Tag: NPC

Posted on

Whole Brain Health for the August 5th Nonprofit Commons Meeting

Whole Brain Health logoThis Friday, August 5th, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life will feature Lynne Berrett (Wisdomseeker Lissena in SL) and Szavanna (Sunshine) who will introduce you to the Inspiration Island community and discuss some of the “brain training” activities offered through the Whole Brain Health Group. Grown out of her commitment to making open source and creative resources to everyone, Szavanna will also share info on the Sunvibes Workshops, and the impressive collection gathered of free resources and full perm materials which can be used in Second Life and Open Simulator. 
 
Join us in Second Life! 
 
Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting 
Friday, August 5th, 8:30 AM PT / SLT
Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater 
 
AGENDA (all times below PT) 
  • 8:30 am Introductions
  • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
  • 8:50 am Mentor’s Central
  • 9:00 am Featured Presentation
  • 9:45 am Open Mic / Announcements
Immediately following the meeting, Wisdomseeker and Sunshine will lead a field trip to Inspiration Island: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Inspiration%20Island/201/99/27
 
The Nonprofit Commons in Second Life is a program sponsored by Caravan Studios – http://caravanstudios.org, a division of TechSoup Global, http://techsoup.org. 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

Posted on

Open Forum for the March 4th Nonprofit Commons in Second Life Meeting

This Friday, March 4th, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life we will have an open forum that will give us a chance to ask deeper question from our past week’s topics, discuss upcoming Nonprofit Commons events and others like the Virtual Worlds Best Practices conference. It will also be an opportunity to ask any burning tech or community questions you might have. 

Join us in Second Life! 

Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting

Friday, March 4th, 8:30 AM PT / SLT

Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater

http://bit.ly/NPCinSL

AGENDA (all times below PT)

  • 8:30 am Introductions
  • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
  • 8:45 am Mentors Central 
  • 9:00 am Featured Presentation – Open Forum
  • 9:30 am Open Mic / Announcements

 

http://nonprofitcommons.org

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

Posted on

Celebrating the 4th with NPC at SL12B Nonprofit Videos – no meeting July3rd

Nonprofit Commons in Second Life will not be hosting a weekly meeting this week, since our usual meeting day of Friday July 3rd, falls during the 4th of July holiday observances in the US. Though we won’t be meeting, let’s celebrate this 4th by enjoying some of the videos captured during last week’s Second Life 12th birthday (#SL12B). As part of SL12B celebrations, Nonprofit Commons in Second Life had a week long series of presentations and performances focused on nonprofit uses of virtual worlds such as Second Life. 

Please enjoy some of the amazing people and projects that make up NPC! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBbCCN1eQ2t5Ewfk5OgkMHNnoY8Xx0gAh

Sorry for sound loss in some of the videos. You can find more information on these panels, including speaker bios for all presenters throughout the week at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AlPl9q3YjUyo0MoKbUuALXjownlMEbPrIGlofcaaexI/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you to everyone who presented last week at SL12B, all those who attend our NPC weekly meetings and other events, and the nonprofit, social-good community of folks who inhabit these virtual spaces. Happy 4th all!

 

http://nonprofitcommons.org

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. Nonprofit Commons is sponsored by TechSoup Global‘s Caravan Studios.

Written by: Rhiannon Chatnoir

Posted on

NPC goes to VWBPE for the March 20th NonProfit Commons Meeting

This Friday, March 20th, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life will feature a visit to the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education virtual conference (http://vwbpe.org). VWBPE is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments, including research, health and nonprofit presentations. We will meet as usual, and then after introductions, and a chance to share announcements, we will travel to the panel focused around the Virtual Ability disability support community. 

 

Join us in Second Life!

 

Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting 

Friday, March 20th, 8:30 AM PT / SLT

Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater 

http://bit.ly/NPCinSL

 

AGENDA (all times below PT) 

 

In addition to the Virtual Ability panel, there are many nonprofit topic focused panels happening, and NPC community members presenting this year, and we encourage community members to check them out. You can view the full schedule at: http://vwbpe.org/conference/vwbpe-2015-calendar, and check out the NPC member presentations below.

  • March 19th, 9:00 AM PT – Learning by Leading – Discover Your Destiny, Renne Brock-Richmond (Zinnia Zauber in SL)
  • March 20th, 7:00 AM PT – Creating Dinosaurs & Earning Badges, Jeroen Frans (Frans Charming in SL)
  • March 20th, 3:00 PM PT – Content Curation Through Virtual World Communities
  • March 21st, 9:00 AM PT – NonProfit Commons Community panel

 

http://nonprofitcommons.org 

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

Posted on

PY1 Presenting on World AIDS Day for the November 21st NonProfit Commons Meeting

This Friday, November 21st, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life will feature Monique Richert (Chayenn in SL), who will present on Protect Yourself1’s engagement with HIV/AIDS education in support of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the ongoing pandemic. 

  • More than 35 million people now live with HIV/AIDS, 3.3 million of them are under the age of 15. 
  • In 2012, an estimated 2.3 million people were newly infected with HIV – 260,000 were under the age of 15. 
  • Every day nearly 6,300 people contract HIV—nearly 262 every hour. 
  • In 2012, 1.6 million people died from AIDS. 210,000 of them were under the age of 15. 
  • Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 75 million people have contracted HIV and nearly 40 million have died of HIV-related causes. 
Statistics courtesy of amfAR
Honoring the day provides an opportunity for all of us to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS research, prevention, care and treatment globally. World AIDS Day offers each of us the opportunity to show support for people living with HIV/AIDS by remembering our loved ones living with HIV and honoring those who have died. 
 
Join us in Second Life! 
 
Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting
Friday, November 21st, 8:30 AM PT / SLT
Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater
http://bit.ly/NPCinSL
 
AGENDA (all times below PT)
  • 8:30 am Introductions
  • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
  • 8:45 am Mentors Central
  • 9:00 am Featured Presentation – Monique Richert (Chayenn in SL), Protect Yourself1
  • 9:45 am Open Mic / Announcements 
Following the November 21st presentation, NonProfit Commons and PY1 are hosting a Virtual AIDS Walk on December 1, 2014 to commemorate the 26th World AIDS Day. Join us in Second Life at 7:00 PM PDT at the NonProfit Commons Plush Amphitheater SLurl @ 95, 126, 26, then at 8PM for a Networking Party at PY1’s virtual office SLurl @ 242, 174, 24
 
There will not be a NonProfit Commons weekly meeting on November 28th, for our organizers and community members who are observing the Thanksgiving holiday. We will meet for the December 1st Virtual AIDS Walk, and then for our next scheduled meeting, on Friday, December 5th featuring Lynne Berrett (Lissenna Wisdomseeker in SL) of Whole Brain Health.
 
http://nonprofitcommons.org 
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

Posted on

Updates from the Social Web for the May 2nd NonProfit Commons Meeting

This Friday, May 2nd, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life we will have a discussion on some of the recent happenings from around the social web. From news on Heartbleed to Bitcoins, as well as updates of social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Second Life. Come catch up on these topics as well as an opportunity to share current news and tips you might have found.

 

Join us in Second Life! 

Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting

Friday, May 2nd, 8:30 AM PT / SLT

Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater

http://bit.ly/NPCinSL

 

AGENDA (all times below PT)

  • 8:30 am Introductions
  • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
  • 8:45 am Mentors Central 
  • 9:00 am Featured Presentation – Updates from the Social Web
  • 9:45 am Open Mic / Announcements

 

http://nonprofitcommons.org

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

Posted on

Study of Virtual Health Literacy Skills and Real Life Impact for the December 13th NonProfit Commons Meeting

Friday, December 13th, TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons in Second Life meeting will feature Evelyn McElhinney (Kali Pizzaro in SL), who will present a snapshot of her findings from her first study which explored the health literacy skills of people who accessed health information in 3D virtual worlds and the influence on physical world health behavior.

 

Kali will go onto discuss her second study of her PhD with the aim to raise awareness and recruit participants. The study is investigating how participating in virtual world communities/groups influences peoples ability to ‘live with’ or ‘cope with’ their long term health condition in the physical world. A long term health condition is defined as a condition which lasts more than one year and impacts on a persons life and may require ongoing help and support (Scottish Government).

