Second Life

It took me awhile to figure out what is going on with my Second Life character.  I spoke to another SL participant and he told me that it takes at least a good solid week to become familiar with the platform. 

I favor face-to-face classes for many reason but mainly for the potential relationships and professional networks I am able to create. Second Life is a great way to create that student-to-student relationship from an online format.  Apparently there are millions of SL users from all over the world. 

As an elementary teacher, I probably would not use SL with my students for several reasons.  For one, I do not think it is appropriate for younger students.  Secondly, it is really complicated to use.  And finally, my school blocks it.  However, I read in a blog somewhere that teachers bring their classes on virtual field trips around the world and then have them write about it.  This allows them to discover, under the watch of the teacher, different communities and interact with them. The students can write about their reactions, interactions, or questions they had, or just about their encounters.

For the upper grades, I think it could be a great tool to use especially for students who have low self-esteem.  I imagine students would enjoy creating their own Avatars to represent what they would want to look like.  Maybe the shy students would be more receptive to interact from the safety of their own home.   In another blog somewhere I read that students use SL to perform their own plays in front of a live audience! So cool! They can even watch a play as well.  Students can write their own poems and songs and perform them in front of other Avatars.

I like that there are places in which you can meet as a group but I do not like that anyone can be there to interfere or disturb a lesson.  I think I remember reading that you can create a room that is a meeting place for specific group members.

It seems like Second Life would be a great tool and I wish I had time to play around with it.  Perhaps you will find me logged on this summer.  My screen name is Jenflave1.