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Someone I met in RL at the SLCC in Chicago last weekend posted this earlier this month on his blog. It's an example of how those younger than I am natively use the technology that best fits their needs rather than conforming to the technology.
Thanks to KJ for pointing this out:
The latest AHA blog entry points to being able to read books online in a similar manner to real life - turning pages - but using your computer mouse instead of directly with your fingers. If you follow their link to the British Library, you'll be able to read a very old book as well as Alice in Wonderland.
At the recent Second Life conference, we talked a lot about how our new worlds first recreate the old ones (ie classrooms in Second Life configured like those in Real Life) before inventing new ones. It makes sense - we want to know how to do the same thing better. And, even more importantly, we want to bring others in who may be hesitant to enter new technology venues and recreating the familiar makes them more at ease. Some of the good early academic type webpages recreated the look of notebooks with tabs so that the interface was familiar and easy to use.
Here's KJ's video retrospective on the conference:
http://www.storyofmysecondlife.com/?p=390
The diversity of avatars represented as real life human beings was quite amazing in Chicago this weekend. Linden Labs did a great job organizing the conference - including regrouping when the education sessions overwhelmed their allotted space and they switched us out with one of the smaller groups.
Some are starting to question the potential here. I've heard comments like "lots of buildings and place but no avatars/people." I think it's still in early stage development and, as more is built, more will come. In the early days of the web, there was the idea that you had to be able to program to make the most use of it. While you need to have some concept of what programming can do and what it can make possible and how it works when it works correctly, the same assessment applies to Second Life. As long as you understand a bit about what building entails, you don't need to know how to build. There are plenty of in world characters and companies that will build for you so that you can spend your time in other ways.
I still mainly enjoy interacting with others that I wouldn't meet in real life but with whom I share common interests. It's also a great way to stay in touch with people you don't physically see on a regular basis. We're all so busy these days and a few minutes popping into Second Life is like a quick phone chat or IM in some ways.
Of course, Chicago is always a great location for a conference.
The bottom line is that there is so much out there in the world of technology that we all need to use what makes the most sense to use in our world - whether we are talking about our professional lives or our non-professional lives. One of the session leaders commented that kids decide what they need to do without worrying too much about the tools. We that are not kids any more still worry the most about selecting the correct tools _first_. If we want to continue to be effective teachers, we have to understand where the students are coming from and address their interests. It's also the concept that they pull the information and learning they need when they need it rather than passively accepting _only_ what we deliver. Learning is certainly changing. I keep thinking that I would have been all over this as a student - I was always looking for workbooks, etc., in the dime stores (and there's very few of those any more, either). My brain would have been glued to my computer.
Here's KJ's take on last evening - I share his assessment.
Here's another article.
I'm immersed in the Second Life Conference in Chicago. Because of the high attendance for the education track, they moved us across the hall. There was more room but no accessibility to my broadband connection. It's tough to hear about new ideas and not be able to explore them while multi-tasking.
At lunch, I had the opportunity to meet Michael Donnelly who joined Coke a year or so ago and turned a YouTube video that Coke didn't like into a marketing positive. He now takes these "innovators" to YouTube meet-ups around the country. This Wired article gives more info. He mentioned that he has to begin each presentation with an explanation of this initially bad publicity for how Coke responded to the online videos. He has clearly embraced them.
Last night I arrived just in time to go to an Argentinian steakhouse with a large group of educators, including KJ Hax (Kevin Jarrett) whose blog is The Story of My Second Life. He was one of my initial contacts in SL along with Existential Paine who appears to have moved onto other virtual explorations.
I heard Sarah Intelligirl Robbins earlier this afternoon. She conveyed a convincing message about how we as educators have the opportunity to shape this future (Second Life) versus having it forced on us as many educational reforms/movements are usually implemented from the top down.
Not going to the fetish ball tonight - a little too out there for me. Plus there is plenty to do in Chicago and I haven't had a chance to explore much given I've been here less than 24 hours. I did, however, experience Chicago rush hour. It was a reminder that it's a good thing when we bring our teachers to have them out by Midway airport and not have to worry about downtown transportation.
The Second Life Conference in Chicago will provide an opportunity for social networking in real life. Plus, Chicago is always a great place to visit!
Ryan's post is well worth reading.
How does this differ from friendships that develop and/or expand via email?