 

Bio:

Kali Pizzaro/Evelyn McElhinney is a Registered Nurse and Registered Nurse Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland. She is also a part time Doctoral Student at Glasgow Caledonian University. She was in clinical practice for 13 years and has been full time at the University for 8 years. She has presented at national and international conferences and published in peer reviewed journals.

 

Join us in Second Life!

 

Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting

Friday, December 13th, 8:30 AM PDT / SLT

Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater

http://bit.ly/NPCinSL  

 

AGENDA (all times below PT)

  • 8:30 am Introductions
  • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
  • 8:45 am Mentors Central 
  • 9:00 am Featured Presentation –  Evelyn McElhinney (Kali Pizzaro in SL) Study of Virtual Health Literacy Skills and Real Life Impact 
  • 9:40 am Open Mic / Announcements

 

 

http://nonprofitcommons.org  

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

Posted on

NPC 5/17/13 Featured Presentation: Virtual Occupational Therapy

Below is an edited transcript of the May 17th, 2013 NonProfit Commons in Second Life meeting, featuring Andrew Hughes of Designing Digitally, Inc.

 

You can view the full transcript at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19PLNXWnfoi3b7C-D05neJCONP98HvBZVjhhJlrZxx8E/ and photos at: https://plus.google.com/events/gallery/crk8ercovt8052kc4gu6klmtfcs

 

Today for our featured presentation we are happy to feature Andrew Hughes of Designing Digitally who will present about the company’s recent project using Kinect motion tracking and immersive training simulation for stroke victims that they have been working on for the National Institute of Health.

 

About Andrew Hughes:

Andrew Hughes founded Designing Digitally, Inc. which specializes in E-Learning, Training Simulations, Serious Games, and Virtual Immersive Learning. Andrew has extensive experience in education as a professor at both the University of Cincinnati and at the Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati. Currently Andrew is the president of Designing Digitally, Inc. and also is a curriculum evaluator for ACICS the private college accreditation board. The majority of Andrew’s experience has been in the development of enterprise learning solutions for Government and Fortune 500 clients.

 

Andrew also was a consultant for the Ohio Board of Regents and the U.S. Department of Education for the Office of Innovation where he helped to develop ground-breaking learning spaces for the K-12 sector. Having successfully taken on responsibilities in instructional design, project management, sales, and leading his own team, Andrew has propelled Designing Digitally, Inc. to be an award winning virtual immersion and E-Learning company.

Let’s welcome Andrew up, please take a seat and start whenever you are ready.

 

Buffy Beale: Cheering madly!

Kali Pizzaro: Hey Andrew

Jen (jenelle.levenque): Welcome to NPC Andrew

 

Andrew Hughes: Hello everyone! nice to see you all! I am the President of Designing Digitally, Inc. We’re located between Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio We’ve been doing development work since 2001, and went INC’d in 2006. We do a very wide range of work. Mostly it’s for online learning, in forms of both 2d and 3d interactive learning.

 

What I am here to talk about today is our effort we created with a SBIR grant from the National Institute of Health. We partnered with a healthcare agency called Barron Associates to create a new product called VOTA, Virtual Occupation Therapy Assistant 

 

We are using the Microsoft Kinect and the Unity3D gaming engine to create dynamic AI bots that help you re-learn how to use your arms. It’s for stoke victims, and people that have MS, etc. What this software is doing is using AI technology to help guide you in learning how to do everyday things again. Such as putting the groceries away. We are tracking the six axis’s that you have with your arms. We are using 2 Kinects together to get very high detailed tracking and the system is built into kiosks that are now going to be deployed in hospitals, and PT locations throughout the nation.

 

Tarquin Evermore: Oh how cool alternative use of Kinect!

Buffy Beale: it really is fantastic

 

Andrew Hughes: This SBIR grant was for Phase 1, which was to build the system and now we’re awaiting to see if Phase 2 (full deployment) will be funded so we can roll this out throughout the USA. We have built a content management system that sends all data about your progress, and even records your movements for you to see online and also for the your therapist to review to see how your movement has improved throughout time of using this tool. The AI bots actually are not static, so they change the difficulty, and even change the scenarios based on how well you are doing so it learns from you while you are learning! And increases the difficulty based on your past performance. 🙂

 

Rhiannon Chatnoir: for those that might not know, SBIR is short for Small Business Innovation Research – a series of government grants to encourage small biz development/projects

 

Andrew Hughes: Thanks Rhiannon!

So with that said here is an overview (we can only show just this small video but take into consideration that the actual development is much more than this, it’s just a small teaser for people until w know if we get phase 2 of the SBIR.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asy0Kkaff0s

 

Tarquin Evermore: This sounds awesome and exciting. It probably has a nifty side effect, I am sure many stroke sufferers suffer from depression for thinking they are ‘less than’ an able bodied person, and having to rely on others. It sounds so liberating to get that freedom back ;3

 

Andrew Hughes: So this is one of many projects we’re working on. Yes, the biggest thing is we wanted them to feel accomplished by doing thing they did everyday with little effort. So our goal was to teach them to cook in a safe way and do things around their home they had no problem doing in the past. This is just one of the scenarios out of many by using 2 Kinects together we can get a better sense of the 3d space.

 

Sum Anachen (szemanzoltan): It is awesome!

Tarquin Evermore: And how else but virtually? if they make a mistake or slip, they don’t have to worry about burning the food, or worse, themselves!

 

Andrew Hughes: right Tarquin!  🙂

OK, In regards to our efforts, this is something we’ve been working on for awhile now. Unity3D obviously has become a very popular gaming engine. What we’re doing is trying to push it’s efforts far beyond what it can do to produce learning experiences that are engaging, educational, and yet entertaining so the learning is fun and it sticks

 

Rhiannon Chatnoir: to view the movie it will show on the big NPC screen behind us, just click play

Azwaldo Villota: Please, could you also post video URL here in chat?

 

Andrew Hughes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asy0Kkaff0s

 

Kali Pizzaro: engages

Rhiannon Chatnoir: you can also view it on youtube http://youtu.be/Asy0Kkaff0s

Glitteractica Cookie: watching on YT now

 

Andrew Hughes: We used the Kinect to build a serious game called Air Marshaller serious game where we used the Kinect to teach you how to do the air marshal signals

 

Sister (sister.abeyante): May I make a constructive request? Can your company please caption the youTube video, as the “auto captioning” does not do a very good job and the content is important to the deaf /HOH as well as the hearing. thanks!

 

Andrew Hughes: sure!

 

Rhiannon Chatnoir: so the video mentions that your real world Occupational therapist, so do you anticipate this to be a facilitated experience with a OT and patient

 

Andrew Hughes: Yes there is a OT. It can be either on site with you or online where they can see your progress in real time.

 

Tarquin Evermore: might be a good idea. I often have trouble when trying to listen to some of the videos a bhuddist monk puts up, because I can’t hear it.

 

Andrew Hughes: Another good example of using the Kinect for fun purposes is that Kinect serious game we built in Unity3D  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef_vAih13pU

 

Tarquin Evermore: I love this idea, when you turn therapy into a game, it seems less like theropy and ‘boring’

 

Andrew Hughes: Glad you guys like it. We wanted to do activities that people take for granted each day, such as the daily chores we find annoying. They become very hard when you don’t have control over your limbs. So we wanted to focus on accomplishments of everyday activities.

 

Jen (jenelle.levenque): My dad was very frustrated after his stroke

Wisdomseeker (lissena): and playing adds to consistency of practice, I suspect–less frustrating?

 

Andrew Hughes: agreed!

 

Wisdomseeker (lissena): music is being used with stroke patients in Canada, I know

Tarquin Evermore: They put Wii Fits in old age homes and such to get older people to move. And since it was a game, they didn’t notice it was theropy so they wanted to do it instead of “aww gee…do I haveta?” and since WIi Fit was low impact, it was perfect for the elderly.

Sister (sister.abeyante): Question: Will the program accommodate individual differences in physical ability i.e. a person with no arms needs to learn to do these same tasks, but does not have limbs to do it. Can it adapt/be adapted to something like that?

 

Andrew Hughes: It’s funny. if we can change the learning culture from “I have to” to “I want to” then you will see excellent results.

 

Rhiannon Chatnoir: and pairing the motor movement of Kinect with the game-like process of going through the daily routine works on both a physical and cognitive level I would think

Tarquin Evermore: Maybe different “games” for different physical types? Like maybe a ‘tour de france‘ type game for those without arms to learn how to use their legs again?

