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Department of Computer Science
San Jose State University

Special Talk
New Computing Technologies and Creative Learning

Second Life Exhibit


By Kai Chu, Humboldt State University,

and Eileen Moy, USAsiaInternet, Inc.

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Where: MacQuarrie Hall 422, SJSU

Time: 3 p.m.




Abstract:

A symbiotic relationship exists between emerging computing technologies and the development of new approaches to education. Innovations in education often result from technological advances. On the other hand, certain technologies will flourish especially if they are useful to education.  Our presentation will address two such new technologies:  1) Pervasive Computing and 2) Virtual Computing.  As a starting point, we will present our FLASH-based desktop software program “Chinese Characters Alive,” and show how we are adapting the program for the Apple 3G iPhone.  Smart Phones have created a new learning environment which we often refer to as the “any time, any place” learning mode or even “casual learning.”  As for virtual computing, we will demonstrate examples from Second Life, a 3D user-generated world.  Our group has created educational exhibits at the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation’s Virtual Museum site, and we will present code examples from the object-oriented scripting behind our “Cool Vaccines” exhibit.
Dr. Kai Chu is Professor of Computing Sciences at Humboldt State University.  He holds numerous international patents in computer devices and systems, and was a senior researcher at the Thomas Watson IBM Research Center. His research interest at Humboldt has been in the area of applying computers to the learning of Chinese characters.  Dr. Chu is the co-executive producer of the Chinese Characters Alive! software, which won the 2008 “Innovative Multimedia Teaching Award” from the Chinese central government at the Ninth International Forum on Chinese Teaching in the end of 2008.

Dr. Eileen V. Moy is the President of US Asia Internet, a San Jose based company. specializing in educational software.  She is Adjunct Professor of Computing Sciences at Humboldt State University, where her research interest includes telemedicine.  Dr. Moy is the co-executive producer and chief software architect of Chinese Characters Alive! and team leader for Characters Alive and Cool Vaccines, award-wining virtual exhibits at the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation’s Art, Film and Music and Technology Benefiting Humanity projects. Chinese Characters Alive! has been exhibited at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and the Huntington Library.