Get a (second) life

The colorful assortment of characters you see partying hearty above are the attendees at last  Thursday night's ISTE Social in the Second Life online environment. I had the chance while there to visit with the ISTE staffers who are getting this new communication forum going, chat with a couple wonderful librarians, and, as always, learn how to do a few new things with my avatarial self - like sit and talk. I got a free ISTE t-shirt too that really shows off my bulging virtual pecs. So life-like ;-)

For me, probably as for most folks, the verdict is still out whether Second Life will be a genuine educational tool or an ephemeral experiment. I really like the sense of being in a space with others you can "see." Standing about in a cocktail party type atmosphere chatting seems normal. However dancing at such a get together is just too geeky for words. The software still seems slow, kludgy and buggy. But I will go back - there is promise.

Here are some upcoming events for ISTE members (or potential members):

• Wednesday, January 31, 6 PM SLT: ISTE Docent/Greeter Meeting -- Come learn about how you can get involved welcoming educators to ISTE and Second Life. Requires some knowledge of ISTE as an organization, and basic understanding of SL. Training and information materials provided!
• Thursday, February 1, 6 PM SLT:  ISTE SL Member Networking Social -- Come and chat with fellow educators in the ISTE SkyPark.
• Tuesday, February 6, 6 PM SLT: ISTE Professional Development Brainstorming Meeting -- Come discuss how you can participate in developing workshops and presentations for fellow educators in SL. All ideas welcomed!
• Thursday, February 8, 6 PM SLT (that's US pacific time): ISTE SL Member Networking Social -- Come and chat with fellow educators in the ISTE SkyPark.
  

All meetings are 1 hour long, and will be held at the ISTE SkyPark, Eduisland, (52, 204 ,549)

Hope to see some Blue Skunk Readers at an upcoming Second Life event.

Comments

[Cathy Nelson]

Doug, why do the pictures never show in your posts? Frequently I stray from my aggregator to see what pix accompanies your post only to be mildly disappointed to find the same crypted letter.jpg identifier and no image. I thought it was some setting on my computer that made me unable to see the images, but I noticed recently some one else asked the question about an image you referenced. IS there something I need to do to be able to see the pictures??

[pete reilly]

Doug;
I was at the ISTE social and I'm sorry I didn't hook up with you to chat. My avatar is at the lower right hand corner, wearing a black sweater, of your snapshot. I got in an endless loop of dancing...to bad 80's music.Couldn't get it to stop. Yikes!
Pete

[susan funk]

Sorry to be so out of the loop but what does ISTE stand for?

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Susan,

ISTE is the International Society for Technology in Education. They do the NECC conference, produce the NETS standards, publish Leading and Learning with Technology and are a listened-to voice in Washington. Membership is not that expensive. Join us!

http://www.iste.org/

All the best,

Doug