 

Andrew Hughes: That’s a great idea

 

Tarquin Evermore: And didgital ‘rewards’ for completing the task? Heck we all know why folks play MMOs, thats part of why it is addicting. The whole ‘reward’ thing.

Sum Anachen (szemanzoltan): Well MMO gives you a community feeling thats why it works so well

Buffy Beale: Question: Are there any other countries interested in your program for their hospitals?

Rhiannon Chatnoir: so does that correlate in the VOTA with the points that get earned throughout .. they are earning them via activities and how accurately done? is this mainly to keep progress and work to improve their overall score?

 

Andrew Hughes: Yes digital rewards are for completing tasks. You are ranked based on people = to you rather than just seeing a top 10, that way you can strive to be a little better than the person above you

 

Buffy Beale: nice idea

Sister (sister.abeyante): Question: Is this system only going to be available in a hospital or clinic environment, or do you anticipate making it into a portable “kit” that could be set up on someone’s home?

Tarquin Evermore: I am betting Japan would be all over this awesome. Heck they have an adorible robitic baby sea lion. All white and fluff and awww <3! it reacts just like the real deal. They use them in nursing homes.

 

Andrew Hughes: from there we are not sure about other hospitals in countries because we’re doing this as a SBIR so it’s not otu to market yet. We are actually making Kiosks that can be portable.

 

Rhiannon Chatnoir: Ozma, the relative scoring reminds me some of the math learning game you led at Arizone State Univ

Tarquin Evermore: Speaking of math, I am remembering Number Munchers very fondly. Still LD as heck, but that is one of the few math games I remember fondly XD

 

Andrew Hughes: Did you guys have any other questions regarding what we’ve built?

 

Rhiannon Chatnoir: you have done development of projects both in virtual spaces like SL, etc and then these free standing experiences in Unity or otherwise, what wisdom or differences in process do you find

Azwaldo Villota: What are the main advantages to developing with Unity? Is it due to the connectivity with Kinect?

Sister (sister.abeyante): I do. Ever the advocate for equal access— will the product be accesible to the deaf.hard of hearing? Captions rather than just audio?

 

Andrew Hughes: The reason why we did it in Unity3d is:

1. Level of detail / fidelity

2. Flexibility of the platform

3. Ability to create dynamic experiences

4. Kinect integration (we ended up having to custom code this with DDL’s and so while we thought it would not be hard to use Unity3D with the Kinect we found that we had to do a ton of R&D to get it to work properly

 

It can be deployed as an app, and we have it autoboot that exe file when the computer boots up, so that way it’s acting as it’s own OS

 

Sister (sister.abeyante): and I also have a related question to the one on accessibility for the deaf/Hard of hearing… will it be available to people who do not speak/understand English?

Rhiannon Chatnoir: so being able to be freestanding experience if need be

 

Andrew Hughes: yep! It can be. Right now it was setup of English only based on the SBIR requirement. You are correct Rhiannon.

 

Sister (sister.abeyante): And the accessibility to the deaf/HOH? Was that also an SBIR requirement?

Azwaldo Villota: Wow. Great info, much appreciation for you sharing here today, Andrew.

 

Andrew Hughes: Sister – Right now it is not accessible but it will be for Phase 2 if we are awarded the grant for phase 2. The Phase 1 is the prototype effort, phase 2 is the funding to do revisions / additions / mass produce.

 

Sister (sister.abeyante) nods… so the prototype wasn’t, but the mass production will be- that’s great.

Rhiannon Chatnoir: the first phase grant is more of a proof of concept, working prototype. if you do not get phase two grant support, what will be next step if any for this project

Tarquin Evermore: with this current economy, how about are you going to get this funding?

 

Andrew Hughes: Rhiannon – Good question about funding. The partering company is still going to be working with us to deploy it if we get funded or not. The partnering company is known for getting Phase 2 passed, so we shall see. Tarquin – It’s in review now and we will find out in September if we got Phase 2.

 

Frans Charming: 🙂

Rhiannon Chatnoir: not sure how much this gets impacted Tarquin, http://www.sbir.gov/ for deeper info on the program

Sister (sister.abeyante) wonders if, from the user’s/consumer’s end of things, this will be covered by insurance? Or will the user have to pay out of pocket to use this?

Frans Charming: Hopefully the sequester has no impact on the phase 2 funding.

 

Andrew Hughes: Sister – This side of it has not been discussed yet

 

Wisdomseeker (lissena): perhaps I missed this? how did you measure results of your program?

Sister (sister.abeyante) nods and reflects that, without it being covered by insurance, many or most folks most needing it will not be able to use it due to cost to the consumer.

 

Andrew Hughes: Wisdomseeker – There are multiple analytical pieces

 

Dancers Yao: great Q Sister…this has been an ongoing problem for seniors…to afford any of the new tech services

Rhiannon Chatnoir: any other questions or comments for Andrew

Buffy Beale: Just to say well done, it looks like this will be part of the future Andrew 🙂

 

Andrew Hughes: Thanks Buffy

 

Dancers Yao: really great to see you appreciate using a dynamical approach to your work….thanks

Ozma Malibu: Wonderful. I want to spread the word.

Rhiannon Chatnoir: yes, and good luck on phase two funding.. I have been part of an SBIR grant process too .. know they are a lot of work and waiting

 

Andrew Hughes: Thanks everyone!

 

Gentle Heron: Very cool Andrew. I’ll be looking for the next Phase of development from you.

Azwaldo Villota claps while clapping

Jen (jenelle.levenque): Regarding the payment question, if they are in therapy, then the specific tools used shouldn’t be an issue

Wisdomseeker (lissena): yes…just wondered what you were look inspiring!

Tarquin Evermore: BRB reconnecting :3

Wisdomseeker (lissena): sorry for mashup

Wisdomseeker (lissena): Inspiring!

Rhiannon Chatnoir: let’s thank Andrew for being here today and you can find more at

Buffy Beale: cheering!!

Frans Charming applauds

Scarlett Sismondi: thanks!

MusE Starsmith: ♫♫ APPLAUSE APPLAUSE ♫♫

MusE Starsmith: Applauds!

Jen (jenelle.levenque): Yay Andrew and company

Jen (jenelle.levenque): ********APPPLLLAAAUUUSSSEEE********

 

Andrew Hughes: Thanks everyone!   🙂   We are working hard to be creative!

 

Zadark Xavorin applauds

Sum Anachen (szemanzoltan) applauds

Buffy Beale: thanks Andrew

 

Andrew Hughes: thanks everyone for the time today!

Written by: Rhiannon Chatnoir

Posted on

Transcript of the February 8th NPC Meeting featuring Robert L. Todd

[08:33] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Welcome everyone to this week’s Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting!

[08:33] Oronoque Westland: @ Rhiannon, many thanks

[08:33] Rhiannon Chatnoir: The Nonprofit Commons in Second Life is sponsored by TechSoup Global and is a program of the TechSoup Global Community & Social Media team

 

TODAY’S AGENDA

 • 8:30 am Introductions

 • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements

 • 8:45 am Mentors Central

 • 8:55 am Robert L. Todd: BreakThru: Virtual Mentoring for STEM Education

 • 9:30 am Open Mic / Announcements

 

[08:34] Rhiannon Chatnoir: First a few links to start off the meeting. 

 

Here are the many ways to can get involved with the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life:

 

– Nonprofit Commons Blog: http://nonprofitcommons.org

– Wiki: http://npsl.wikispaces.com

– Twitter: http://twitter.com/npsl

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitcommons

– G+ Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/114212078390326305687 

– Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/TechSoup-Second-Life

– Google Calendar: http://bit.ly/2tMEYh

– http://flavors.me/nonprofitcommons

 

About TechSoup the sponsors of the Nonprofit Commons:

 

– http://www.techsoup.org/stock/howtousetechsoup.asp

– http://flavors.me/techsoup

 

 

— INTRODUCTIONS —

 

[08:34] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Hello everyone, let’s start off with Introductions!

[08:34] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Please state your real name, location, org, and the ways we can find you online.

And if you are new to NonProfit Commons, how you found about today’s meeting.

