Lesson Plan 2: Collaboration in Second Life, Group French Lesson

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By:  Katherine Watson

Type of Lesson:  Multimedia, Simulation

Lesson Plan Title - Immersive, Group French Lesson in Second Life

Discipline and Topic - Language, Technology, Digital Collaboration

Target Population -

Grade Level:  post-secondary

Population Characteristics: Learners have basic to advanced Second Life skills.  They are motivated and comfortable with technology.

Lesson Groupings: Individual, small groups and whole-class, synchronous and asynchronous - class-size limit: 24 students.

Curriculum Links - Prior to this lesson attendees will have learned basic French language and Second Life skills. Following this lesson students will continue to improve their conversational French.

Objectives -

• Participants will be able to utilize Second Life to connect with, communicate with and collaborate with people who speak French.

Media Literacy Objectives -

• Identify capabilities and limitations of contemporary and emerging technology resources and assess the potential of these systems and services to address personal, lifelong learning, and workplace needs.

• Use technology tools and resources for managing and communicating personal/professional information.

• Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making in content learning.

• Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content-related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works.

Materials - High-speed Internet connection, multimedia capable computer system with high-end graphics card capable of running Second Life, headset and microphone.

Timing - Space will be available in Second Life. The duration of this lesson is two weeks.

Scope and Sequence -

Day 1

Students will meet with the instructor in Second Life (SL), where they will be divided into small groups, approximately 4 students per group, and they will be given the assignment to set up a space in sl and communicate only in French while working, to "Friend" a French speaking user in sl or go to a French speaking location and save a chat related to the environment you are arranging, plan a presentation, with text and audio/streaming voice. Each group will be given a parcel of land on which to layout their an environment and prepare for their presentation. The space should incorporate scripted objects that chat, play audio or notecards (text files). Students will have the opportunity to ask questions of the instructor and peers during this time, and to begin planning their project. (2 hours)

Days 2-4

Groups develop their environments and presentations. (Approximately 6 hours)

Day 5

The whole class meets in SL to watch and listen to each small group's presentation. Group participants should take turns speaking.  (2 hours) 

Week 2

Students and instructor individually critique each presentation and space and submit their critiques using a Notecard dropbox for each group.  (Due by day 2 of week 2.)

Students individually read their group's peer and instructor reviews and write a summary essay of their learning. (Due by the end of week 2.)

Supplemental Materials -

• Land (collaborative space) in Second Life.

• Notecard dropbox (interactive object in Second Life).

Evaluation of Students -

Objectives	1 point	2 points	3 points
Space development	Poorly conceived and developed	Adequately conceived and developed	Well conceived and developed.
Presentation	Not well prepared or presented.	Adequately prepared and  presented.	Well prepared and presented.
Critiques	Poor or incomplete.	Appropriate and complete.	Thoughtful and complete.
Essay	Essay is weak or incomplete.	Essay is sufficient.	Essay is thoughtful and insightful.

 

Evaluation of the Lesson -

Students should be enthusiastic and engaged, and their work and presentation should showcase their command of the language. This will be a good indication of the quality of the lesson. If the spaces seem underdeveloped, then it might indicate that the time for the lesson should be extended.