Learning2gether Episode #459
and TALIN event #14

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Find out more about TALIN
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On Sat May 9 Vance Stevens presented on TALIN at the 2020 Virtual Round Table Web conference

Main Venue Virtual Round Table Plenary
TALIN – Teaching and Learning in IsolatioN
Saturday, 9 May 2020, 11:30am  GMT, Moderation: Vance Stevens

Direct link in the VRT2020 Program:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TWE7FHPMUAWLP7cCB9ur_fS3B_ZjxoogJ5o_ooZuxtc/edit#bookmark=id.vmnucgrm2xs6

The idea for TALIN was prompted by suggestions in numerous cross-fertilizing communities of practice that there was needed a space where members of these CoPs could meet online and talk informally to one another about how they are dealing with changes in their personal and professional contexts and what they are doing to help others in this trying time of pandemic.

TALIN events are open to all and free to attend.They are recorded and archived here and at Learning2gether.net.  Anyone can initiate an event by requesting Access to the TALIN schedule page http://tinyurl.com/talin2020 and writing-in their event. The brief presentation will explain how TALIN came about and how you can participate.

This talk progressed along these lines

• This blog post: http://advanceducation.blogspot.com/2020/04/teacher-training-in-time-of-covid-19.html 
• These slides: https://bit.ly/talin2020

As a part of the #talin2020 project, I started this crowdsourced document,
https://tinyurl.com/covid19teaching. It was set up to feed this #blended2020 page,
http://workshops2020.pbworks.com/w/page/138990084/What_if_my_school_suddenly_closes. The idea was to open up the Google Doc for anyone but curate its content into the latter space.

Although few people contributed to the Google Doc, I used it myself as a notepad to quickly record my scattered findings regarding teaching and education in the ongoing pandemic. Eventually, I decided to index it. Now you can use the table of contents in the GDoc to quickly find items of interest to you on the page. And if you want to write there, just follow the index to the best space to do that.

Vance Stevens lives in Penang, Malaysia, and has produced almost 460 episodes since 2010 at https://learning2gether.net/. His over 150 publications, many available in full text at http://vancestevens.com/papers/, deal with students using computers to learn languages, and teachers learning to teach using technology by engaging in communities of practice and in participatory cultures. He facilitates online teacher professional development through numerous communities of practice. He has helped coordinate TESOL/CALL-IS Electronic Village Online (EVO) since 2003, http://evosessions.pbworks.com/. He was recently awarded the 2019 CALL Research Conference Lifetime Achievement Award.

The TALIN presentation was followed by the Minecraft Symposium at the 2020 Virtual Round Table Web conference

Main Venue Virtual Round Table Plenary Hall, SYMPOSIUM
Experiencing Minecraft in Education and Teacher Training
Saturday, 9 May 2020 12:00pm GMT, Moderation: Vance Stevens

Direct link in the VRT2020 Program:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TWE7FHPMUAWLP7cCB9ur_fS3B_ZjxoogJ5o_ooZuxtc/edit#bookmark=id.hs6ufkliff1n

The inevitable selfies

Presenters from EVO Minecraft MOOC, http://minecraftmooc.org

• Vance Stevens is the originator of TALIN and moderator for the last 6 years of EVO Minecraft MOOC, http://minecraftmooc.org
• Jane Chien is a co-moderator of EVO Minecraft MOOC. She and Vance are both frequent participants in VSTE’s regular monthly Minecraft Mondays.
• James York is founder of Kotoba Miners, https://www.kotobaminers.org/, an initiative for helping NNS speakers of Japanese to learn that language via Minecraft

Presenters from VSTE, Virginia Society for Technology in Education, https://vste.org/

• Kim Harrison is also a co-moderator of EVO Minecraft MOOC
• and along with Lisa Alconcel, is a co-ordinator of VSTE Minecraft Mondays

Heike Philp, also a co-moderator or EVO Minecraft MOOC, will be conducting the event in Zoom.

Jane Chien is a Professor of Children’s English Education at the National Taipei University of Education. She teaches pre-service English teachers and provides curriculum consultation and teacher professional development to local elementary schools. Her recent research interest focuses on using Minecraft as a medium for English language learning and communication.

James York has been involved with language teaching in Minecraft since 2012 when he created his online Japanese language school: Kotoba Miners. He has written about his teaching methodology and how he utilizes the unique elements of all game modes for language teaching in Colin Gallagher’s 2014 book “An educator’s guide to using Minecraft in the Classroom.” He has also been on Colin’s youtube channel three times to talk about his Kotoba Miners project. He is currently not teaching formal classes using Minecraft, but still participates in informal weekly Japanese let’s play sessions on the Kotoba Miners server. You can join the action on their Discord: https://discord.gg/N89m7tA

Kim Harrison is retired from Virginia Beach City Public School where she was an Instructional Technology Specialist (coach) in a K5 school. She volunteers for the Virginia Society for Technology in Education’s Virtual Environments PLN. Playing Minecraft since 2012. Partner on East Coast Miners, a server for 6 to 16 year olds. 2015 VSTE  Innovative Educator of the Year  award winner. Grant winner for Minecraft Education Edition for her entire school for 2017-2018!

Lisa Alconcel was a teacher for over 40 years, the last 20 years as Red Mill Elementary School’s Instructional Technology Specialist. Recently retired, she remains a member of the VSTE Virtual Environment PLN, participating in Second Life and Minecraft.

AND
Vance Stevens  has co-moderated EVO Minecraft MOOC for the past 6 years. As founder and coordinator of TALIN, Teaching and Learning in IsolatioN, his picture and bio details appear in the entry preceding this one

Some background on the connections between TALIN, VSTE, and EVO Minecraft MOOC

As many schools worldwide were closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were leaving the April 7 Minecraft Monday, when …
https://learning2gether.net/2020/04/07/vste-minecraft-monday-fishing-data-collection/#TALIN

Someone in Discord said they were on the VSTE Minecraft server almost every morning their time, and we’d be welcome to drop in if we wanted to join them. I thought that we might want to get them involved in TALIN so I left them this note Discord.

The message says

I have a suggestion. If you are on the VSTE MC server each morning and want company, visit this link, TALIN, Teaching and Learning in IsolatioN, TinyURL: https://tinyurl.com/talin2020 , Request Edit Access, then enter a date and time in the schedule, and some of us sitting home will try and join you. Stay safe and stay indoors, and stay online :slight_smile:

This collaboration between VSTE and EVO Minecraft MOOC stemmed from that suggestion.

Fri-Sat May 8 – 9, 2020 Virtual Round Table Web conference

Heike Philp invited language educators to join her over two days for the 11th Virtual Round Table Web Conference on language learning technology 2020 on 8-9 May 2020. This year’s theme was: “How to teach a language live online”

Visit the Virtual Round Table Web Conference at: http://virtual-round-table.ning.com/
Recordings are all listed at the detailed program:  http://bit.ly/VRT2020

You can also access all of them by means of the following Youtube playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLugizRwFVygQ5fKYSyssQBh4QvzPVDZxN

On Friday, 8 May 2020 there were a total of 771 attendees,
372 visitors in Zoom and 399 on the livestream
On Saturday, 9 May 2020 ther were 881 attendees,
361 visitors in Zoom and 520 on the livestream
This makes a grand total of 1652, which is the true number of attendees but not the true number of unique visitors.

The Virtual Expo will stay open until the end of the month and you can still go and grab a few freebies and gifts by the publishers.  You will also find videos and images, links and the recordings of the sponsored guest speakers at VRT. You find this link at the top of the program: https://virtualexpo.info/exhibition/Virtual-Round-Table_7yddxpdawn

Livestreams

• on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/letstalkonlinedotcom/live
• on Facebook (embedded YouTube livestream)
  https://www.facebook.com/vrtwebcon/app_190322544333196
• Livestream on VRT NING site http://virtual-round-table.ning.com/livestream

Language educators everywhere were invited to join a program filled with practical tips on how to teach online. Additionally the conferences took a look outside the box and talk about the future of language learning. There was no need to register and it was free to attend.

The two days of activities included

• KEYNOTES by Gary Motteram and Joe Dale
• SYMPOSIUMS by Amany Haroun Alkhayat, Letizia Cinganotto, Michelle Worgan, Helena Galani, Vance Stevens and Luiz Reptal
• WORKSHOPS by Helaine Marshall and Graham Stanley
• VIRTUAL TOUR with John Pathfinder Lester
• SPONSOR PRESENTATIONS by Delta Publishing (Martin Thomas), Cornelsen (Mike Hogan), Peachey Publications (Nik Peachey), Wayzgoose Press
• EXHIBITORS without presentation time but available via text and video chat at the booth: Vision Education, LinguaTV, CELTAthens.