[08:34] Buffy Beale: Buffy Bye, Bridges for Women, Victoria BC Canada, http://www.bridgesforwomen.ca @bridges4women

[08:34] Zinnia Zauber: Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond, Sequim Humanities and Arts Alliance and Peninsula College, Sequim, Olympic Peninsula, Washington. http://www.sequimartsalliance.org http://www.facebook.com/sequimartsalliance @renneemiko

[08:34] Dancers Yao: Kara Bennett, Elder Voices, Los Angeles, CA Human Rights and Health care

[08:34] Andy Evans: Andy Mallon, First Opinions Panel in SL & Social Research Foundation, NYC in RL http://www.socialresearchfoundation.org

[08:34] Ronnie Rhode: Denise Harrison, The Garden for the Missing featuring missing persons: http://www.gardenforthemissing.org/ and SLURL Remora (203,148,21), Project Jason, assistance for families of the missing, http://www.projectjason.org.

[08:35] Gentle Heron: Virtual Ability, Inc. www.virtualability.org

[08:35] Oronoque Westland: Roberta Kilkenny, Hunter College, City University of New York

[08:35] Keko Heckroth: Keith Jones, Cincinnati, OH. Adult and tech ed

[08:35] CarynTopia Silvercloud: Caryn Heilman of Topia Arts Center based in the Berkshires of NW, MA coming to you from NYC today. www.TopiaArts.org @TopiaArtsCenter

[08:35] Grizzla (grizzla.pixelmaid): Chris Robinson, metro Atlanta, Georgia Gwinnett College, Virtual Assistant

[08:35] Glitteractica Cookie: Susan Tenby, Director, Online community and Social Media Team, TechSoup Global, San Francisco, CA USA @suzboop @techsoup @caravanstudios @npsl

[08:35] Frans Charming: Jeroen Frans, http://VesuviusGroup.com, Amsterdam, @Frans

[08:35] CarmenLittleFawn: Lorna Hawkins, Drive By Agony/Keeping Kids Safe, Los Angeles California, Executive Director, GM everybody 🙂

[08:35] Beth Ghostraven: Beth O’Connell, middle school librarian in RL and owner of the Book and Tankard Pub in Victoria City, Caledon

[08:35] Coughran Mayo: Dick Dillon, Innovaision, LLC St. Louis MO @Coughran, @Innovaision

[08:35] Chayenn: Monique Richert, Protect Yourself 1, Inc., Baltimore Maryland, protectyourself1.org, facebook.com/PY1US, @PY1US

[08:35] Rhiannon Chatnoir is Joyce Bettencourt, Boston MA area (about to hit by the snowpocalypse), online community manager of NonProfit Commons, http://joycebettencourt.com, @rhiannonSL

[08:35] Brena Benoir: Brenda Bryan, Preferred Family Healthcare, Kirksville, MO www.pfh.org, @brenabenoir

[08:36] Rhiannon Chatnoir: any other introductions

[08:36] ditto (dikori): Iam ditto and found out about this group by just goin g through the picks

[08:36] Frans Charming: Welcome Ditto

[08:36] CarmenLittleFawn: Hi ditto

[08:37] ditto (dikori): thanks

[08:37] ditto (dikori): hi all of you

[08:37] Rhiannon Chatnoir: welcome ditto, and anyone else new here

[08:37] CarmenLittleFawn: yvw nice to have you with us Ditto

[08:37] Kali Pizzaro: me

[08:37] Kali Pizzaro: sorry kepp trying to get here

[08:37] Beth Ghostraven: Has anyone announced that the chat will be public after the meeting?

[08:37] Ozma Malibu: Sandra Andrews, Floaters Tech Outreach & Floaters Gallery, Arizona, Mexico and On the Road, @ozma.

[08:38] Rhiannon Chatnoir: no, but a good time to, we do archive the chat of this meeting so that we can publish our weekly meetings online

[08:38] Glitteractica Cookie: although I’m not sure we are actually doing that every week on our wiki these days, are we?

[08:38] Adalace Jewell: RoSa Library & Documentation Centre, Brussels, Belgium. http://www.rosadoc.be @adalace

[08:39] Rhiannon Chatnoir: well the chat log ends up on http://nonprofitcommons.org as the archive post

[08:39] Glitteractica Cookie: we used to but I havne’t been keeping up on whether it happens every week. Also not sure it was read by many folks

[08:39] Glitteractica Cookie: oh ok, cool. Rhiannon is such a rockstar, I tell you. She does all these things to keep this community running that we don’t even know

[08:39] Glitteractica Cookie: and she is super humble too. 🙂 We are lucky

[08:40] CarmenLittleFawn: 🙂

[08:40] Rhiannon Chatnoir: thank you – like a lot of long time people here.. we believe in the NPC community

[08:40] Beth Ghostraven: If anyone wants the URL for the chat later, let me know; I put it on my Google docs, but it’s not public unless you know the URL

[08:40] Frans Charming: yay Rhiannon

[08:40] Rhiannon Chatnoir: so let’s move on

 

 

— TECHSOUP ANNOUNCEMENTS —

 

[08:40] Rhiannon Chatnoir: It is time for TechSoup Announcements!

[08:40] Glitteractica Cookie: Yes, I have the announcements: Have you been using the new Google+ communities for your social good work? Sound off in our forums: http://bit.ly/WxHuP7

 

And remember, your input in our forums is always welcome. We know you all are super smart and have lots of techie know-how, so please share it with nonprofits, charities, NGOs, and libraries who have questions! 

 

Next week on February 12, TechSoup’s Jim Lynch will be following in the footsteps of our own Glitteractica Cookie to testify in front of Congress, specifically with the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He’ll be covering e-waste environmental policy, including the work being done in the humanitarian refurbishment field. More about the Committee here: http://1.usa.gov/XpPjnD and Jim may stop by at a future meeting to talk about the experience.

 

And speaking of TechSoup speaking engagements, back in November Chris Worman, director of communications and special projects for TechSoup Europe, presented:

[08:41] Glitteractica Cookie: Civil Society as We Know It” at TEDx Bucharest. It’s a short talk, but very cool. Watch it here: http://bit.ly/XbsIg9

 

And lastly, The Windows 8 Apps for Social Good contest deadline is fast approaching! Submit by February 28 and win the prize to hatch your bright idea. If the notion of using technology to help others – and win some cash in the process – excites you, this is your contest. Your creativity plus the capabilities of Windows 8 equals a world of inspired solutions to real world problems. 

 

Read more about the contest: http://bit.ly/U6ZSYW

See what makes an ideal submission: http://bit.ly/TSmeid

Check out all the submissions to date in the Project Gallery: http://bit.ly/UjuIO7

 

[08:41] Gentle Heron: QUESTION: What is meant by “humanitarian refurbishment”?

[08:42] Glitteractica Cookie: And as you are reading all of that… I wanted to let you know that teh WIn8 contest is still accepting submissions, and btw you all (my friends) and me… There are not that many submissions

[08:42] Glitteractica Cookie: so if you know how to design a win8 app, or know anyone who does, please enter

[08:42] Glitteractica Cookie: and we also need folks to look at our hacker helper wiki. I mentioned this before

[08:42] Glitteractica Cookie: http://hackerhelper.wikispaces.com

[08:43] Glitteractica Cookie: This is a wiki to help those who are building apps to solve problems in civil society

[08:43] Glitteractica Cookie: please take a minute, so we can see if you think the data we grabbed is right, if you have additional info or links, please do not hesitate to add them, edit the wiki

[08:44] Rhiannon Chatnoir: and I think humanitarian refurbishment refers to working on solutions to recycle ewaste/electronics/etc

[08:44] Glitteractica Cookie: and if you have any questions about any of this, do not hesitate to ask

[08:44] Gentle Heron: Thanks Rhiannon… how is that humanitarian?

[08:44] Glitteractica Cookie: And if you know anyone who has a win8 app in the marketplace that would qualify as a social benefit app, tell them to submit it

[08:44] Glitteractica Cookie: Gentle, We are only relaying the announcements, as you know

[08:45] Glitteractica Cookie: We have not prepared the content

[08:45] Glitteractica Cookie: i’m happy to connect you with Jim Lynch who wrote it

[08:45] Rhiannon Chatnoir: well often ewaste pollutes soil, ground water, etc

[08:45] Gentle Heron: Thanks, I’d be interested in that Glitter.

