Doing it the Great Northern Way - The Masters of Digital Media Program @ the Centre for Digital Media is launched

Hello friends/readers/surfers/you!

It is about time for me to return to the blogosphere & share some news and updates!

It has been a busy summer, jam-packed with program preparation and events at Great Northern Way Campus (GNWC).

Centre for Digital Media Launch in Vancouver Sun, originally uploaded by J0@nn@.

GNWC is an academic partnership of British Columbia's four major post-secondary institutions: the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

As research assistant to the Masters of Digital Media Program (MDM) @ the GNWC Centre for Digital Media, I have been working on a number of projects over the Summer and continuing into Fall. Most of this work has centred around the use of virtual environments in education, collaboration and events.

Since October 2006, we have been exploring the use of metaverse Second Life in particular, at our virtual space there called "University Project". http://slurl.com/secondlife/University%20Project/150/84/23/

Explorations have revolved around developing practical course uses centred around a pedagogy of participation, student centred design (something MDM is exploring in both the physical and the virtual) and the organization and hosting of blended reality events.

We have held a number of events and explorations in Second Life to date, including:

 Collaborative modding and building of learning spaces workshop
 Blended reality open house and campus events, including BC Premier's first visit to Second Life at our blended reality program launch
 Community partner Vancouver Police Department's Second Life information and recruitment session
 Blended reality book launch by renowned sci-fi writer and MDM advisory board member William Gibson
 Hosting a virtual conference - CITASA MC 3.0 2007

Now that the program has launched, and students have begun their courses, our future plans for the use of our virtual campus in Second Life include:

* Courses using SL including:
-Building Virtual Worlds (several metaverses)
-Visual Story
-Interdisciplinary Improvisation
* Further exploration of blended reality events and activities
Eg - ‘RSVP’ Campus & SL blended reality lunch, presented by Contemporary Art Gallery Oct 22 2007
* Student modification/design & redesign of our space(s)
* Exhibition of student work and possible student store

So these are some of the elements of the MDM program I am working on, in addition to speaking engagements this semester.

This week I am looking forward to participating in a panel entitled The Reality Continuum: Physical, Blended and Virtual Realities in Second Life at VidFest (The Vancouver International Digital Festival) http://www.vidfest.com/

In other news, I am looking at some changes and updates to my website in the coming days, and being a Resident Evil buff, keep an eye out for my commentary on the new Resident Evil film, "Extinction" soon to be released. Should be interesting!

Over and out for now, cyberspace.