Summer Book Group in Second Life

[Karen Richardson]

This summer, I'll be facilitating a book discussion group on VSTE Island in Second Life. We'll be reading Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe as lots of folks expressed interest in learning more about this instructional model. I'm looking forward to it because I'll be teaching a course next spring that will include UDB! We'll all be learning together. In addition to talking in SL, we can set up a group in the Ning for more extended conversations and sharing.

For now, get the book (see my links below) and start reading. Oh, and put these dates on your calendar: June 22, July 27, and August 24. We'll meet at the usual 8 PM start time to have our discussions. I looked over the Table of Contents and I think we should read the book in the following way:

June 22: The After Word, Introduction, Chapters 1 - 3 In the After Word, the authors talk about how to actually use UBD to create a unit. I suspect it will be most helpful for you to be designing a unit as you go along so let's start with the end so as you read along, you can be considering what type of unit you want to plan.

July 27: Chapters 4 - 8

August 24: Chapters 9 - 13

It would be great if we could share the units we create. I'm going to be working on my undergraduate technology course that I will also be teaching next spring.

Here's where you can find it online:

I bought my copy of the book from Amazon where today it was $36. (I paid $23.)

Barnes and Noble has it today for $21.


ASCD is the publisher and if you're a member, it's $25. All others pay $33.

Another quick note: there are several different workbooks available to go along with the book. I'm going to purchase the study guide but you might want take a look at some of the design tools if you're going to be rolling this out in your school.

[Kathy Willhite]

How do I get into Second Life?

[Kathy Willhite]

Karen, I had planned on reading this book this summer. Found out about this group through Michigan Association for Media in Education. What if I am unable to log on during one of the discussions, i.e. vacation, will the comments be posted somewhere to read later? I am new to this Ning stuff.

[Karen Richardson]

All are welcome to the book group. As I mentioned, it will kick off in Second Life but we'll do discussion here, too. I would guess most of us will have the 2nd edition so our chapters may be off a bit. We would love to have you sit in.

[Dr. Loreta H. Ulmer]

Karen; Can I join the group as well? I am an instructional designer at ODU.. I have the 2001 edition of UBD.. is that what you will be using? I've read it many times and have shared it with faculty here. I'd love to sit in on this..

[Sean Sharp]

Karen--I just ordered my book. This is a book I've been meaning/wanting to read for a long time. Thanks so much for doing this!