[08:45] Glitteractica Cookie: in fact, i think he is coming here to NPC

[08:45] Rhiannon Chatnoir: so it is seen as a huge thing to combat in certain areas.. but yes, definitely follow up would be great

[08:45] Rhiannon Chatnoir: and yes, we would love to have him here

[08:45] Glitteractica Cookie: so, you can talk to him there, if you want

[08:46] Glitteractica Cookie: Rhiannon, you were on an email about this yeterday

[08:46] Glitteractica Cookie: so, let’s make sure to get him here

[08:46] Rhiannon Chatnoir: yes

[08:46] Glitteractica Cookie: he is actually the world authority on e-waste and what to do with dead electronic

[08:46] Glitteractica Cookie: he invented that stuff, computer recycling

[08:46] Glitteractica Cookie: ok, so that’s all i got

[08:46] Rhiannon Chatnoir: thanks!

[08:47] Glitteractica Cookie: sure!

[08:47] Rhiannon Chatnoir: great to have you present TechSoup stuff today

[08:47] Glitteractica Cookie: 🙂

 

 

— MENTOR’S CENTRAL —

 

[08:47] Rhiannon Chatnoir: so… let’s move on to Mentor’s Central!

[08:47] Glitteractica Cookie: I’ve only been working at techsoup for 13 years… it makes sense for me to present some time

[08:47] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Zinnia will be presenting for this week

[08:47] Buffy Beale: yay Z!

[08:48] Gentle Heron: Thanks Zinnia.

[08:48] Coughran Mayo: nice hat

[08:48] Zinnia Zauber: Hi there!

[08:48] Frans Charming: oh stars!

[08:48] Buffy Beale: hi Jac 🙂

[08:48] CarmenLittleFawn: Ji 😉

[08:49] Gentle Heron waves to Jacques.

[08:49] CarmenLittleFawn: Hi*

[08:49] Zinnia Zauber: Sorry, I am laggy today.

[08:49] Zinnia Zauber: Yes! Stars!

[08:49] Gentle Heron pours coffee on Zinnia’s avatar.

[08:49] Rhiannon Chatnoir: lol

[08:49] Zinnia Zauber: Thought I would remind you all that you’all are All Stars!

[08:50] Jen (jenelle.levenque): Bruce Hestley, Transgender American Veterans Association, Akron, OH, http://www.tavausa.org, http://www.facebook.com/#!/TAVAUS

[08:50] Coughran Mayo: or that we are ALL stars

[08:50] Zinnia Zauber: How many of you believe you are Mentors?

[08:50] Grizzla (grizzla.pixelmaid) laughs at Gentle pouring coffee

[08:50] Gentle Heron: Officially, or unofficially? That is the question. Whether tis nobler……

[08:50] Ozma Malibu: me

[08:50] Andy Evans: If I am, I am reformed, not conservative

[08:50] Buffy Beale: me

[08:50] Rhiannon Chatnoir: yes Gentle

[08:50] Gentle Heron laughs with Andy!

[08:50] Buffy Beale: lol did you get the pic Z?

[08:51] Sister (sister.abeyante): LOL

[08:51] Zinnia Zauber: hehe

[08:51] Zinnia Zauber: I mean that you all have something to share or teach?

[08:52] Zinnia Zauber: Can you see my photos?

[08:52] Andy Evans: y

[08:52] Keko Heckroth: Yes, see them

[08:52] Zinnia Zauber: Some of you may have seen this set on Facebook this week.

[08:52] CarmenLittleFawn: y

[08:52] Grizzla (grizzla.pixelmaid): y

[08:52] Zinnia Zauber: This is from a field trip that I did with my video students.

[08:53] Zinnia Zauber: Scottius was my guest speaker.

[08:53] Gentle Heron: a fantastic artist!

[08:53] Zinnia Zauber: How many of you know Scottius?

[08:53] Gentle Heron: I own his book!

[08:53] Frans Charming does not

[08:53] Sister (sister.abeyante) raises her hand

[08:53] Gentle Heron: and he has his art exhibited right now in the Cape Able Art Gallery for Virtual Ability.

[08:53] Zinnia Zauber: He is an amazing artist!

[08:54] Zinnia Zauber: ooo yes! Gentle please share that LM!

[08:54] Gentle Heron: Cape Able (182,171,22) if you want to visit after this session.

[08:54] Zinnia Zauber: thank you!

[08:54] Zinnia Zauber: He shared his work and also took time to review my students’ projects as well.

[08:55] Zinnia Zauber: His time really meant a lot to them.

[08:55] Zinnia Zauber: And, me, of course.

[08:55] CarmenLittleFawn: nice 🙂

[08:55] Zinnia Zauber: His insight was really thoughtful.

[08:56] Zinnia Zauber: And, his work helped changed my students thoughts of how they could tell a story.

[08:56] Zinnia Zauber: We all have stories to tell here in SL.

[08:56] Zinnia Zauber: Is part of your story how you become your best self while helping others?

[08:57] Zinnia Zauber: (hint: YES!)

[08:57] CarmenLittleFawn: yess

[08:57] Zinnia Zauber: Thank you, Carmen!

[08:57] CarmenLittleFawn: heheheh

[08:57] Sister (sister.abeyante) nods

[08:57] Zinnia Zauber: So often we forget that we are information booths of amazing data and gifts.

[08:58] Zinnia Zauber: I want to encourage you all to share what you know. Pay it forward. Be Mentors!

[08:58] CarmenLittleFawn: mmhmmm

[08:58] Coughran Mayo: Where do I sign up?

[08:58] Gentle Heron: Agreed, Zinnia. We are all teachers, and we are all learners.

[08:59] Zinnia Zauber: You don’t have to wear the name tag Mentor to be one.

[08:59] CarmenLittleFawn: nods head

[08:59] Zinnia Zauber: You are already all on the list!

[08:59] Grizzla (grizzla.pixelmaid): Yep – everyone teaches – well or badly 🙂

[08:59] Sister (sister.abeyante) wonders…what are some of the topics folks here would like to learn about or share about?

[08:59] Zinnia Zauber: Yes, like it or not. We all are.

[08:59] Brena Benoir: Each one teach one

[08:59] Zinnia Zauber: Yes Sister!

[09:00] Buffy Beale: Each one teach one reach two 🙂

[09:00] Zinnia Zauber: Mentor Central is a chance to teach, share and be an ALL STAR!

[09:00] Zinnia Zauber: You don’t have to be one of the NPC Mentors to share.

[09:00] Zinnia Zauber: Think about how what you have to teach us.

[09:00] Zinnia Zauber: Tell us what you want to learn.

[09:01] Zinnia Zauber: I live on a Peninsula.

[09:01] Zinnia Zauber: We have to support each other being at the end of the road so to speak.

[09:01] CarmenLittleFawn: it can be any thing Zinnia that you want to learn ?

[09:02] Andy Evans: Is there a list of mentors and their areas of expertise so the learner can choose the right mentor?

[09:02] Rhiannon Chatnoir: anything you think useful to the community at large

[09:02] Zinnia Zauber: Virtual Worlds let’s us have the whole world at the end of the road with us.

[09:02] Zinnia Zauber: We are updating the wiki Andy with that info.

[09:02] CarmenLittleFawn: all right ty rhia

[09:02] Zinnia Zauber: Yes, anything!

[09:03] Rhiannon Chatnoir: 🙂

[09:03] CarmenLittleFawn: ok great ty Zinnia

[09:03] Zinnia Zauber: Please contact me, or any of our NPC Mentors.

[09:03] Rhiannon Chatnoir: great Zinnia

[09:04] Zinnia Zauber: Your time, ideas, and questions will expand all our brains.

[09:04] Zinnia Zauber: I am grateful for having such clever people like you to work with!

[09:04] Zinnia Zauber: Thank you all! And, please remember, you are ALL STARS!

[09:04] Frans Charming applauds

[09:05] CarmenLittleFawn: ty as well , claps

[09:05] Buffy Beale: thanks Z

[09:05] Zinnia Zauber: Get your stars in the little gift box up front.

[09:05] Keko Heckroth: Excellent

[09:05] Zinnia Zauber: Thank you!

[09:05] Rhiannon Chatnoir: thanks Zinnia.. and for bringing out your stars today

[09:05] CarmenLittleFawn: how cute, 🙂

 

 

— FEATURED PRESENTATION: ROBERT L. TODD OF GEORGIA TECH —

 

[09:05] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Let’s move on to our Featured Presenter!

[09:05] Dancers Yao: thanks Zinnia as always…great!

[09:05] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Today we have as our featured presenter Robert L. Todd (RobertT Deluxe), who will be discussing the Georgia STEM Accessibility Alliance, BreakThru project.

