Virtual Worlds Best Practice in Education Conference 2018
Virtual Worlds Best Practice in Education (VWBPE) annual conference is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments. This year they are celebrating their 11th year and the theme for this year’s conference is ‘VRevolutions’ and it will run from March 15th-17th. You can click over to VWBPE’s calendar to see all of the events and timings.
This conference is being held completely in Second Life and is free to attend.
This year’s keynote speakers include:
- Dr. Mark Childs (TEL Designer, Open University): Identity, literacy, immersion and presence; joining together the building blocks of virtual world learning – Thursday, March 15, 2018 – 9:30am – 10:30am PST – VWBPE Main Auditorium
- Bryan Alexander (Education Futurist): The VRevolution calls for a new digital literacy – Friday, March 16, 2018 – 11:00am – 12:00pm PST – VWBPE Main Auditorium
Click over to the VWBPE’s website to read their bios. All of the keynotes will be held in the VWBPE Main Auditorium.
They also have an incredible immersive experience with the Metaverse Quest, which you need to register to receive a passport for. You can also check out their underwater quests, which are absolutely beautiful.
Some other events for today that caught my eye and I thought would be of interest to my blog readers:
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM SLT
Compass Points Roundtable Discussion: The Minecraft VRevolution: Collaborative Learning
VWBPE 2018 Quadrivium
Presenters: Katherine Hewett/TwelfthNight (Avatar), Mary O’Brien/Serena Offcourse, and Beth S. O’Connell/Beth Ghostraven
The session features an panel of educators actively utilizing Minecraft with students.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM SLT
Above the Book: A Conversation with Ebbe Altberg (CEO of Linden Lab)
VWBPE 2018 Main Auditorium
Presenter: Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden (Avatar)
Moderator: Kevin Feenan/Phelan Corrimal
Join us for an engaging conversation with Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Altberg, who once again opens up about topics that are most important to educators. Ebbe will be at the exclusive event (accessed by submitting a question earlier this month). This will be livestreamed into the Main Auditorium, and also possibly on their YouTube channel.
4:00 PM – 05:00 PM SLT
Social: Learn About Machinima
VWBPE Social Plaza
Join us for an hour with Gridjumper and Bluebarker learning about Machinima, the art of making movies in virtual and digital game environments. We’ll share examples demonstrating tutorials, curriculum content, artistic expression and evidence of student mastery.
Check more of today’s events and also the rest of the weekend on the VWBPE calendar.
Here are some more links for VWBPE:
- VWBPE Website
- VWBPW Calendar
- VWBPE on Facebook
- VWPBE on Twitter
- VWPBE on YouTube – events will be live streamed here
- VWBPE Gateway – Pickup Public transporter HUD from here, wear and explore all the different locations
Another event occurring this weekend will take place at the Art Cafe, on the Locus Amoenus sim, which is a part of the Confederation of Democratic Simulators in Second Life. They are celebrating women in Second Life and have a display of 10 SL women artists. I am one of the women that they have chosen to celebrate. I am humbled and honored and wanted to extend my deep gratitude to them for doing so.
The celebration kicks off on Sunday, March 18th at 10am PST and the posters will be up for display until April. It is a beautiful sim to explore as well so I highly suggest you visit and take a look when you get the chance.
Some links:
