Educators: Authenticity and Openness

#secondlife #vwmooc25 #teacher The video features a session from VWMOOC25 and the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable (VWER) "10 ideas for humanity" series (curated by Marly Milena and Sheila Yoshikawa). The discussion is led by Dr. Mark Childs, a Senior Learning Designer at Durham University. Known as Gan McGan in the virtual world of Second Life, Dr. Childs discusses his work on the human-centered aspects of pedagogic design for online and blended learning environments. The conversation revolves around three of his core projects. He begins by exploring "Playful Learning and Practice" through a project called "Replay," which is being tested in UK universities to see how play can increase student engagement and normalize failure. He extends this idea to the workplace, suggesting playful practices can create more inclusive environments. Following this, he introduces the concept of "Secret Agents of Change," which encourages people to bring their authentic, external selves into their professional lives. By sharing personal interests, he argues, individuals can foster a stronger sense of community and collaboration. The final topic focuses on "Discussing Identities," a mentoring project designed to help early-career teachers explore their professional selves using creative tools like archetypes, tarot imagery, and even personal music playlists. Dr. Childs also reflects on his own identity in virtual worlds, describing the balance between using a virtual presence to enhance real-world interactions and keeping it separate. The session is highly interactive, with participants contributing their own experiences and thoughts on authenticity, playfulness, and identity in both physical and virtual professional settings. Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/232/24/22 Join us at 11th annual VWMOOC25 August 4 - 31 scheduled sessions https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nRf_q1VgMnpwK4KGhL2JXY_MQ3G1uyc7GFuBY3k6h3o/edit?usp=sharing and at the headquarters http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chilbo/136/34/95 and at our Moodle LMS https://integrating-technology.org/course/view.php?id=13 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsLt8oYvDYGpSHcGhRBBkyw/join [00:00] Introduction to VWMO 25 and Dr. Mark Childs [01:18] Overview of the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable (VWER) and Introductions [05:31] Continued Introductions and Discussion on Playful Learning [08:32] Principles and Benefits of Playful Learning [12:04] Audience Discussion on Playful Learning in Education [18:49] Secret Agents of Change: Bringing External Selves to Work [22:15] Discussion on Integrating External Selves into Professional Practice [28:45] The Role of Authenticity and Professionalism in Education [33:17] Discussing Identities: Mentoring Early Career Teachers [35:33] Augmentationists vs. Immersionists in Second Life Identity [36:26] Final Discussion: Teacher Identity and Avatar Representation [41:59] Reflection on Identity, Clothing, and Professional Presentation [48:33] Concluding Remarks and Future Plans for the Identity Project