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One must always seek a thoughtful match between pedagogy and technology. Different virtual world platforms are suited for different uses, ranging from collaborative work environments to immersive goal-oriented simulations. The speaker will discuss current virtual world technological trends involving specific gaming technologies like Unity3D and the growth of Open Source platforms such as OpenSimulator. A discussion will focus on helping educators choose the right tool for the right job, matching pedagogical goals with technological affordances.
Individuals requiring real-time captioning or other accommodations should contact Dr. Sue Alman as soon as possible.
John "Pathfinder" Lester is an experienced leader and innovator in 3D Simulations and Virtual Worlds for Learning. His primary focus is on collaborative learning and instructional design, working with academic and business clients to develop immersive education environments.
From 2005-2010, John worked at Linden Lab, the creators of Second Life. At Linden Lab he led the development of the education and healthcare markets while evangelizing the innovative use of virtual worlds in training and distance education.
Previously, John worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, creating online medical education and patient support communities while exploring the underlying neuroscience behind how people communicate and collaborate effectively.
John is currently the Chief Learning Officer at ReactionGrid, helping clients develop new systems for immersive learning using next-generation multiuser virtual world platforms that integrate with the web.
For more details and contact information, please see http://about.me/pathfinder.
Location in Second Life: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/43/73/33
For more information contact Dr. Pat Franks at [log in to unmask] or Lori Bell at [log in to unmask].