Monday, April 13th marks the commencement of the 3rd Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed to help Spanish-speaking educators in the use of Second Life as a starting point in their interaction with emerging and innovative environments that can be used for education.
Professor Max Ugaz, UMSP
Developed by the Universidad de San Martín de Porres (USMP), located in Santa Anita, Lima, Perú, the course was first run in April 2014, and as I reported at the time, was promoted by the Lab as a part of their re-engagement with the educational sector.
An updated version of the course, developed by the university’s Project DirectororVirtual Worlds, Professor MaxUgaz, was again run in September, 2014, which also met with success.
“The purpose is to train educators, researchers, academics and interested public speaking, in creating a virtual identity, accessing and using the virtual world Second Life,” the University’s promotional material for the course states, before continuing, “This version is enriched with the latest version of our platform, which allows us to streamline the process of teaching and keeping better track of participants. ”
As with the previous iterations of the course, which is presented in Spanish, activities will extend over three weeks, with an average workload of 5 or 6 hours a week. Those completing the course will be entitled to a Digital Certificate (Certificate of Participation), awarded by the USMP.
Details on the course, together with a registration form for interested parties, are available on the course web pages, and the activities will take place at one of the USMP’s teaching areas in Second Life, commencing on Monday, April 13th, as noted.
l Proyecto en Mundos Virtuales de la Universidad de San Martín de Porres de Perú, inicia este 13 de Abril la tercera edición del curso en la modalidad MOOC (Curso Masivo Abierto En línea) titulado “Introducción a Second Life para Educadores 3da. Ed.”. El curso es gratuito y está diseñado para capacitar a educadores y público en general de habla hispana en el uso del mundo virtual Second Life, a fin de ofrecer conocimiento que permita desempeñarse en este entorno y aprovechar su potencial, especialmente en el ámbito educativo.
Si tú o alguien que tú conoces pueden beneficiarse de un curso como éste, pueden acceder al vídeo de introducción y registrarse en la página web. Inicio: 13 de Abril.
I remember the sunrise seen from the hall atop Hope’s Horizon
I remember walking the streets between wall and mountain.
I remember climbing stone-hewn steps and passing under arched passages.
I remember tall houses clinging to sheers faces of rock.
And I remember standing atop Hope’s Horizon as the sun came up.
I remember Crimson field’s lone tower
I remember looking over a sea of red in a bowl of stone.
I remember the wind-blown ripples that dry-stirred its surface.
I remember walking through a field of roses.
And I remember Crimson’s Field’s lone tower.
I remember Titan’s Hollow
I remember the sky-strung crystals and gilt-edged paths of glass.
I remember the needles of rock rising from shimmering waters.
I remember the colours so vivid atop the slender spires.
And I remember Haven Hollow’s wonder.
I remember walking the paths of Lotus Valley
I remember the gentle waters, the narrow bridges and shuttered doors.
I remember Buddha sat by bamboo fingers, as incense burns close by.
I remember heron waiting and lions guarding.
And I remember Lotus Valley’s dragon, and his vigilant gaze.
But most of all, I remember those we’ve loved and lost
But most of all, I remember all those we’ve loved and lost.
And each year so I also look forward,
Awaiting the Fairelands and their return.
To give us new hope, new wonders, new memories
That help us remember once more.
I remember is a new challenge presented to bloggers by the Fantasy Faire team, inviting us to share out memories of past Faires, the realms they’ve held, the forms we took whilst exploring them, the adventures they gave us, and the moments of wonder we felt.
So why not share your memories, or perhaps share in one of the three other challenges for bloggers? and don’ forget, if you intend to apply to be an official blogger and haven’t already done so, your application must be submitted by April 18th, 2015.
2015 will see the return of RelayStock, a weekend of Peace, Love, hope and great music, all in aid of Relay for Life of SL.
Hosted by the indomitable Relay Rockers team, RelayStock, SL’s very own update on Woodstock, will this year take place on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th at Relay d’Alliez, and is billed as the largest multi-team event in the 2015 RFL of SL fund-raising season.
RelayStock will provide team camp site with either a tent or a minivan, all located around a 60’s style festival stage, and the weather and conditions will be typically “Woodstockian” – so expect rain and mud as well as dancing and fun!
