Second Life

[chowsir]

Hey, does anyone have avatars on Second Life? I've seen and heard from colleagues what they do with it personally and for their teaching. Just want to know what you think of using it as part of the classroom experience.

[Donna Murdoch]

I look forward to the answer to this question from anyone else. I have been involved in it once or twice when people sent me invitations to participate in teacher conversations (in fact there is one going on over the next month with ESOL if you are interested) but I don't know how to start one or initiate it myself. I posted it on another site.
I want to use it in an adult education situation - I am not sure whether that is more or less likely than a classroom experience. Mention SL to a kid and they think it is something foreign. Seems vertical groups of professionals have been more attracted to it. There is also an offshoot (but expensive I believe) of SL called Immersive Spaces. It is geared toward international corporations and meetings, and has all of the tools you would need integrated into the Space (including custom designed offices.)

I would just like to figure out how to get a conference room somewhere in Second Life for an adult education program I would like to do. I don't know how to start.

If you want me to send you a link to something, like the ESOL conference or another talk, let me know I'll be happy to.

[Belinha De Abreu]

I use it quite a bit for conferences and meetings. Creating an avatar is quite simple when you set up your SecondLife account. There are a number of educators who use it with their school systems approval. One of the most popular educators on the site is Peggy Sheehy also known as Maggie Marat on 2nd Life. She has an established island and holds workshops regularly. Her web address is as follows http://ramapoisland.edublogs.org. I would also suggest connecting with the ISTE (International Society for Technology Education). They have an island as well and have regular workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays on 2nd Life to assist educators who are interested in learning about the uses and places that have been created on SecondLife. It is a great learning tool and one that I would like to see school use much more. I hope this helps you.
-Belinha De Abreu
Media Literacy Educator

[Donna Murdoch]

Thanks Behina I am a member of ISTE and even joined the virtual world sub-group. I will go to the site and find out more.

[Rajesh Barnabas]

that link led me to a wordpress website that is not really developed..
I believe the link you meant to put has an "s" at the end of island
so here that is: http://ramapoislands.edublogs.org/

[Ryan Goble]

Woza Belinha & Donna great stuff!

I struggle so much with my first life that I find my second and third lives hard to keep up with...in the meantime Chowsir, I might reccomend looking at / ordering the The Journal of Media Literacy back issue "The New Literacy Renaissance: Media Convergence and the Collective Community" - Volume 54, Nos. 2&3 Winter 2007.

Second Life is on the cover and the issue is summarized as:

Guest Editor, Dr. Martin Rayala looks at media literacy in the post-human universe, how new tools of technology allow people to leap into imaginary, virtual worlds of their own making, holding the potential and the power to transform the real world. In this issue, Rayala has pulled together some of today’s most advanced thinkers who can help us work through this new virtual world.

Info on ordering back issues can be found here.

Good luck with your virtual lives :)

Ry:)