Presentation at the Sloan-C 2008 ALN conference in Florida. November 4, 2008.

1. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
If my avatar could
talk…
tales from
the edge
of an
online
educator’s
second
life
Alejandra Subagja
Born: January 2007
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

2. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Getting Started
The learning curve..
 Navigation: walking into walls, chat, chat vs. voice, turn taking,
getting around.
 Social observations: friends, shopping, events, mouse, girl
that was a guy, being murdered, pay it forward, I have lindens.
 Building: I don’t.
 Instructional environment: English comp observation. Took a
class in. Talked to people/students/faculty.
 Appearance: I didn’t care for more than 6 months. Until I saw
someone that looked just like me walk by, & until I had an event to
attend: skins, inventory, newbie.
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

3. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Lessons Learned
Once you are in SL
!
Tips:  Take your time getting oriented.
 Take snapshots.
 Learn to use  Don't get hung up on your avatar's appearence.
the camera controls.
 Clean up after
yourself.
 Explore and meet people. Ask questions.
 Join some groups.
 Not everyone is who they seem : )
 Pay it forward.
 Sometimes a flight feather is only a flight feather.
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

4. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Lessons& Learned
Teach learn in SL
!
 Have your students use the same last name, that way they
Tips: are easier to recognize.
 Plan.
 Practice.  Give students time and support to get into SL. Give
 Have a back-up students several ramp up activities to get in and acclimated.
plan.
 Be flexible.
 Be prepared for things to go south.
 Practice turn taking and following/managing chat
discussion.
Try these Rulz:
 ! raising your hand to speak
 ... still speaking
 # completed the thought and relinquishing the floor
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

5. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Research potential…
Exploring the
3 specific areas of potential interest to Higher Ed, online teaching and learning,
and asynchronous learning network communities in general:
 How VR might be used to promote a sense of quot;class communityquot; and
social interaction to enhance the experiences of fully online students? How
and what are the best practices?
 How VR might be used effectively to supplement, enhance, improve both
online and F2F teaching and learning? How and what are the best
practices? And specifically, can it be used to enhance online teaching and
social presences? How is it currently being used by others?
 How institutions of Higher Education might use VR environments
successfully/effectively for marketing, branding, recruitment, f2f and online
student services, retention purposes, alumni relations? How and what are
the successful and effective practices? How is it currently being used by
others?
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

6. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Want to learn
more? 
Info. about SecondLife
http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Top_20_Educational
_Locations_in_Second_Life
 http://secondlifegrid.net/slfe/education-use-virtual-world
 http://secondlife.com/whatis/
 https://lists.secondlife.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/educators
 http://list.academ-x.com/listinfo.cgi/slrl-academ-x.com
 http://ubernoggin.com
 http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Educat
ion_Wiki
 http://secondlife.com/community/newsletter.php
 http://blog.secondlife.com/category/education/
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

7. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Any
questions
?
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .

8. SUNY Learning Network If my avatar could talk…tales from the edge of an online educator's second life.
Thank
you!
Alexandra M. Pickett
alexandra.pickett@sln.suny.edu
SUNY Learning Network
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SUNY%20Learning%20Network/128/128/0
http://www.slideshare.net/alexandrapickett
Avatar: Alejandra Subagja born January 2007
. Alexandra M. PIckett . Sloan-C ALN 2008 .