An open invitation has been given to Relay Teams to come along and support the event. Team can do so by completing the reservation form, in which they can reserve a camp site where they can set-up their kiosks and vendors. In addition, participating teams can volunteer to host a DJ session on the stage of up to 2 hours in duration, and take part in the final round of the Relay Rocker’s Celebrate Remember Fight Back (CRFB) Top DJ Competition.
Those teams interested in running a DJ session over the weekend should indicate their interest in the reservation form, and note the time at which they’d prefer to host a session, which, at the time of writing, were (all times SLT):
Saturday, May 23rd:
08:00 – 10:00
10:00 – 12:00 noon
12:00 noon – 13:00
Sunday, May 24th:
08:00 – 10:00
10:00 – 12:00 noon
12:00 noon – 14:00
14:00 – 15:00
Special Events for the Weekend
The complete schedule of events is still being drawn-up, but highlights include:
Saturday, May 23rd
13:00 – 17:15: the Relay Rocker’s 2015 CRFB Top Dj Contest finals
17:15 – 21:00: Saturday BYOK Fever, featuring the music of:
17:00 – 20:00: The famous T1Radio TIme Machine and a Trip to the Sixties with Trader Whiplash and Team Relay Rockers BYOK
Commenting on the event, Rockers co-founder Trader Whiplash said, “The Relay Rockers have been fortunate to have participants from many teams in our CRFB Event. RelayStock is our way of saying thank you for the huge support across the grid for the competition. It affords every team the opportunity to share in a super fund-raising event. This is just another example of the One Team concept in Relay. It doesn’t matter whose kiosk or vendor the donations land in, after all we are all on the same team in the end.”
Such is the nature of RelayStock that, in 2014, more than L$ 1.5 million was raised by some 50 teams over the course of the weekend.
So, whether you’re part of a Relay Team or not, make a note in your diary of the dates. All things being equal, and with trader’s support, I’ll have a special preview of the event ahead of the weekend itself.
For More Information on RelayStock, teams should contact Ariel Stormcrow, Relay Rockers Co-Captain (ariel-at-relayrockers.t1radio.com).
About Relay dAlliez
RelayStock will take place at Relay dAlliez, a region dedicated to the memory of dAlliez Estates estates founder Alliez Mysterio, who along with Nuala Maracas and Trader Whiplash, helped found the Relay Rockers team in 2005. Alliez was lost to breast cancer in 2013. The region was first made available in 2014 to any Relay Teams wishing to host their own RFL of SL fund-raising events.
Currently, there are still several prime weekend dates open in the 2015 RFL of SL season which can be used by Relay Teams to host their own events. Representatives from teams interested in doing so can visit the Relay dAlliez InfoHub for more information and to submit a reservation request.
For those with a passion for trucks, vans, motorbikes, motor racing and – most of all – cars, there are a couple of events going on in SL that might interest you.
The first, The History of the Vehicle, is taking place at LEA 2. Billed as being six months in the making, the exhibit is curated by Sapphire Hotaling as a celebration of wheeled vehicles in Second Life from 2005 through to the present day, with some 130+ individual vehicles from almost 50 designers and creators on display,
With the exception of the main building, located on the north side of the region, and a large display area to the east, the majority of the museum space is open air, with various display areas clearly marked and reached via footpaths, and a landscaped park extending to the south and west of the region, linking the main vehicle displays with a memorial to vehicle racers and designers who have passed away, and a stage area which will host live events at the weekends throughout the time the exhibit is open – check the display boards within the exhibit for details.
There’s no set route for exploring the region – just go where your feet / the footpaths take you. Individual display areas are clearly enough marked, and while nothing is for sale within the region, there are plenty of note card / LM givers to the in-world and SLM stores for the designers displaying their latest wares.
The displays are interesting enough, and some do indeed give a feel for how vehicles have visually evolved over the years; however, I have to confess that I toured the exhibit unable to shake the feeling it’s more car show that historical piece. Outside of the “Evolution” exhibit, there is precious little information chart the actual history of vehicle development in SL – the evolution of scripting, capabilities, etc., which to me is a bit of a shame, although I fully understand that putting something together like that isn’t necessarily easy – not everyone is interested in scripting evolution, etc.
Even so the range of vehicles on display is impressive, and the park like layout helps to make the exhibit feel less crowded, vehicle-wise, even allowing from the large east side display area; once you step off of the main path and onto the grass with its wooden walks, it’s easy to relax and find a place to sit a while.
