For those of you working on serious games or involved in education this may be of interest.

Aphra.

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University of Ulster, Magee, Derry 20th November 2009

· Considering using virtual worlds for teaching and want to know where to start?

· Curious about how others are using virtual spaces for teaching?

· Interested in learning how the future of undergraduate education will be shaped by immersive technologies?

IMMERS[ED] 2009; National Workshop on Teaching in Immersive Worlds will be hosted by the School of Computing & Intelligent Systems and will take place in the Great Hall of the University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Northern Ireland on the 20th November 2009 (registration from 8.30, start at 9.30).

The workshop has an International line-up of speakers from the UK and Ireland and will offer a series of insightful talks examining the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching using virtual worlds such as Second Life, Opensim and Metaplace.

Speakers include John Kirriemuir of Virtual Worlds Watch, Daniel Livingstone (SLOODLE) & University of West Scotland, David Burden (PIVOTE) & Daden Limited, Michael Callaghan and Kerri McCusker of the University of Ulster, Tim Savage and Carina Girvan of Trinity College Dublin and Barry McAdam and Anna O’Donovan of INTEL.

The objective of the event is to raise awareness of the benefits and possible pitfalls of using virtual and immersive worlds in an educational context and will provide practical advice and demonstrations from leading educators and industrial experts in this area.

It will highlight funding opportunities available in this field and offer tips on how to focus your research to maximise your chances of succeeding with applications.

The workshop is organised by the Serious Games & Virtual Worlds Research Team and the School of Computing & Intelligent Systems, Faculty of Computing and Engineering and co-sponsored by the University of Ulster, Office of Innovation Knowledge Club Program.

There is no fee to attend but you must register as places are strictly limited. For further details on this event please contact workshop organisers Michael Callaghan,mj.callaghan@ulster.ac.uk or Kerri McCusker, ka.mccusker@ulster.ac.uk

To register and for further information please go to the workshop website.

http://www.learninginvirtualworlds.com/