Schedule overview

Friday, 8 May 2020
8am GMT	Networking
9:00am GMT	Opening and Welcome address by Heike Philp, Recording (14min): https://youtu.be/LYSs9xNhy_o
9:15am GMT	SPONSOR Delta Publishing, Martin Thomas, Recording (39min): https://youtu.be/E3mL6PCY8Yo
10am GMT	SPONSOR Cornelsen, Mike Hogan Recording (29min): https://youtu.be/kN5PMiWdvho
10:30am GMT	SPONSOR Nik Peachey Exhibition Booth link Recording (31min): https://youtu.be/7TuUjwtGmUM
11am GMT	Break
11:30am GMT	SPONSOR LinguaTV, Nigel
12:00pm GMT	SPONSOR WayzGoose Press, Greta Gorsuch, and Virtual Expo Tour Recording (42min): https://youtu.be/OCv10z1HCRY For Virtual Expo please click HERE
1pm GMT	Break (one hour)
2pm GMT	LTSIG Fridays Gary Motteram Recording (58min): https://youtu.be/exkMV9S3Qdo
3pm GMT	SYMPOSIUM Digital and interactive storytelling – Amany Haroun Alkhayat Amany’s recording (14min): https://youtu.be/rBO6VW9ejcc Suriatri’s recording (16min): https://youtu.be/RskULrnxu8Q Maha’s recording (24min): https://youtu.be/_mGQ6EqL2pk
4:30pm GMT	SYMPOSIUM CLIL – Letizia Cinganotto Letizia’s recording (32min): https://youtu.be/bRAqzdsFw_s Daniela’s recording (25min): https://youtu.be/4xSYdz3wrvU
5:30pm  GMT	Show & Tell – Share your tips in 5min presentations Recording (6min) Attilio Gaimberti: https://youtu.be/QeCNN1hj9BA Recording (7min) Laxman Vangara: https://youtu.be/QeCNN1hj9BA Recording (4min) Vinayadhar Raju: https://youtu.be/GF9SRFavLhw Recording (7min) Rita Zeinstejer: https://youtu.be/s7ws9_R6Utk Recording (min) Kashif Ali Sabiri: https://youtu.be/17P9RyCjW8A Recording (6min) Revathi Viswanathan: https://youtu.be/qCAC977IVpw Recording (6min) Ahmed Ibrahim Metawee: https://youtu.be/wG9uFTe4bGA Recording (7min) Maha Hassan: https://youtu.be/DIUuO8Y2s4Y Recording (6min) Elena Peresada: https://youtu.be/7eHqM51lMmk Recording (8min) Daniel Foster da Silva: https://youtu.be/q28Z4lKnGN4
7:00pm  GMT	WORKSHOP Sofla Laine Marshall sent a follow-up to the SOFLA Demonstration Workshop on May 8 at the VRT 2020! Recording: https://youtu.be/ojmXMGCfa0k Laine also created a Google Folder  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1auCmv_fjIRT4pwJSdeEJ1rKlM8NZ1nAX with everything we produced, along with all instructions, the workshop chart of activities, etc. Here is more about SOFLA, webinar links, blog links, etc. Flipped Learning Global Initiative Blog Post: https://community.flglobal.org/the-synchronous-online-flipped-learning-approach/ Teacher Education Interest Section Newsletter, TESOL http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolteis/issues/2017-03-15/6.html Screencast-o-matic Blog Post Professor Shares 3 Big Benefits Of Video Learning Laine’s webinar on SOFLA- Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach: https://youtu.be/PTJWQHhxsns
Saturday, 9 May 2020
9am GMT	KEYNOTE Joe Dale Recording (57min): https://youtu.be/lgcE6ZNJn20
10am GMT	SYMPOSIUM Material Design – Michelle Worgan https://michelleworganelt.wordpress.com/2020/05/09/designing-interactive-online-materials-using-thinglink/ Margarita Kosior https://www.margaritakosior.com/ Recording (1h) : https://youtu.be/32JuXwTH0iw
11:30am GMT	TALIN, https://bit.ly/talin2020 Vance Stevens Recording (26min): https://youtu.be/v1Yd8onL77k
12pm GMT	SYMPOSIUM Minecraft Vance Stevens, Jane Chien, James York, Kim Harrison, and Lisa Aloncel Recording (1h): https://youtu.be/nZc2G2N8rgM
1pm GMT	Break (one hour)
2pm GMT	KEYNOTE Nik Peachey, https://view.genial.ly/5eb2dde81aba1b6fc08eae1c Recording (58min): https://youtu.be/2P8B3OMjTnw
3pm GMT	SYMPOSIUM OpenSim Recording (22min) Helena Galani: https://youtu.be/O9TTDshnmso Recording (20min) Annalisa Di Pierro: https://youtu.be/8KzFDi0SIq0 Recording (15min) Heike Philp: https://youtu.be/-f7afKQH808
4pm GMT	Break
4:30pm GMT	WORKSHOP Escape Room games – Graham Stanley Recording (59min): https://youtu.be/EqUsPfXXLEk
5:30pm GMT	VIRTUAL TOUR John Pathfinder Lester Recording (59min): https://youtu.be/vUbyWbKMioA
6:30pm GMT	Break
7pm GMT	SYMPOSIUM COOKING SHOW How to teach English from your kitchen Luiz Reikdal and Gustavo Maciel Recording (58min): https://youtu.be/rUUM13kDJ5w
8pm GMT	SHOW & TELL session every presenter only has 5min to present a topic, a project, a tool or whatever Recording (4min) Heidi Brumbaugh: https://youtu.be/TTCW_qTjzLI Recording (7min) Leo Selivan: https://youtu.be/yrEe4_TZ5iM Recording (3min) Ismail Fayed: https://youtu.be/mgCcSPW-N_A Recording (5min) Suriati Abas: https://youtu.be/eHWG1Cgmm8o Recording (5min) Shizhong “John” Zhang: https://youtu.be/Mpl1vxmYgXw Recording (10min) Sharon Hartle: https://youtu.be/XXIath-vI3E