[09:05] Rhiannon Chatnoir: About BreakThru:

The influence of digital media has changed the way students learn, play and socialize. As a result, researchers at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia (UGA) have partnered to develop a virtual learning environment that combines creative avatars and social networking tools to help high school and college students with disabilities to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. The universities work alongside Georgia Perimeter College and the school systems of Georgia’s Greene, Clarke and Gwinnett counties to serve targeted students.

 

http://georgiabreakthru.org/

 

[09:06] Rhiannon Chatnoir: If you want to come up and take a seat Robert

[09:06] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Bio: Robert L. Todd is a Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Accessible Education and Information Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA). His research foci include accessible web design and universal design and accessibility of science and math education. He is currently PI on NSF and Dept of Education initiatives to provide accessible virtual education to students with disabilities and train post-secondary instructors to provide accessible online science and math courses. He leads research and instructional efforts via the Institute on the usability and accessibility of online resources and is a lead designer and instructor for Georgia Tech’s Professional Education certificate courses in Creating Accessible Web Sites and Usability Engineering. He teaches graduate level courses on accessible and usable web design and evaluation through Georgia Tech. He is the creator and former PI for the Assistivetech.net web resource

 

[09:06] CarmenLittleFawn: welcome Robert 🙂

[09:06] Rhiannon Chatnoir: thanks Robert, start whenever you are ready

[09:06] RobertT Deluxe: Thanks, Rhiannon, I’ll let everyone take a minute to absorb all that.

[09:07] Sister (sister.abeyante) is grateful! LOL

[09:07] Gentle Heron: Welcome to NPC, Robert.

[09:07] RobertT Deluxe: And while you are scanning the chat, here is our project URL: http://georgiabreakthru.org/

[09:07] Zinnia Zauber: Rah Robert!

[09:08] Rhiannon Chatnoir: if others can make sure to NOT touch the slide viewer

[09:08] Buffy Beale: yay Robert!!

[09:08] Gentle Heron: Rhiannon, lock the viewer.

[09:08] RobertT Deluxe: I’ll use the projector behind me to supplement my talk.

[09:08] Gentle Heron: Click the padlock icon on the far right side.

[09:08] CarmenLittleFawn: hehehe

[09:08] Gentle Heron: Then Robert can “touch” the padlock and you can grant him access to turn slides, but keep us from doing so.

[09:08] RobertT Deluxe: Our goal with BreakThru is to enhance STEM education for students, and lead on to STEM graduate work and employment

[09:09] Glitteractica Cookie: What is the twitter handle?

[09:10] RobertT Deluxe: We know that students with disabilities often don’t get a truly level playing field in that area, so we are using virtual mentoring (thanks for discussing mentoring, Zinnia!) to help solve that problem.

[09:10] RobertT Deluxe: And our project proves Ga Tech and UGA can actually get along. 🙂

[09:10] Gentle Heron: That is a major finding!

[09:10] RobertT Deluxe: We address all STEM education for students in high school and college

[09:10] Zinnia Zauber: 🙂

[09:11] Glitteractica Cookie: I just looked up the twitter handle @breakthruGSAA

[09:11] RobertT Deluxe: For those not familiar with STEM acronym, see behind me

[09:11] RobertT Deluxe: Thanks Cookie.

[09:11] Rhiannon Chatnoir: thanks Glitter

[09:11] RobertT Deluxe: Vesuvius (take a bow Rhiannon) has created the virtual mentoring islands which are our centerpiece

[09:12] RobertT Deluxe: BUT … we use all forms of electronic, mediated communication for the project

[09:12] RobertT Deluxe: Students choose which tools they prefer, freely

[09:12] RobertT Deluxe: SL is popular, but so are Skype and Google Hangouts, etc

[09:13] RobertT Deluxe: We base all our work on UDL principles, so we can impact students with and without disabilities

[09:13] RobertT Deluxe: Check out cast.org/udl for info on how Universal Design can assist in learning

[09:13] Glitteractica Cookie: UDL?

[09:13] Gentle Heron: Universal Design for Learning

[09:13] RobertT Deluxe: Universal Design for Learning

[09:13] Glitteractica Cookie: thx

[09:14] RobertT Deluxe: (All, let me know if you have trouble viewing the presentation behind me, so I can fill in the details)

[09:15] RobertT Deluxe: We have several partners/test beds right now, hoping to expand with time

[09:15] RobertT Deluxe: They include:

[09:15] RobertT Deluxe: Georgia Tech with the University of Georgia as lead institutions. Georgia Perimeter College and three Georgia public school systems are also critical partners in the project.

[09:15] RobertT Deluxe: And we want to address the 3 goals behind me on the projector

[09:16] RobertT Deluxe: Retention of students, entry into STEM fields, and or course increased numbers are important

[09:17] RobertT Deluxe: The Islands created by Vesuvius focus the overall efforts, one for post secondary students, one for secondary students

[09:17] RobertT Deluxe: But identical, and connected by a bridge that is a “shared” space between all groups

[09:17] Gentle Heron: Cute metaphor… the bridge.

[09:18] RobertT Deluxe: It really is a good metaphor, and it allows us to keep security high for the under age students, while allowing all to share and help each other

[09:18] RobertT Deluxe: As Zinnia, said, mentoring can be powerful, and the program is focused on matching students with effective mentors in STEM

[09:19] RobertT Deluxe: Mentors guide students through their studies, and especially at the critical junctures

[09:19] RobertT Deluxe: Such as high school to college, college to workforce

[09:19] Kali Pizzaro: transitional periods?

[09:19] RobertT Deluxe: Yes.

[09:20] Kali Pizzaro: which can be difficult

[09:20] Kali Pizzaro: 🙂

[09:20] RobertT Deluxe: We’ve found the transitions are where the students often get lost in the shuffle

[09:20] RobertT Deluxe: Especially students who need certain accommodations for learning materials

[09:20] Gentle Heron: Students on IEP are supposed to have “transition plans” in place well before those transitions occur.

[09:21] RobertT Deluxe: Heron, they are, yes – but you’d be surprised how man are still left floundering when the arrive on campus

[09:21] RobertT Deluxe: they arrive, sorry

[09:21] Gentle Heron: No, sadly, I would not be at all surprised.

[09:21] Kali Pizzaro: Notes the use of the word ‘meant’ by Gentle

[09:22] Coughran Mayo: 🙂

[09:22] RobertT Deluxe: So we and the mentors use many tools, including video case studies shared via SL and YouTube

[09:23] RobertT Deluxe: Modeling for empowerment of the students, for example, showing them in SL and via the videos how to work with campus resources

[09:23] RobertT Deluxe: Just for one example

[09:23] RobertT Deluxe: For those who like nerdy example, this is our Theory of Change, behind me on the screen

[09:24] Josain Zsun: Will these slides be available later?

[09:24] Gentle Heron: Robert, will you please put these slides on SlideShare so we can look at them later?

[09:24] RobertT Deluxe: As a research project, we want to help all students, but we also take data every day, for analysis

[09:24] RobertT Deluxe: Yes, I certainly will share them

[09:24] Zinnia Zauber: Thank you!

[09:25] RobertT Deluxe: As you can see, there are many steps, so a focus like SL helps us to keep it “all together”

[09:25] Oronoque Westland: oooops, sorry

[09:25] RobertT Deluxe: And regarding our UDL philosophy, see this slide

[09:26] RobertT Deluxe: We want to figure out what works best for the students with specific needs, via mentoring, but also what can help ALL students succeed

[09:27] RobertT Deluxe: These are some of the benefits our preliminary data set is showing for the use of virtual world mentoring

[09:27] RobertT Deluxe: For example, we have some mentor/student pairs that are separated by oceans

[09:27] RobertT Deluxe: But now they have access to the best fit for a mentor

[09:28] RobertT Deluxe: This is a rough map of the space

[09:29] Frans Charming smiles at our map

[09:29] RobertT Deluxe: And these are examples of outside STEM sources that we have used or discussed with our students

[09:29] RobertT Deluxe: Sadly, they don’t all stay available

[09:30] RobertT Deluxe: But we guide students to other SL resources on STEM every week

[09:30] RobertT Deluxe: And if you check out our site URL, you will see many learning modules to assist students at high school and college levels

[09:30] RobertT Deluxe: Hope you can see these

[09:31] Frans Charming nods

[09:31] RobertT Deluxe: But you can find them all at georgiabreakthru.org

[09:31] RobertT Deluxe: Feel free to use any of those resources with students who are struggling

[09:32] RobertT Deluxe: Time is short, but I want to add we addressed many accessibility and novice log-in concerns with the help of Vesuvius

[09:32] RobertT Deluxe: Like the registration API process in the slide

[09:32] RobertT Deluxe: We’ve tried to make use of SL as, well, foolproof as possible since many students, mentors and teachers had never encountered it

[09:33] RobertT Deluxe: Just one more thing … examples of some of the accessibility challenges in SL and other media we have addressed

[09:34] RobertT Deluxe: Rhiannon, time is running out, I think I’ll let folks ask questions

[09:34] Rhiannon Chatnoir: sure, if anyone has questions for Robert

[09:34] Sister (sister.abeyante): Question: When you say you’ve “addressed” those challenges- do you mean you have found solutions that work for all in SL?

