os2_defender

Conveners, you (or your designee) should update your wiki page with:
 * Big Picture: Anyone interested in virtual, avatar-based learning?
 * Marcus Muster - Kiski School
 * and a high-level summary and sharing of resources

Kiski School offers a virtual school for boys. Started 10 years ago using Adobe Connect included a home schooled child who was 100% remote. Marcus would record lessons and all students benefited having the option to review. It is not asynchronous. Second Life was not the right fit. They noticed that many surrounding schools (Penn State) were abandoning it for a more closed system. Kiski opted for Olive (Online Interactive Virtual Environment) based in Orlando. Number one client the military.

Challenges:
 * So much overhead on the servers. High cost.
 * Went over the top with the worlds (taught Pythagorean theory in a Greek amphitheater!) - boys were getting overwhelmed and distracted by the games.
 * Extra cost of equipment (does a science teacher need a camera for recording experiments)
 * Needed something that was slimmer and more traditional.

Blake: Suggests iPevo cameras which are relatively cheap ($70) and can be propped.

Did experiment with kids to see how being physically there vs. virtual. Both groups had an equal experience. Nothing was lost.

Marcus: You can cater to a different subset of kids - blended learning allows for differential learning.

Online Lesson: > Demographic - Home Schooled Boys.Trying to offer Kiski education to kids who would never have an opportunity. kiskivsb.org
 * 1) Figure out delivery method - from Skype to a whole virtual world
 * 2) Need a teacher who is willing to teach class virtually

Think Sims for school. Student immersed in virtual world where they can walk around and interact with teacher and other students. Teacher can break them up into groups. Teacher can present slides. Students can collaborate.