All told, History of the Vehicle makes for a visual treat for car and vehicle fans.
In November 2012 I wrote the first draft of the plan. UNIA would be groundbreaking. UNIA would be our first fully interactive and immersive adventure with 1st person shooter elements. UNIA would be delivered in stages pushing the limitations of Second Life and showing game designers what is possible to do in this virtual world.
In January 2015 I was wondering if I had tried to bite off more than one could chew.
Thus Kiana Writer, head of MadPea Productions frankly opened a blog post in February 2015. In it, she outlined some of the trials an tribulations that she and the MadPea team have encountered in trying to bring UNIA, an immersive games that is huge in scope.
The downs have been many – but so has the overall up; so much so that the launch date has been set – UNIA opens its doors to Second Life residents on Monday April 20th.
Are you awake? Are you in a nightmare? What awaits you in and beyond the farm? (image courtesy of MadPea Productions)
To prepare for the launch, and over on MadPea’s brand new blog (make sure you update any bookmarks if you haven’t already), Kiana provides a prologue to the main story. It’s written from the perspective of a main character – Emily – who, having departed a wedding, awakes to find herself strangely dressed, feeling physically, in a barn somewhere with a dead body …
“You must come with me right now!” someone yells and when I look into the direction of the voice I notice a rope ladder dropping down right in front of me. “Drop that hand and climb up, you must hurry!” the voice continues. For some reason I do as I’m told and take a last look at the body on the floor before putting my bare foot on the ladder and starting to climb.
At the top I face a tall, heavyset black man in his 40s, all dressed in military gear. I haven’t said a word to him and it seems as if I don’t have to. He knows what I’m going through.
…And thus the player is launched into a world that is both nightmare and terrifyingly real, and with a secret lying at its heart…
A year ago, I was one of a number of people privileged to be taken on a personal tour of the UNIA sets and puzzles within UNIA, with Kiana and another of the MadPea talents, RAG Randt. What I saw back then was mind-bogglingly good, and the team have since had almost a year to improve, tweak, update and enhance. Thus, I have little doubt that UNIA is going to live up to expectations in its depth of immersion, its content, and it engagement with players.
Dark secrets await discovery within the strange world of UNIA (image courtesy of MadPea)
As a part of the run-up to the launch, MadPea are running a special challenge, which is introduced thus:
We’re getting closer and closer to release, and as that time draws near, what are you up to? How are you passing the time? Are you preparing, buffing up your muscles, working out your brains? Are you eating a lot of pastries? Are you snoozin’ all day to rest up for your marathon play session?
On offer is the chance to receive the UNIA Gold Package when the adventure opens on April 20th. This includes the game HUD, triple shield, uniform (generously donated by Damien Fate from FATEplay) in three colours, and a gold lock pick for a pistol.
To be in with a chance to be awarded the Package, all you have to do is:
Take a photo of yourself in-world as you wait for UNIA arrive, using the notes above as possible guidelines).
Add the snapshot to a note card entitled “Preparing for UNIA! – [Your Avatar Name]” – please make sure you give you avatar full legacy name – not your display name
Include a brief description of your snapshot in the note card – no more than 144 characters!
Send the completed card to RaffiGirl Koffenbaum in-world. Favourites from those received will be posted on the MadPea blog on alternate days, like this one. Refer to the challenge blog post for the criteria the MadPea team are looking for in submissions in order to select their favourite, who will be awarded the Gold Pass.
Will Grandma help or hinder as you make your way towards UNIA’s startling secret …? (image courtesy of MadPea)
You can also get ready for UNIA by helping the MadPea team and Draxtor Despres film a brand new promotional trailer for the game.
If you’re willing to have video footage of your physical self included in the new promo video, and are lucky enough to be selected, you could also be rewarded with the UNIA Gold Package. See the MadPea video promo blog post for more information on what’s required.
Finally, you can also get yourself ready by watching the current trailer for UNIA, and by keeping an eye on the new MadPea blog for upcoming news and information on the game.
“UNIA has been a game more than two years in the making,” Kiana confided in me as we talked about the upcoming launch. “And one thing we’re aware of is because of that, some of the locations might seem a little dated in setting. Cornfields, for example seem to be everywhere in Second Life today, when two years ago, you could count the number in SL on the fingers of one hand! 😀 .”
