Instead of using fancy brochures to showcase the strength and versatility of their blenders, Blendtec uses an inexpensive, highly visible approach like YouTube.
With views ranging from 80,000 to almost 5 million, I think Blendtec has found a great way to market their product while entertaining and educating their audience at the same time. I wonder how many more companies will attempt a similar strategy?
I've been making notes and currently exploring learning opportunities in SL, but haven't grouped my thoughts together enough to make a decent post yet.
In the meantime, I'd like to share this informative video about using 3D worlds to enhance learning. The video shows an example where sales reps are trained about the features of a new product. The creator of the video, Karl Kapp, has shown a 2D learning approach in a 3D world, and how it can be made more effective by taking advantage of the unique features offered in a 3D environment. Clearly, the 3D training looks like it would be better for learning and also a lot more fun.
Another video showcasing the educational possibilities of using Second Life for learning.
The video doesn't mention the potential for mixing with more undesirable folk (naked furries for example) and this is one of the downsides of the SL experience. However, I think that the negatives of SL will be corrected over time. The technology is still young, and it's hard to deny that learning possibilities exist in virtual worlds.
I'll be subscribing to the learning blog www.karlkapp.blogspot.com as well.
This video encompasses what I've been exploring on my own in SecondLife. It is a well organized overview of the various opportunities for learning genomics, molecular biology and even clinical skills. If you haven't created an avatar in SL yet, I encourage you to do so and go see some of the locations mentioned for yourself. You very likely will be amazed at the potential for learning that it offers.
Here is a simple explanation of the Cynefin model and why using a narrative or story-based approach is useful for teaching complex issues such as leadership, innovation and culture.
The teacher is using a tool that evokes the image of sitting in a coffee shop while someone simultaneously explains an idea and sketches it on the back of a napkin. If you find this form of learning appealing, you might really like Sketchcast, a free online tool.
