Second Life For Educators Presented at TLA by Valerie Hill – Lewisville ISD (SL- Valibrarian Gregg) Handouts by Beth Knittle (SL – Beth Kohnke)

How it looks... Valerie Hill Valibrarian Gregg in Second Life Lewisville I.S.D.

Introduction  Second Life  “It is a communication tool, a social networking site, a presentation medium, a place for collaboration.”  Users create an avatar; interact online in real time  Users have opportunities to participate in educational activities as well as social activities

SL Culture and Etiquette  Communication  Users can chat,IM, or speak  Nothing is ever really private  Places & People  Avatars “should” act as we would in real life; face-to-face, keep distance, etc.  Making Friends  Users can ask others to be their friend; you may decline  Friends can see each other when online

The Basics   Getting Around  Walk, fly, teleport (TP), friend can teleport you  Changing Appearance  Orientation and Help Islands can teach you how to change  Can find different hair, clothes, expressions, etc  Joining Groups  Can join up to 25 groups; some have open enrollment, others are invitation only  Educators – JOIN ISTE and DEN  Money  Participation is free; some things do cost

Places (Landmarks) to Visit  Info Island  Alliance Virtual Library Collections  Digital online books and literature available  Info Island Library  Collection on math, science, history and more  Info Island Reference Desk  Support center for SL  ISTE Island  Supports integrating technology in K-12

Places (Landmarks) to Visit  Antiquity Texas  Visit San Jacinto Plaza, Governor’s Mansion, Capitol Bldg, or The Alamo Capitol Bldg, or The Alamo  Land of Lincoln  The White House as it would have been circa 1860  The Jewish Holocaust Museum  Multimedia display of the Holocaust  International Spaceflight Museum  Rockets and spacecraft from the past, present & future. Ride a rocket and explore the planets.  The Learning Experience  Sims for writers, literature, science, history, art and SL tutorials

Places (Landmarks) to Visit  War History & Memorial  Interactive world history sim  Abyss Museum of Ocean Science  Immersive and interactive exhibit of oceans  Sea World  Interactive animal and marine biology museum  Museum of the African American Experience  Walk through AA history; a place for conversation and debate  New York  Visit Times Square, Central Park, or Statue of Liberty

Educational Groups in Second Life  ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)  offers resources to help new users, Thursday Social, Tuesday show-and-tell  Jokaydia  “community of educators and artists exploring the uses of Second Life in Education”; Educator Square, access to presentations  DEN (Discovery Educator Network)  Users can connect to one another for resources

Getting Started  Create account and download software  Create an avatar (name and appearance)  Practice (it takes time to learn to walk, talk, get dressed, etc)  ASK for help; reference desk, Orientation Island, Help Island  Join a group; search for interesting islands

Stuff Mary Said We Had to Say  3 Main Ideas  Offers a plethora of opportunities in and outside of education  Not ready for school implementation yet (no filters)  Offers live “realistic” interaction while removing barriers of cost, time, and distance  2 Things New to Us  Hard to pick just 2 since EVERYTHING was new to us  Hard to pick just 2 since EVERYTHING was new to us  1 (or more) Way(s) to Apply SL to Library  Virtual Field Trips  Virtual Meeting and Conferences  Literary Events  Networking

What Kind of Avatar Will You Be? And Where Will You Go?