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Get Started
The Autumn 2009 program is no longer accepting applications
Next program starts: Autumn 2010
Details will be posted in Spring
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The Certificate Program in Virtual Worlds consists of three required courses: 1) Selecting and Using Virtual Worlds, 2) Designing Virtual Worlds, and 3) Programming Virtual Worlds. All class sessions will be held Thursday evenings in Second Life. Directions for attending the class sessions "in world" will be included in the registration materials.
In addition, special sessions may be arranged for guest lecture presentations. The standard meeting time will be Thursday evenings.
Autumn Course
Selecting and Using Virtual Worlds
Schedule: (10 sessions) Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. PST, Oct. 8-Dec. 10, 2009, online and in-world. $825. 3 Credits.
Instructor: Randy Hinrichs
Apply and combine concepts, processes, issues and skills from information management techniques, technology design and digital culture formation to Virtual Worlds. Requires understanding of 3D systems concepts, Web markup languages, and end-user programming tools. Students analyze three virtual world platforms, examining design methods and user-centric design for human-information interaction. This is an integrative course that provides problem-solving opportunities and hands-on development for information students, requiring utilization of knowledge gained from previous information technology studies.
Winter Course
Designing Virtual Worlds
Schedule: (10 sessions) Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. PST, Jan. 14-March 18, 2010, online and in-world. $825. 3 Credits.
Instructor: Janice Cowsert
Examine and apply concepts, strategies, and skills related to the life cycle of virtual world planning, design, and product development. Focus on concepts of usability, architectural design, knowledge management and urban community factors. This course involves conceptual frameworks in design, graphic relevance, and social networking practices that ensure the scalability, reliability, and availability of 3D immersive environments. Emphasis us given to Internet-based services for storing and accessing information to be used in integrated virtual world development. This is an integrative course that builds on problem-solving techniques learned in the Winter course and examines comprehensive factors for designing and building immersive information platforms, requiring utilization of knowledge gained from previous information technology studies and organizational experience.
Spring Course
Programming Virtual Worlds
Schedule: (10 sessions) Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. PST, April 8-June 10, 2010, online and in-world. $825. 3 Credits.
Instructor: Randy Hinrichs
Examine methods for interactivity and use evaluation techniques involving human factors, cognition, gaming strategies, performance tracking and feedback systems that ensure the 'stickiness' and defined value in Virtual Worlds. Ensure strategies and tool selection process for interactivity factors and evaluation methods. Focus on database management techniques and programming for storage, retrieval, network balance and transactional interchange. This is an integrative course that builds on design and delivery techniques learned in the Spring course and examines comprehensive factors for creating interactivity and metrics in immersive information platforms, requiring utilization of knowledge gained from previous information technology studies and organizational experience.