Well, cornfields may have multiplied in SL since the start of 2013, but there is still only one UNIA. As such, I don’t think Kiana has anything to worry about on that score; from April 20th, people are going to be too immersed in the story and game play to think about the number of fields or any kind they’ve seen in Second Life!
There is now a little over two weeks to go before the largest fantasy-related event to take place in Second Life opens its gates once more, for ten days of commerce, special events, live music concerts and more, all to help raise funds for Relay for Life of Second Life.
Thursday, April 23rd 2015 and will run through until Sunday, May 3rd, 2015 inclusive, the Faire will welcome everyone with a love of fantasy the creators the performers, the designers, the enthusiasts and curious. Across ten themed regions, there will be much to explore, to see and do – but it is still some two weeks away before we can all do so.
So how can the time be made to pass a little easier as the anticipation mounts? The Faire’s organisers have offered a 5-point plan to Faire Happiness:
As much as bloggers across the community try to keep pace with news and updates, the best place to get the latest information really is from the Faire’s own blog pages. So if you’ve not bookmarked it or are not following it for updates – now is a good time to start: there’s going to be lots of news and information flowing through it in the coming weeks.
2. Follow Fantasy Faire on Social Media
Fantasy Faire has its own Facebook page – and the organisers would love to get at least 500 likes on the page before the Faire opens, and you can keep up with news by checking on it.
contact Catalina Staheli and become a part of the Why I relay portrait challenge – and perhaps feature in a special exhibition at the Faire!
We all have our reasons for Relaying, and the Faire already has a challenge open to bloggers – whether they apply to be an official blogger or not – to write about why they Relay.
However, if you feel the words escaping, you, but still wish to express why you Relay in a picture, Fantasy Faire volunteer blogger Catalina Staheli is offering a challenge of her own. She’s offering anyone who contacts her in-world to arrange an appointment with them and then take their photo as they hold a card expressing their personal reason on why they Relay. Catalina says of the idea:
This past month, Fashion 4 Life jumped in and all of the Miss SL candidates offered their most couture looks incorporated into the reasons why they relay. I’m going to issue a challenge! I wanna see Fantasy Faire blow them out of the water with amazing looks, outfits, and designs as you show why you relay for life. Let’s see what you can do to showcase just how amazing, imaginative, vivid, and colourful Second Life can be!
Those portraits taken so far can be seen on Catalina’s Flickr stream, and she’s offering the service free of charge, and all participants will receive full perm copies of the their own portraits to use howsoever they wish.
What’s more at least some of the pictures might very well make an appearance in the Fairelands themselves. A possible exhibition of portraits is being planned – but if you’d like your own image to be included, be sure to drop Catalina a line sooner rather than later; April 20th has been mentioned as the deadline for the pictures that want to make it into an exhibition.
4. Sign-up To Help with the Faire’s Literary Festival
Deep within the 2015 Fairelands will lie an enchanted glade, the home to a series of literary activities. Stage readings, workshops, story-telling sessions, discussions groups and more, all focused on the theme of fantasy will be found here. But, in order for it to be found, it needs bards and poets, speakers of words, tellers of tales and weavers of verbal magic.
There is an open invitation to all who enjoy spinning a yarn, telling a tale, reading a story, reciting poetry and more, to join in this literary event, a new feature for Fantasy Faire. If you would be interested in doing so, please complete this simple form, and the Storytellers of the Faire will be in contact with you.
5. Nominate Your Choice for the King, Queen and Chancellor of the Faire!
When it comes to Fantasy, we all have our favorite characters. Some may be good – Gandalf or Harry Potter, Belle or Menolly. Or maybe we love the dark side – Maleficent or Steerpike. Or maybe we enjoy the conflicted – Jaime Lannister or Mrs Coulter. Now is your chance to nominate those you most enjoy, good, bad, conflicted or others, to be the Faire’s King and Queen.
And there’s an election for Chancellor as well, for characters from fantasy who have no elements of human appearance. So nominate your choice today, be it Archimedes the Owl, or Ratty, or Pegasus or perhaps even Smaug himself. The choice is yours!
The winning human characters will be crowned King and Queen of the Faire during the fabulous Fantasy Faire Ball, which will take place on Friday, May 1st, between 17:00 – 19:00 SLT, and will also see the announcement of the Faire’s Chancellor!
Find out more and complete the nomination form on the Fantasy Faire blog.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 