Author Archives: Steve

How will YOU teach the transmedians?

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Steve

Interesting insight regarding a report on a recent survey of the — in this case, Australian — younger set. Some info confirms common wisdom — the 16-30 group is an uber-connected generation, so immersed the technologies that enable it are … Continue reading →

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SimHub nominated for an “Immy” — log on and vote!

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Steve

The Immersive Technology group (ImTech) has just announced it’s nominations for the 2010 Immersive Technology Awards (the “Immys”) — and SimHub is a finalist in the Research and Education category. Like what we are doing? Then, log on, vote early … Continue reading →

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Algebra textbook — for your iPad

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Steve

HMP has announced a pilot program in CA to provide Algebra I textbooks on the iPad, and compare their use to that of students using traditional textbooks. Conducted by a third-party research firm, the pilot study for HMH Fuse: Algebra … Continue reading →

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NYT Education section: Games Theory

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Steve

A great themed NYT Magazine this Sunday, on using games to help folks learn: WHAT IF TEACHERS GAVE UP the vestiges of their educational past, threw away the worksheets, burned the canon and reconfigured the foundation upon which a century … Continue reading →

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Avatars learn motions to match your voice

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Steve

A great clip showing some innovative development going on @ Stanford … using intonation, speed, and other characteristics of voice, this software maps typical movements to your avatar.  Check it out!

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Virtual world success factors

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Steve

Here’s an interesting article detailing one perspective on what makes virtual worlds effective — or not.  The author suggests that, currently, most virtual worlds do not maximize their potential enough to be attractive to most business or educational organizations — … Continue reading →

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Virtual relationships as satisfying as physical ones

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Steve

VWN is reporting a study by LMU professor R. Gilbert suggests that most of those surveyed who are involved in a romantic relationship in Second Life find the relationship to be as or more satisfying than ones in which participants … Continue reading →

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Best virtual has a touch of reality

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Steve

Interesting read in the NY Times recently, noting a common theme among many successful commercial games:  the ability to connect gameplay to certain aspects of physical reality.  This comment, in particular, caught my eye: Elves and fairies and dragons are all … Continue reading →

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Reaching the Last Holdouts

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Steve

Harvard’s Chris Dede, a major author of the the Dept of Ed’s National Ed Tech Plan, suggests in this piece that instruction that clings to traditional teaching methods – and antiquated tools – amounts to “educational malpractice.”  How do we … Continue reading →

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