During Spring semester 2011 Dr. Monica Rankin's students conducted role play in Secnd Life on the UT islands. The course was HIST 4396 covering the Cuban Revolution. Students chose to depict either a position for or against Castro. They developed scripts and then conducted role play on the UTD Excellence island in Second Life. The role play was captured on machinima and then shown in the classroom after which discussions took place. Below are the machinima's and the interview with Dr. Monica Rankin.
No Country for Old Castro
Castro Salvado
Interview with Dr. Monica Rankin
by Dr. Scott Warren from UNT
UT Dallas Dr. Monica Rankin interviewed by UNT Dr. Scott J Warren, Lead Theorist and Researcher on the team building LTCA (Learning and Teaching as a Communicative Actions), on the role play students in Rankin's course HIST 4359 "The Cuban Revolution" conducted in Second Life during spring semester 2011.
Dr. Monica Rankin is a professor of History at the University of Texas at Dallas interested in enhancing learning through the use of technology. In 2009 she did "The Twitter Experiment" with a large lecture course. The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPVWDkF7U8
Dr. Scott J. Warren is an Associate professor in the Department of Learning Technolgioes at the University of North Texas focusing his research on digital experiences such as the use of games and simulations for educational purposes as well as improving student literacy in all subject areas, but especially in reading and writing.
Video footage by Jonathan Gratch and Scott J Warren. Video edit by Jenny Wakefield.
