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<span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_0"></span>The
University of Washington's Information School, in partnership with<br>
<span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_1"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">University
of Washington</span> <span class="EC_yshortcuts"
id="EC_lw_1229430557_2"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);">Educational
Outreach</span>, is excited to announce<br>
the start of a new certificate program in Virtual Worlds. The program<br>
is a series of three consecutive courses, each 10 weeks and 3 credits,<br>
the first of which begins on January 8th, 2009. The program continues<br>
through the Summer quarter, completing August 27th, 2009. Enrollment is<br>
open to graduate students, undergraduates, and working professionals.<br>
<br>
The classes will all meet weekly on Thursday evenings from 6-9pm SLT<br>
(PT). Students will participate synchronously in virtual environments.<br>
The <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_3"
style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">first
class session</span> meets in <span class="EC_yshortcuts"
id="EC_lw_1229430557_4">Second Life</span>; students will also have<br>
the opportunity to explore different Virtual Worlds platforms in use in<br>
educational and business domains. Classes will include a combination of<br>
experiences including lecture, guest speakers, "field trips", and<br>
hands-on interactive activities. Each course includes a unique focus on<br>
different facets of the implementation and use of virtual environments,<br>
and each successive course builds on the concepts of the previous. The<br>
program objectives include both practical application of virtual worlds<br>
and an increased academic insight. Non-matriculated students who<br>
successfully complete the three consecutive courses will receive a UWEO<br>
Certificate in Virtual Worlds. <br>
<br>
For additional information or to register:<br>
<a
href="http://extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/vir/vir_gen.asp"
target="_blank"><span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_5"><font
color="#003399">http://extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/vir/vir_gen.asp</font></span></a><br>
<br>
Or contact:<br>
Kristi Palmer<br>
Program Manager, Academic Programs<br>
University of Washington Educational Outreach<br>
<span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_6"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);">206.221.0299</span><br>
<a
href="http://us.mc528.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kpalmer@EXTN.washington.edu"
target="_blank"><span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_7"><font
color="#003399">kpalmer@EXTN.washington.edu</font></span></a><br>
<br>
<br>
Program information:<br>
<br>
The courses in this program will combine enrollments of working<br>
professionals seeking to apply Virtual Worlds inline with professional<br>
development, and matriculated graduate and undergraduate students from<br>
the University of Washington's Information School. <br>
<br>
Program information may be found:<br>
<a
href="http://extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/vir/vir_gen.asp"
target="_blank"><font color="#003399">http://extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/vir/vir_gen.asp</font></a><br>
<br>
<br>
Admission requirements:<br>
Participation in the program is restricted to students who have <br>
a) completed at least one year of college- or university-level study, <br>
b) attained <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_8"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);">computer literacy</span>
and are able to download and install<br>
software from a website, <br>
c) experience in the use of basic internet applications (e.g., e-mail,<br>
web browsers and search) and <span class="EC_yshortcuts"
id="EC_lw_1229430557_9">computer operating systems</span> (e.g.,
Windows,<br>
Mac OS, and <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_10">Linux</span>),
and <br>
d) a valid e-mail account for the duration of the program. <br>
<br>
<span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_11"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);">English
Proficiency: <br>
Students</span> who are non-native English speakers are expected to have<br>
adequate <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_12"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);">English language
proficiency</span>. <br>
<br>
Recommended <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_13">Second
Life skills</span>:<br>
In order to gain the most value from your initial experiences in the<br>
virtual classroom, we recommend that you establish a <span
class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_14">Second Life<br>
account</span>, create an avatar, and become familiar with some basic
skills in<br>
Second Life, including:<br>
* Ability to comfortably walk, sit, turn, fly, and teleport <br>
* Ability to control the SL camera view<br>
* Ability to change your avatar's appearance and dress <br>