[09:34] RobertT Deluxe: (just browsing through slide and will share them all)

[09:35] Zinnia Zauber: All of this is wonderful, Robert! Thank you!

[09:35] RobertT Deluxe: In some cases, yes.

[09:35] Buffy Beale: really great info

[09:35] RobertT Deluxe: Let me show a couple of examples

[09:35] RobertT Deluxe: These are some tools we have used for very low vision/blind students

[09:36] RobertT Deluxe: Some are easy, like changing SL preferences, some hard

[09:36] RobertT Deluxe: And some, like chat instead of mic, pretty obvious

[09:36] Gentle Heron: Although that makes it difficult for those who don’t type well or at all

[09:36] RobertT Deluxe: Aha, yes, good one

[09:37] Gentle Heron: Is there a state school for the deaf and blind in Georgia?

[09:37] Kali Pizzaro: Do you allow text chat 🙂

[09:37] RobertT Deluxe: Which is why we have students experimenting with a mix of mic and chat, and also voice input tech

[09:37] Kali Pizzaro: and emoticons

[09:37] RobertT Deluxe: Text chat, yes. Students choose which forms of communication they prefer

[09:37] Rhiannon Chatnoir: text chat is allowed

[09:37] Kali Pizzaro: Q: Did I miss the methodology, is this a mixed methods

[09:38] RobertT Deluxe: Mixed methods, yes

[09:38] Kali Pizzaro: so a vast amount of data 🙂

[09:38] RobertT Deluxe: Oh, yes, I have a bottle of Excedrin on my desk to prove it

[09:38] RobertT Deluxe: 🙂

[09:38] Josain Zsun: These ideas resonate with Marc Prensky’s ‘partnerships’ in “Teaching Digital Natives”

[09:39] Zinnia Zauber: lol

[09:39] RobertT Deluxe: Zsun, can you link me to that info. I’d love to see.

[09:39] Kali Pizzaro: Reading you slide now I have found similar findings in my study – the representation of self and when to disclose or not a disability

[09:39] Gentle Heron: Robert, Kali is a researcher you will want to connect with.

[09:40] RobertT Deluxe: One of the most interesting aspects of this project – when and why do students disclose or choose not to do so

[09:40] Kali Pizzaro: 🙂

[09:40] RobertT Deluxe: Thanks for that tip … I’m very interested in pursuing

[09:40] Kali Pizzaro: I will give Gentle the $LL later

[09:40] Kali Pizzaro: 🙂

[09:41] Gentle Heron: now now Kali!

[09:41] Kali Pizzaro: lol

[09:41] Rhiannon Chatnoir: ha

[09:41] Rhiannon Chatnoir: commission eh

[09:41] Sister (sister.abeyante): I am wondering… How open is Breakthru to collaborating with other nonprofits or SL based communities that also focus on inclusion of pwd?

[09:41] RobertT Deluxe: As you can see from the board, we could spend all day discussing aspects of accommodations, but I’ll share those slides so we can all communicate about that topic later

[09:41] RobertT Deluxe: Very interested.

[09:41] Gentle Heron: QUESTION Did you use the AAAS listing of scientists with disabilities to choose your mentors? Or how did you recruit them? And how do you train mentors?

[09:41] Kali Pizzaro: excellent

[09:41] RobertT Deluxe: We know we don’t have all the answers.

[09:42] RobertT Deluxe: Just LOTS of questions.

[09:42] Sister (sister.abeyante): Great! What is your preferred means for connecting with other groups, Robert?

[09:42] RobertT Deluxe: my email: robert.todd@coa.gatech.edu

[09:42] Sister (sister.abeyante): Thanks!

[09:42] RobertT Deluxe: Easiest way to reach me. And please do!

[09:43] RobertT Deluxe: Do we need to wrap up, Rhiannon? I think my big mouth has kept us way over time

[09:43] Josain Zsun: How does one become a STEM mentor in SL?

[09:43] Rhiannon Chatnoir: any last questions before we wrap up with Robert

[09:43] Frans Charming: I would like to add that we have been adding game based learning in to the islands, and are adding more.

[09:44] Frans Charming: One example is that we made animals interactive, and provide the students with information about the animals, and link to web resources about

[09:44] Sister (sister.abeyante): Can you provide (maybe you did and I missed it!) the LM or SLURL to the islands?

[09:44] Gentle Heron: QUESTION Did you use the AAAS listing of scientists with disabilities to choose your mentors? Or how did you recruit them? And how do you train mentors?

[09:44] Frans Charming: It’s a ongoing project and will be adding more interactivity to island, to encourage use of it.

[09:44] RobertT Deluxe: We love the animals and the other interactivity that Vesuvius is providing.

[09:44] Rhiannon Chatnoir: the islands are closed access due to privacy/minors

[09:44] Jen (jenelle.levenque): Question:How do you recruit your students?

[09:45] Gentle Heron: So Frans, you see that a major issue for these students is lack of content knowledge? Is that related to the education they received in public school?

[09:45] RobertT Deluxe: Mentor recruitment: We posted notices at Georgia Tech and UGA, and … we had an excellent response.

[09:45] Sister (sister.abeyante): Closed? So, how do new people get involved or sign up?

[09:45] RobertT Deluxe: They are grad students, faculty, and some STEM lab folks in the workforce

[09:46] RobertT Deluxe: One sec and I’ll post the contact info

[09:46] Gentle Heron: Do your mentors have disabilities?

[09:46] Beth Ghostraven: Robert, can you make the slides available online please?

[09:46] Jen (jenelle.levenque): QUESTION: Do you have anything set up to accommodate the special needs of veterans who are disabled?

[09:47] Frans Charming: Gentle, it is more about providing information/ science facts, and incorperating them in the island. I have no idea what the students knowledge is.

[09:47] Rhiannon Chatnoir: you can email Robert on possible collaborations and further questions robert.todd@coa.gatech.edu

[09:47] Namaara MacMoragh: And how do you meet the needs of those with cognitive challenges due to brain injury?

[09:47] RobertT Deluxe: I will do so. And some mentors, yes, have disabilities, but we found students are more concerned (usually) that the STEM interest take precedence over other issues of choice

[09:47] Gentle Heron: That is an important finding, Robert!

[09:47] RobertT Deluxe: And it surprised us.

[09:48] Sister (sister.abeyante): What a wonderful opportunity to involve scientists w/ disabilities in interacting with students with disabilities, though.

[09:48] RobertT Deluxe: We have a small number of those scientists

[09:48] Rhiannon Chatnoir: let’s try to wrap up this part of the meeting, not sure on Robert’s time, but please reach out to him after this and if he is ok sharing his presentation, we will put a link to it up on http://nonprofitcommons.org

[09:48] Sister (sister.abeyante): Are you interested in recruiting more? Gentle, what’s that list you mentioned?

[09:49] Gentle Heron: oh the AAAS used to publish a listing of scientists with disabilities.

[09:49] CarmenLittleFawn: very good information and ty for sharing, wow Robert generated a lot os interest have to go I will look into this futher for sure 🙂 thanks again Robert, bye for now everybody

[09:49] Rhiannon Chatnoir: If you took pictures today, please share them on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitcommons or G+ Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/114212078390326305687, that would be great. Otherwise, tag them #NPSL

[09:49] RobertT Deluxe: Folks, if you are interested in being a mentor or referring someone else, you can contact Gerri Wolfe at the address above

[09:49] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Let’s thanks Robert for presenting today

[09:50] Kali Pizzaro: Fantastic and important work – good luck with the future analysis! I look forward to reading the papers

[09:50] RobertT Deluxe: gwolfe@uga.edu

[09:50] Zinnia Zauber: Thank you Robert!

