This presentation will highlight the work of 6th graders in Western New York. With the help of a NY State Department of Education Grant, the students were taken on a tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo NY to learn about the principles of architecture of Famed Architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. The student then took these design principles into OpenSim and created their own amazing works of architecture and art.

Opensimulator offers a vast and beautiful landscape for exploration. Until recently including interactive characters in a build was so time-consuming and complicated few builders bothered. A growing set of easy NPC tools make it possible for anyone to add unique characters to their builds without knowing anything about scripting. Nara Malone and Fred Beckhusen will talk about the tools they used in the Immersive Edge Hypergrid Story and how they are used in the Outworldz regions.