* Ability to use <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_15">Second
Life communication</span> tools including IM, text<br>
chat, and voice chat<br>
<br>
System requirements: <br>
For general guidelines on system requirements, see<br>
<a href="http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php" target="_blank"><span
class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_16"><font color="#003399">http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php</font></span></a><br>
This program will rely on in-world voice chat; a headset with microphone<br>
is required for voice/audio participation.<br>
<br>
<br>
Course information:<br>
<br>
Selecting and Using Virtual Worlds<br>
Winter Quarter Schedule: (10 sessions) <br>
Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. SLT, <br>
Jan. 8-March 12, 2009, <br>
$789. <br>
3 credits. <br>
Reg # 97795 <br>
Instructor: Randy Hinrichs<br>
<br>
Description:<br>
Apply and combine concepts, processes, issues and skills from<br>
<span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_17">information
management techniques</span>, technology design and digital culture<br>
formation to virtual worlds. Requires understanding of 3D <span
class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_18">systems<br>
concepts</span>, <span class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_19">Web
markup languages</span>, and <span class="EC_yshortcuts"
id="EC_lw_1229430557_20">end-user programming tools</span>. Students<br>
analyze three virtual world platforms, examining <span
class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_21">design methods</span>
and<br>
user-centric design for human-information interaction. This is an<br>
integrative course that provides problem-solving opportunities and<br>
hands-on development for information students, requiring utilization of<br>
knowledge gained from previous <span class="EC_yshortcuts"
id="EC_lw_1229430557_22">information technology studies</span>. <br>
________________________________________<br>
Designing and Building Virtual Worlds <br>
Spring Quarter Schedule: (10 sessions) <br>
Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. SLT, <br>
April 2-June 4, 2009, <br>
$789. <br>
3 credits. <br>
Reg #97796<br>
Instructor: Janice Cowsert <br>
<br>
Description:<br>
Examine and apply concepts, strategies, and skills related to the life<br>
cycle of virtual world planning, design, and product development. Focus<br>
on concepts of usability, architectural design, knowledge management and<br>
urban community factors. This course involves <span
class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_23"
style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);">conceptual
frameworks</span> in<br>
design, graphic relevance, and social networking practices that ensure<br>
the scalability, reliability, and availability of 3D immersive<br>
environments. Emphasis us given to Internet-based services for storing<br>
and accessing information to be used in integrated <span
class="EC_yshortcuts" id="EC_lw_1229430557_24">virtual world<br>
development</span>. This is an integrative course that builds on<br>
problem-solving techniques learned in the Winter course and examines<br>
comprehensive factors for designing and building immersive information<br>
platforms, requiring utilization of knowledge gained from previous<br>
information technology studies and organizational experience. <br>
________________________________________<br>
Virtual Worlds Interactivity and Metrics <br>
Summer Quarter Schedule: (10 sessions) <br>
Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. SLT, <br>
June 25-August 27, 2009, <br>
$789. <br>
3 credits. <br>
Reg. #97797<br>
Instructor: Randy Hinrichs<br>
<br>
Description:<br>
Examine methods for interactivity and use evaluation techniques<br>
involving human factors, cognition, gaming strategies, performance<br>
tracking and feedback systems that ensure the 'stickiness' and defined<br>
value in virtual worlds. Ensure strategies and tool selection process<br>
for interactivity factors and evaluation methods. Focus on database<br>
management techniques and programming for storage, retrieval, network<br>
balance and transactional interchange. This is an integrative course<br>
that builds on design and delivery techniques learned in the Spring<br>
course and examines comprehensive factors for creating interactivity and<br>
metrics in immersive information platforms, requiring utilization of<br>
knowledge gained from previous information technology studies and<br>
organizational experience. <br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<title></title>
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western"><b>Laura Solomon, <tt>MCIW,
MLS</tt></b><br>
<i>Library Services Manager</i><br>
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)<br>
2323 W. 5th Avenue Suite 130<br>
Columbus, Ohio 43204<br>
614.728.5252 (voice)<br>
(614)728-5256 (fax)<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:solomola@oplin.org">solomola@oplin.org</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.oplin.org">www.oplin.org</a>
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