FYI,

Call for Chapters - Multi-User Virtual Environments for the Classroom: Practical Approaches to Teaching in Virtual Worlds

Editors: Giovanni Vincenti and James Braman, Towson University 

To be published by IGI Global: http://www.igi-global.com/requests/details.asp?ID=801 

Synopsis 
Teaching merely through books and lectures is quickly becoming overpowered by learning through the many forms of multimedia and Web based content students are exposed to every day. Obtaining information and multitasking through these many mediums is not simply a skill, but it is a way of life for many students and teachers. Education is changing. For this very reason we should be proactive towards reaching out to students through non-traditional means to enhance teaching and learning. Our particular focus is teaching and learning through multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs). The educational community has certainly seen an increase in interest for teaching in MUVEs like Second Life, and Twinity to name a few. 

The idea of using MUVEs is often met with skepticism and objections. Many even consider these tools as too technical for present students with significant barriers of entry. Even more challenging seems the idea of porting traditional classroom material into this new medium. The plasticity of these environments, however, allows us venues to create simulations that truly immerse the students in a particular subject and can also serve as another platform for online education. Through the use of innovative technology we can reach a new generation of learners. 

Audience 
This book aims at becoming a resource for students to start learning about teaching through multi-user virtual environments. We wish to cater to university-level courses in Education as well as Instructional Technologies, Distance Learning, and Instructional Design to name a few. 

Desired table of contents 
Part 1 – Teaching practices applied to multi-user virtual environments 
Part 2 – The curriculum and multi-user virtual environments 
Part 3 – Practical experiences of teaching through multi-user virtual environments 

We are looking for three main types of chapters: 
1. Summary of concepts, preliminary data, lesson plans, and hands-on material for teachers and students; 
2. Case studies and applications, reports of courses/activities carried out in virtual worlds; 
3. Strategic implementation plans, selling virtual worlds for the classroom to academic decision-makers. 

Submission 
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before February 28, 2010, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 14, 2010 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters should be between 5,000 and 7,500 words in length and are expected to be submitted by May 31, 2009. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project. Further information on this book can be found athttp://www.teachingthroughmuves.info/ . 

Publisher 
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2011. 

Important Dates 
February 28, 2010: Proposal Submission 
March 14, 2010: Notification of Acceptance 
May 31, 2010: Full Chapter Due 
June 20, 2010: Review Results Returned 
July 15, 2010: Final Chapter Due 

Proposals in WORD format can be submitted electronically at the addresses shown below: 

[hidden email] 

Giovanni Vincenti, [hidden email] 

James Braman, [hidden email]