Interactivity 2B: EXPLORING SECOND LIFE (Advanced Exercise)
Once you have created your avatar in Second Life, the logical next step is to start exploring.
Navigating in Second Life is challenging and even our group, who has had more time to explore, still finds that it is difficult to do things like teleport yourself to other locations, master how to 'fly', let alone walk. So, don't worry, it takes time and practice to become agile in SL.
If our video presentation of the possibilities of Education and Second Life has inspired you, we encourage you to give it a try.
Exercise Instructions:
1. Once you you have created an SL account, downloaded the SL software onto your computer, and created an avatar as per exercise 2A, you are likely in Welcome Island, where all avatars begin.
2. As a first step, try...to take a first step. You can move forward with your UP arrow key (if you are in 'rear view').
3. The Second Life Community, (as show in the image above), provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to navigate. Click HERE to follow their helpful instructions.
Also, check out the video below that shows you an example of navigating and interacting in SL. Some of the commands are achievable in a number of ways, (for example, there are shortcuts that are sometimes dependent on whether you are on a MAC or PC), but through practice and reading instructions and/or watching videos, you will be sure to get the hang of navigating.
4. Once you have become familiar with walking and navigating in SL, try teleporting yourself to one of the locations in our video, such as, the USC Marshall School of Business. You can teleport yourself by clicking "World" at the top menu bar, then "Destinations", then input USC Marshall School of Business into the search field. Once you double click on the USC Marshall School of Business, it will have a button that indicates "Teleport". Click this button and prepare to be teleported to USC Marshall School of Business.
5. Once you have navigated around in Second Life for a little while, we would ask you to write a journal entry about your experience and if you had any ideas about how this landscape may lend itself to teaching, now or in the future. If you are a teacher, please give specific examples of how you would consider incorporating SL into your curriculum.
6. Please post your response to our ETEC 522 Blog in the 'Exploring SL discussion.
5. Once you have navigated around in Second Life for a little while, we would ask you to write a journal entry about your experience and if you had any ideas about how this landscape may lend itself to teaching, now or in the future. If you are a teacher, please give specific examples of how you would consider incorporating SL into your curriculum.
6. Please post your response to our ETEC 522 Blog in the 'Exploring SL discussion.
References
Fezzette. (2009, July 4). First Steps in Second Life [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI18OGjejo0&feature=youtu.be
SECOND LIFE. (nd). Second Life Quick Start. Retrieved Nov. 1, 2012 from http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Second-Life-Quickstart/ta-p/1087919
SECOND LIFE. (nd). Second Life Quick Start. Retrieved Nov. 1, 2012 from http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Second-Life-Quickstart/ta-p/1087919