October 16, 2007
Educators Get New Spot for Second Life Initiation
Orientation Island is a rite of passage for newcomers to Second Life. The virtual world’s operator, Linden Lab, directs first-time users there so they can ostensibly find out how to make their avatars walk, fly, chat, and do other things that avatars do.
But the island is also confusing and virtually impossible to return to if you need a brush-up session.
Realizing that Orientation Island doesn’t fit the needs of many educators, the New Media Consortium, a higher-education technology group, has unveiled its own orientation island for newbies. The place has a San Francisco ambience, in homage to Linden Lab’s headquarters: An open-air market, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a trolley car are among the sights.
Kinks remain to be worked out. But the island is more colorful and informative than Linden Lab’s version. Particularly helpful is the “Pier of Culture,” which discusses, among other things, griefers (disruptive avatars), machinima (video production in Second Life), and poseballs (objects that animate avatars who sit on them). Such wisdom usually takes many months for users to discover on their own. —Andrea L. Foster
Posted on Tuesday October 16, 2007 | Permalink |Comments
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The NMC should be commended for their leadership on legitimate educational activities in Second Life.
— Lawrence G. Miller Oct 17, 07:38 AM #
This photo Torley Linden took is absolutely fabulous. And Mr. Miller is right, the NMC hosts stimulating lectures and events in Second Life.
— Marvel Ousley Oct 17, 08:40 AM #
Geez, THREE second life stories in two days?? Is there NOTHING else going on in Higher Ed and technology than virtual worlds and YouTube?
— Joel Oct 17, 11:10 AM #