This is my second experience with Second Life. The first time I did not enjoy it at all, and I felt like it was very cumbersome. This time I still think it is cumbersome, and things did not load very quickly, but I had a better experience than before. I saw someone and chased him down until I could talk with him. He was very helpful. I told him that I was confused, but was on here for a class. I asked him if there was anywhere special that I needed to go. He asked me what I liked, and I said country music and dancing. I blinked, and he disappeared. A minute or so later, he sent me a friend request, and when I responded he was able to send me a teleport request. We went to Moose Lodge Stonewood Homes and Interiors. I asked him how long he had been on Second Life, and he said ten days and that he had had good help navigating Second Life. I told him that I had already had a better experience than last time because I had talked with him. Besides the chance to teleport from a teleport request from a friend, he gave me another tip that was very helpful. There is a search button just below the time. I searched some things, including Hawaii, and then I teleported there. I couldn't maneuver anywhere and lost contact with my new "friend". I also lost connection. I have had lots of problems getting cut off.
After researching Second Life further, I have become very excited about the educational possibilities. I found a You Tube video (below) which was too long for me to watch it in its entirety now, but I was amazed at the possibilities. Sarah Robbins, doctoral candidate from the University of Indiana, teaches Freshman Composition in Second Life. She had over 200 students applying to take her Second Life Freshman Composition class when only 18 seats were available.
Students can interact with each other at a low risk because they are in a virtual world instead of the real world. When educators build learning spaces, it gives students the opportunity to learn authentically by letting them be themselves, which might be more difficult for them in a face-to-face classroom. An extreme introvert may have more opportunities because he/she would be less nervous.
Educators can teach class on different free properties or there is a lot of open space. Educators can build on Second Life. Even though it is free, there are incidental costs—different carpets, etc. She gave each team 100 Lindens (equal to about $.30).
The instructor has all of her students in a group, so it is easy for her to disseminate information to the group. There are different controls that can be set at different times, which can be turned on and off for class times. Here is the video where Sarah Robbins explains her experiences.
After researching, I tried to think of a group that may be involved with Second Life, and I found ISTE has its own island, which I was able to locate on Second Life. Here is a short YouTube video discussing it.
I found another article written by a student, Rachel Gollub, that also explains Second Life and discusses how it can be used for library resources.
Also, here are two of the pictures from UCM Selmo Park.