 

 

— OPEN MIC & ANNOUNCEMENTS —

 

[09:50] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Let’s move on to Open Mic & Announcements

[09:50] RobertT Deluxe: Sorry I skipped a few questions, my fingers don’t move so quickly

[09:50] Gentle Heron: Thank you Robert. As you can tell, many in our audience here have a deep interest in this subject.

[09:50] Rhiannon Chatnoir: anyone have any announcements

[09:50] Rhiannon Chatnoir: yes

[09:50] Keko Heckroth: Thank you for a very informative presentation

[09:50] RobertT Deluxe: But email me for any followup … I truly want to hear

[09:50] Buffy Beale: clapping for Robert, great presentation thanks!

[09:50] Frans Charming applauds

[09:51] Gentle Heron: Oh Rhiannon, you know Virtual Ability always has announcements.

[09:51] RobertT Deluxe: Thanks, and again, keep in touch with those questions/suggestions

[09:51] Rhiannon Chatnoir: lol, then go ahead Gentle

[09:51] RobertT Deluxe: robert.todd@coa.gatech.edu

[09:51] Rhiannon Chatnoir: yes!

[09:51] Gentle Heron: Thanks Robert, we’ll be in touch again.

[09:51] Gentle Heron: Some Virtual Ability events coming up today and this weekend:

 

TODAY!

11am SLT- Second Life’s Little Secret: A discussion with Saffia Widdershins about the age distribution in SL

Virtual Ability (53,172,23)

[09:51] Gentle Heron: TODAY!

noonSLT- What is One Billion Rising About? by Honour McMillan (It’s a world wide movement against violence experienced by women.)

Virtual Ability (53,172,23)

[09:51] Gentle Heron: TOMORROW (Sat)

8am SLT- Phelan Corrimal tells about Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE)- how it is becoming accessible, and how to participate.

Virtual Ability (53,172,23)

[09:51] Brena Benoir raises hand for open mic

[09:52] Gentle Heron: SUNDAY

noon SLT- Sister Abeyante talks about Self-Advocacy. She’s an expert!

Virtual Ability (44,138,23)

[09:52] Gentle Heron: Please join us for these and upcoming events of interest.

[09:52] Gentle Heron: (done for this week)

[09:52] Rhiannon Chatnoir: great and thanks Gentle

[09:52] Rhiannon Chatnoir: Brena, your up

[09:52] Brena Benoir: Please join us this Sunday February 10 at 6pm SLT at the Art House where Acoutisenergy Nitely will be performing

[09:53] Brena Benoir: This is a continuation of the fundraiser for ARTC, the creative arts program at PFH

[09:53] Zinnia Zauber: ART HOUSE Rocks!

[09:53] Gentle Heron: What a lovely concept!

[09:53] Brena Benoir: We will be wrapping our fundraiser up next Friday at 11am SLT where will will be doing the drawing for those who have entered

[09:54] Zinnia Zauber: http://secondlife.com/destination/artc-art-house

[09:54] Brena Benoir: Please join us from 11-12:30pm SLT for a the closing event, this is a PG event as we will be streaming it for the kids on the unit

[09:54] Kali Pizzaro: got to go do housework, I believe in these times of austerity that housework should have been one of the first things to be banned!

[09:54] Buffy Beale: wow that’s great Bren

[09:55] Brena Benoir: The kids have enjoyed hearing about people supporting them and encouraging their artisitc talents

[09:55] Kali Pizzaro: Take care

[09:55] Brena Benoir: We will be making a huge deal of this in RL for them and are doing a sober party while we have SL streaming and doing the drawing

[09:55] Rhiannon Chatnoir: great

[09:55] Brena Benoir: thank you for your support!

[09:55] Frans Charming: sober party?

[09:55] Zinnia Zauber: It has been wonderful to support the ARTC program!

[09:56] Zinnia Zauber: Thank you Brena!

[09:56] Brena Benoir: to celebrate their recovery efforts-they are in drug and alcohol treatment

[09:56] Frans Charming: Ah. 🙂

[09:56] Brena Benoir: 🙂

[09:56] Rhiannon Chatnoir: any other announcements

[09:57] Tori Landau raises hand

[09:57] Rhiannon Chatnoir: go Tori

[09:57] Tori Landau: Ty °͜°

[09:57] Tori Landau: Tuesday 12th at 1pm slt is the Open session, dicussion this month is, “is it love in a virtual world”:

[09:58] Tori Landau: Deep Think West (68,46,37)

[09:58] Tori Landau: and Wed 13th at 1.15pm slt for 30 mins is the drop-in

[09:58] Tori Landau: Deep Think East (224,38,32)

[09:58] Tori Landau: done °͜°

[09:59] Rhiannon Chatnoir: great

[09:59] Rhiannon Chatnoir: well let’s wrap up for this week

[09:59] Kali Pizzaro: waves bye and ‘poofs’

[09:59] Josain Zsun glad to be home sick and able to attend

[09:59] Rhiannon Chatnoir: And again, here are the many ways to can get involved with the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life:

 

– Nonprofit Commons Blog: http://nonprofitcommons.org

– Wiki: http://npsl.wikispaces.com

– Twitter: http://twitter.com/npsl

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitcommons

– G+ Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/114212078390326305687 

– Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/TechSoup-Second-Life

– Google Calendar: http://bit.ly/2tMEYh

– http://flavors.me/nonprofitcommons

 

About TechSoup the sponsors of the Nonprofit Commons:

 

– http://www.techsoup.org/stock/howtousetechsoup.asp

– http://flavors.me/techsoup

 

Thanks everyone and see you next week!

 

[09:59] Buffy Beale: bye Kali 🙂

[09:59] Zinnia Zauber: Great meeting!

[09:59] Sister (sister.abeyante): Thanks!

[09:59] Rhiannon Chatnoir: and thanks again Robert

[09:59] ditto (dikori): thanks bye

[09:59] RobertT Deluxe: Good to meet you all, and hello again to some of my friends out there

Written by: Rhiannon Chatnoir

Posted on

Moving Beyond Second Life: Opportunities for Education, NonProfits & Healthcare in the Wider Metaverse, January 18th NPC Meeting

This Friday, January 18th, Nonprofit Commons is happy to feature Chris Collins (Fleep Tuque). An ardent supporter of the Second Life platform for many years, she now encourages educators, non-profits, and healthcare providers to explore the emerging metaverse outside Second Life’s walls. Fleep will discuss her own experiences running not-for-profit projects in Second Life, and what led her to explore alternative platforms like Opensimulator and Unity3D for her research at the University of Cincinnati and for personal projects like FleepGrid, an Opensim hypergrid enabled research grid. She’ll also discuss why she believes this broader approach helped AvaCon, Inc. receive 501(c)(3) status, and what this might mean for grant-based and other funding initiatives that public sector organizations rely upon.     

Chris M. Collins, Fleep Tuque in Second Life

Bio: Chris M. Collins (Fleep Tuque) is an IT Analyst at the University of Cincinnati.  Her research focuses on the use of virtual worlds, social media, and augmented reality in higher education and for remote workforce collaboration.  She founded and currently manages the Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research in the UC Office for Information Technology (UCIT), Instructional & Research Computing department.

In her free time, she serves on the board of AvaCon, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality, and 3D immersive and virtual spaces. AvaCon’s primary goal is to connect and support the diverse communities and practitioners involved in co-creating and using virtual worlds, and to educate the public and our constituents about the emerging ecosystem of technologies broadly known as the metaverse.

Her other projects include running FleepGrid, a small hyperlinked research grid on the OpenSim platform, serving as Executive Director for the Chilbo Community in Second Life, and she blogs informally about the impact of technology on education, politics, and economics at Fleep’s Deep Thoughts.

Join us in Second Life!

Nonprofit Commons Weekly Meeting

Friday, January 18th, 8:30 AM SLT / PST

Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater

http://bit.ly/NPCinSL

 

AGENDA

  • 8:30 am Introductions
  • 8:40 am TechSoup Announcements
  • 8:45 am Mentors Central
  • 8:55 am Main Speaker: Chris Collins (Fleep Tuque)
  • 9:30 am Open Mic / Announcements

 

http://nonprofitcommons.org

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