A second go at Second Life
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 06:04AM 
I had a second opportunity to use Second Life as a presentation medium last Monday night. You can read Lisa Perez's (SL name Elaine Tulip) write up here. About 40 avatars attended "No U Turn Syndrome: A New Approach to Teaching and Enforcing Copyright Compliance." The presentation was a part of AASL's National Library Week's activities in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools Dept of Libraries. Rob Darrow also had a very nice blog entry on California Dreamin'. Rob, I truly appreciate the kind words. Ernie Cox also wrote up the event in his blog. Thanks as well, Ernie.
First, let me say a big thanks (again) to Lisa Perez. She is a comforting soul who knows her way around Second Life better than anyone else I know and manages to make anyone presenting in Second Life look more competent than they actually are. I am not sure what all her contributions have been to the physical aspects of ALA/AASL's island, but it is a beautiful, interesting and useful place. Go visit.
The newest SL client is its user-friendliest yet. And the in-world voice system make presenting much easier (and I feel more effective) than the chat/IM-based mode of just a few months ago. I feel like I still have a lot to learn about being an avatar/presenter, including:
- How can I do a better job of gesturing, moving, maintaining "eye contact." etc. with my audience? This still feels far too much one-way, rather than two-way communications.
- How do I know if the sound is working well? (Thankfully, I had one attendee tell me a couple times when I was too loud.)
- How does one better facilitate discussion at such an event? I always feel like I am being hit by several channels of conversation at one time.
Still, I had great fun and I just need to say a huge thanks to those brave avatars who attended and participated in "my" learning experience.
A common concern that people email me about is that they feel uncomfortable and ignorant about much of Second Life. Attending an ISTE Social and connecting with an experienced Second Lifer is the best way of overcoming. Here is a recent invitation:
Are you an educator new to Second Life or ISTE in SL? Come out to the ISTE Discussion Skypark on Thursday, April 17, at 5:30 PM SLT (8:30 PM EDT) to connect with avatars who can answer your questions about Second Life and ISTE.
Connectors needed! Are you interested in mentoring a new avatar at this week's social? IM Corinne Fleury <corinnefleury (at) gmail.com> for details.
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/132/124/349
Blue Skunk readers, any tips or observations about better Second Life experiences are welcome!
Reader Comments (6)
Doug,
I enjoyed attending your session in Second Life. One of the benefits of this environment is the responsiveness it invites - the copyright issue came up on LM-NET and a few days later we are able to discuss it in a more meaningful way via SL. As always you provide much for us to think about. Copyright law is just like any other law - it is open to interpretation. You encourage us as educators to interpret and use the law in a way that benefits the educational process rather than putting a damper on it. Thanks again for this session - it felt like a conference experience without the travel, or expense.
-Best Ernie
re: your questions:
* How can I do a better job of gesturing, moving, maintaining "eye contact." etc. with my audience? This still feels far too much one-way, rather than two-way communications.
-- beats me I struggled to sit down on the bench - still working on this myself
* How do I know if the sound is working well? (Thankfully, I had one attendee tell me a couple times when I was too loud.)
-- as an audience member I could see your sound waves (above your head), when your voice quality was loud and distorted the waves were red - this is a clear indicator if you can see these wave
* How does one better facilitate discussion at such an event? I always feel like I am being hit by several channels of conversation at one time.
-- maybe a good old fashion approach would work - having a place from which people ask questions (form a line to ask) as if a mic were being used. something hipper and cool though (since its SL)- the Q(uestion) Spot maybe..
Hi Ernie,
Thanks much for the kind words and very practical suggestions. I was a way back using my camera view so didn't see my "broadcast signal" above my head. That's a great idea to watch for it's color change. I like the idea of a line for questioners too.
I'll forward you suggestions to Lisa Perez. Maybe we need to put together a SecondLife presenters handbook!
All the best and thanks for writing,
Doug
Well shucks I didn't even make the photo op even tho I was there for most of it. Thanks for the awesome preso.
Hi Cathy,
I thought you said you were having a bad hair night anyway ;-)
Doug
Is the better interface you're talking about the one in the 1.20 RC viewer? I've looked at that & like it very much (seemed to be more than a little inspired by the OnRez one I think!)
Hi Emma,
I was just commenting on the 1.19.1 Second Life release that came out on Apr 2 2008. Not sure what viewers you talking about.
All the best,
Doug