The Second Life Adventures of Kittie Serendipity

The WSU Learning Center has our own Second Life cheerleader, Kittie Serendipity. Kittie is always on the move and out researching new places in SL, attending SL classes, meeting people and learning how they are utilizing their Second Life .

She will be taking snapshots of her adventures and gathering useful information and links to the places she visits.
The Second Life Adventures of Kittie Serendipity is the blog where you can find out what's new and exciting in her Second Life.

Although Kittie's main focus in Second Life is education and new media, she also likes to have fun on the way. She will report on places of exceptional beauty or unique interest she encounters on her quest for knowledge.

WSU Learning Center is on Second Life

The WSU Learning Center has rented virtual property and is making an online presence in Second Life. After researching different areas of the second life world, the Learning Center decided to rent land from the NMC, (New Media Consortium) a large community of educational organizations. The island where we are located is also the home of Lund University (Sweden), University Lille1 (France), Capella University (online) and Mt. Holyoke College (Massachusetts, USA).

Washington State University in Pullman Washington can be found in Second Life. They have two islands where they are recreating the Pullman WSU campus.

We are learning, building and growing. It is very exciting to discover new ideas and possibilities in distance education. We would love to have you join us in second life. If you are not yet familiar with the Second Life environment, we have created a tutorial that may help you get started. We hope to see you here soon.

Virtual Education

Many educators are using the the internet as a learning tool and offer online classes (WSU Distance Degree Program, for instance) . A relatively new addition to distance learning is Second Life. Some major colleges and universities have discovered Second Life to be a valuable teaching resource. Stanford University, Princeton University and Harvard Law school are a few who are utilizing Second Life to teach classes. They have virtual classrooms, libraries, art galleries, gardens and more.

January 25 - 30 Second life is hosting an Education Support Faire where academics, students and educators can meet and discuss education in Second Life.

Second life is free to download and use. Simply create an account and design your character, also known as an avatar. Virtual money can be bought and spent on many things such as land or clothing if desired. Some people are using Second Life to earn money as builders or fashion designers. Second Life has the appearance of a video game and is fun to explore. Avatars have the ability to fly or teleport to new and exciting places. Second Life also brings a social element to distance learning and when learning is fun it is definitely a good thing.

Rita Marie Kepner, PhD, ABD

Until recently, Rita was a Graduate Student at the illustrious Edward R. Murrow School of Communication, learning and teaching via distance-bridging tools such as DDP Internet courses & LC-NOP's Polycom video conferencing device.

Rita took her PhD exam this December in the LC-NOP Otter Room computer lab and was happy to report (just 2 days later) that she passed with accolades from her professor. The ABD attached to her title denotes that she has completed her doctorate with "all but dissertation".

Congratulations, Rita! We knew you could do it.

Julia Hudnall Graduates Summa Cum Laude

Image courtesy of The Cougar Room - click to enlarge

All of us here at the WSU North Olympic Peninsula Learning Center want to offer our congratulations to Julia Hudnall. She took on a very challenging program, worked diligently, and just recently graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelors in Social Science. Taking advantage of the University's Distance Degree Program, Julia was able to complete her degree from home without having to put the rest of her life on hold while she did so. We'll miss her smiling face coming in for her proctored tests and occasional chats. Way to go, Julia! Summa Cum Laude (with the greatest praise) indeed!

Psychology Class Held at LC-NOP

In most distance education programs, students never get a chance to actually meet with their professors. Not so for WSU DDP students! As part of the world class, face-to-face commitment to excellence on the part of Washington State University, Dr. Paul Whitney met with three of his WSU Distance Degree students here at the Learning Center. The students were in his Psychology 499 class on human memory, sponsored in part by the Associated Student Body and DDP.

Kimberly Montgomery

Image courtesy of The Cougar Room - click to enlarge

Kimberly Montgomery is our most recent WSU Distance Degree Program (DDP) graduate to visit the LC-NOP. As a DDP student, she participated in the annual river raft trip and maintained an exceptional GPA. On the President's Honor Roll, Kimberly graduated in the Spring of 2007 .

Wendy Edwards Closes in on a 20-year Dream

Image courtesy of The Cougar Room - click to enlarge

WSU Distance Degree student, Wendy Edwards, proudly displays her WSU Alumni license plate holder. Received from LC Director, Robert Force, as she arrived at the LC, it was a fitting incentive to polish off the last two tests she needed for her Bachelor's Degree. As this blog was being written, Wendy finished the tests to bring to a close a journey started when she first attended WSU's Pullman campus 20-years ago. As with many DDP students, other life needs and choices changed her education pathway-- but not her destination.
Congratulations, Wendy!

House on the Borderland

Image courtesy of The Cougar Room - click to enlarge

Dylan Quarles, an independent contract student at The Evergreen State College, is viewing a rough cut of his movie, House on the Borderland, in the Learning Center's Cougar Room. Dylan spent an entire school year-- 3 quarters for 48 credits-- adapting, filming, and editing British novelist, William Hope Hodgson's 1908 supernatural novel of the same name.

LC Director, Robert Force, was Dylan's mentor for the project, suggesting the Hodgson novel as the basis for his film to expand upon Dylan's interest in the Lovecraft-style literature that, along with early films such as Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, helped to create the modern horror film genre. Robert met with Dylan frequently during the year to critique his efforts and, along with TESC faculty members, Ruth Hayes and Julia Zays, helped guide him through his second feature-length film production.

Martha Anthony Gets Alumni Plate

Image courtesy of The Cougar Room - click to enlarge

Martha Anthony is congratulated by LC Director, Robert Force, after having taken her final test of her final course for her WSU Bachelor's Degree. A Jefferson County, WSU Distance Degree Student (DDP) for the past several years, Martha has diligently pursued her degree while also holding down work and other responsibilities. While her actual degree won't be posted for several months, it seemed like an appropriate time to welcome her into the ranks of WSU Alumni.

DDP Student River Trip

Image courtesy of The Cougar Room - click to enlarge

WSU distance education students take a raft trip down the Elwha River near Port Angeles, WA. They start in the Olympic National Park and make their way back down the Class II river toward Lake Aldwell.

This is the 2nd offering of the annual event organized by Melissa Delikat who provides access to WSU distance education for Clallam County & West Jefferson County students.