This event was posted to these Facebook Groups 

• EVO Minecraft MOOC – https://www.facebook.com/groups/evomc/
• Learning2gether – https://www.facebook.com/groups/learning2gether/
• Webheads in Action – https://www.facebook.com/groups/webheadsinaction/
• EVO Multiliteracies MOOC – https://www.facebook.com/groups/evomlit/
• Learning with Computers – https://www.facebook.com/groups/6577061586/
• TALIN – Teaching and Learning in IsolatioN – https://www.facebook.com/groups/talin2020

And announced here https://groups.io/g/webheadsinaction/message/32576

About the VRT Online Exhibition Center

NEW in 2020: An online exhibition center for a variety of media about products and services in our innovative VIRTUALEXPO, which took a number of years to develop.

Visit Virtual Round Table Web Conference at: http://virtual-round-table.ning.com/

Heike wrote:

Dear language educators, The Virtual Round Table Web Conference is a team effort and I am thrilled to announce some of the great symposium ideas which have been pouring in: VR Symposium Symposium on interactive storytelling and one on digital storytelling A culinarian symposium #cookathome Virtual Worlds Symposium OpenSim Symposium Material Designs Plan Ceibal Symposium CLIL Symposium I am happy to announce that my innovative idea with a virtual expo has met some interest and there have been many questions as to what this looks like. Here is a short video with some impressions: https://youtu.be/pwzNBai_-MA This online exhibition premiered at a conference for teachers of German 5-7 March 2020 (DaFWEBKON) and we had 18 exhibitors. During the conference those exhibitors were online to answer questions live via text and voice chat and they gave product presentation live in the main Zoom room on Thu, our ‘sponsor day’. Afterwards the exhibition stayed open until end of March. The result: we saw a total of 1100 visitors from 73 countries. https://virtualexpo.info/exhibition/68e38f1b08

More about TALIN

TALIN stands for Teaching and Learning in IsolatioN, https://tinyurl.com/talin2020
Thanks to the presentation above, there is now a descriptive slide presentation
https://bit.ly/talin2020

The idea for TALIN was prompted by suggestions in numerous cross-fertilizing communities of practice that there was needed a space where members of these CoPs could meet online and talk informally to one another about how they are dealing with changes in their personal and professional contexts and what they are doing to help others in this trying time of pandemic.

Learning2gether can host TALIN events in Zoom during times of isolation/lockdown if they are intended to be recorded and shared with the wider community, and if they take place between 02:00-14:00 UTC

TALIN events here are open to all and free to attend.  If you would like to propose an event or invite others to meet in conversation

1. Visit this page https://tinyurl.com/talin2020
2. Click on “Request Edit Access” to the left of your profile picture at the top of the page
3. Wait for approval
4. Write in your event on the schedule. Give the time in UTC if you can, and give the time in your location also as a double check on time

You can host the event yourself, but if you want Learning2gether to host it and promote it, please allow enough time to check that I am available, at least a few days in advance.

Earlier Events

Wed 6 May – Bron Stuckey hosts Successes in Remote Learning in Minecraft

https://learning2gether.net/2020/05/06/learning2gether-with-bron-stuckey-hosting-successes-in-remote-learning-in-minecraft/

May 8 Sandy Wagner and Dawn Bikowski – Synchronous Interactivity in Online Language Learning

If you registered for the TESOL Virtual Seminar titled “Synchronous Interactivity in Online Language Learning” you could log in and access this recording,
https://tesol.elevate.commpartners.com/products/synchronous-interactivity-in-online-language-learning?force_login=1 

Sat 9 May 15-1300-1500 utc – VSTE Second Life Saturdays – repeats each Saturday

If you don’t have a Second Life account get one, it’s free. We recommend setting one up at the Rockcliffe University Consortium’s Gateway here: https://urockcliffe.com/reg/second-life/

Download and install the software. While your Second Life viewer (software) is open click this link http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Soulgiver/155/144/58
and voila! Look for an avatar on VSTE Island and say, “Hey, I’m new!” We will take care of the rest.

About this intitiative, https://vste.org/upcoming-events-virtual-environments-pln/

___________________________________________________________
This blog is written and maintained by Vance Stevens
You are free to share-alike and with attribution under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

The date of this update is May 13, 2020 00:05 UTC