This Friday, August 15th, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life will feature Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond (Zinnia Zauber in SL) and Mary Stokrocki (Marylou Goldrosen in SL), who will share their experiences from the 2014 New Media Consortium (NMC) Summer Conference in Portland OR. Both presented at the NMC Idea Lab on their continuing research of teaching in Second Life, the power of avatars, and encouraging artful expression.
Renne presented “Authentic Avatar – Your Virtual Identity and Integrity”, an interactive session on how your avatar is a visual and visceral representation of you, your personal branding, and your professional reputation, and how through your avatar you can communicate your enthusiasm, openness, and mission to utilize productive, emotional interactions and encourage active participation in influential and educational online communities.
Mary presented “Taiwanese Graduate Student Interviews with Avatars: A Participatory Action Research Study of Teaching on Second Life”, a session on documenting the practice of teaching graduate students research interviewing and content analysis skills within the virtual world of Second Life.
Presenter Bios:
Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond is an artist, instructor, and superhero empowering people to be their best virtual and tangible self by advancing excellence, exceptional pursuits, and individualism through creative expression and encouraging instruction with inspired results. Renne has actively taught fine art and digital media for over twenty years, and is the Multimedia Communications Program Coordinator at Peninsula College. Her company, unique as you, specializes in color perception, intention, and utilization to create motivating, engaging experiences with innovative identity development, marketing, social media, events, and immersive environments for businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, organizations, and communities. She has been teaching virtual world use since 2008 with University of Washington, Peninsula College, Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds Conference at the National Defense University, Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conferences, TechSoup Global, Nonprofit Commons, Virtual Ability, Rockcliffe University Consortium, Second Life Community Conferences, and Arizona State University. Focused on the evolution of intelligence, expression, and superheroes, she earned her Bachelors of Science in Art at Lewis & Clark College and her Masters of Fine Art in Visual Art at Vermont College at Norwich University, and she graduated from the first pioneering class of the University of Washington Certificate in Virtual Worlds Program in 2009. Renne only uses her superpowers for good.
Dr. Mary Stokrocki is Professor of Art and Art Education Area Coordinator, Arizona State University, Fulbright Scholar to Taiwan (2012), and Work Bank Consultant to Turkey (1995-1997). She was former Vice-President and World Counselor of the International Society for Education Through Art [8 years] and former President of the United States Society for Education through Art and its Webmaster [10 years]. She received: 2007 College of Arts & Architecture Outstanding Alumni Award, Pennsylvania State University. She won the following National Art Education Association Awards: 2007 Women’s Caucus June King McFee Award; 2005 Lowenfeld Award, and 1995 Manual Barkan for outstanding research article. She has taught in 14 countries and conducted qualitative research for over 30 years, notably with the Navajo and Apache. Now she teaches and does research on Second Life using Digital Ethnography. New book: Stokrocki, M. (Editor). (2014). Exploration in Virtual Worlds: New Digital Multi-Media Literacy Investigations for Art Education. Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.
Join us in Second Life!
Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting
Friday, August 15th, 8:30 AM PT / SLT
Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater
AGENDA (all times below PT)
- 8:30 am Introductions
- 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
- 8:45 am Mentors Central
- 9:00 am Featured Presentation – Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond (Zinnia Zauber in SL) and Mary Stokrocki (Marylou Goldrosen in SL)
- 9:40 am Open Mic / Announcements
The mission of the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life is to create a community for nonprofits to explore and learn about virtual worlds, foster connections, and discover the many ways in which nonprofits might utilize the unique environment of Second Life to achieve their missions.
Written by: Rhiannon Chatnoir