Passages keynoters Dick Riedl and John Tashner presented their innovations with "Virtual Worlds" and "Second Life" applications for eLearning in a global community. Dick and John will challenge participants to consider their own eTeaching futures in the context of this presentation. PDF of slides available below.
Dick Riedl, (riedlre@appstate.edu) who holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, has taught at Appalachian State since 1989. He served as department chair at the University of Alaska where he designed the first courses on using computers in education. He also delivered pre-Internet online classes to teachers in the Alaskan bush. At Appalachian Dr. Riedl was the lead educator for Impact North Carolina, which used wide area networks to provide software, Internet access and narrow-band video conferencing across grade levels and curricula. This venture clearly demonstrated the need for technology facilitators and adequate technical support in our schools.Most recently Dr. Riedl has been developing AET Zone, a 3D immersive environment for delivering courses to students throughout western North Carolina.
John H. Tashner (tashnerjh@appstate.edu) is a professor and coordinator of the instructional technology program at Appalachian State University with over 30 years experience in university teaching. Prior to this, John served as a central office school administrator, an assistant principal, and a public school science teacher. He received his BS in Biology and an MS in Science Education from Old Dominion University. He earned his EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia in 1973. For the past seven years John has been exploring the efficacies of 3D immersive worlds for teaching and learning. Together with his program colleagues, the entire IT program at ASU has been moved into a 3D immersive world environment. Current research interests involve the developing and studying deep learning pedagogies for use in on line 3D immersive worlds for education.
