technology

SL

KJ and I were finally on at the same time when he wasn't busy presenting or otherwise couldn't multitask. He showed me around his place - part of the CAVE dormitory. And I'm in the next building over - so I'm glad I secured a good location in an excellent neighborhood.

I also spent some more time corresponding with the professor and we are going to continue our conversations in real life via email - the online typing waiting for the lag time online on response was a bit too much. I think voice is coming to SL soon and that will help with overlapping conversations - especially with the larger groups that try to interact all at once.

I bought a rug at the mission furniture store and  am probably going to do a bit more shopping. It really is not that expensive - at least where I am finding things. There are freebie shops but it's like bargain shopping - you have to weed through quite a bit of "interesting" and overtly sexual stuff. And, usually nothing is actually free - it comes with something else - and since I'm still learning the ins and outs of SL.  . .. .I'll be a bit cautious.

Education Horizons in New Zealand

Last night, Professor took me to an interesting learning space with several areas for small groups to talk. Luckily, his friend who owns and designed the land stopped by. She's from New Zealand (originally the UK) and both have at least one degree in history. Another techie from NZ also came by. I was very at home with this group - we have a common language in history plus we like tech.

KJ and I are still trying to touch base - his hours have just been different than mine or - and this is what happens most of the time - he is busy working in SL when I'm there.

I was growing tired of the same old blogs I was reading and SL has definitely provided a new an intriguing and challenging venue. I'm not sure how much I want to learn to build and design - am thinking I will pay someone else to do that and help underwrite the SL economy and focus my time on what I have time for. I know that building can take a great deal of time and frustration.

From one of my new NZ friends, I did learn about a free 3D program - blender.org. I'll have to check it out.

Educational Horizons in SL

Over the last two days, I've discovered new educational venues and/or avatars. Last night I attended a discussion about education in SL - it was a great way to remind us by IMing the group. I was at ISTE and was talking to 6 or 7 people that ended up coming with me. The only confusion was that we beat the organizer there to get us to the right part of the building. They even had avatar security - which is good considering that I now know what griefers are.

Earlier today I met a professor from Olympic College in Washington State who recently graduated from Pepperdine with a doctorate in Ed Tech. We're getting together to chat online later - he's one of the most polite avatars I've met so far. And he has already invited me to a meeting on Friday with some grad students from Pepperdine - it's a way of bonding cohorts. He's already shared some interesting insights -including how to lol (laugh out loud) in virtual space.

I'm still trying to spend more time with KJ and Ex but eventually we'll get there.

I had set up a group for Pitt State Gorillas and I have my first "member" - a student from a nearby junior college who is coming to PSU next year. I had been by Greenbush earlier today and they mentioned setting up a meeting with Labette County. The student has been in SL for several months. Once his instructor came online, his instructor teleported him away - but hopefully we will talk more later. He wants to major in criminal justice - which will mean he is in the same hallway as I am for some of his classes when I am back in August.

So the Pitt State Gorillas group is already working. .  . It will be interesting to see how fast it grows.

I think I'm beginning to make some of the types of connections I want to make with other professionals in SL. It's great to be among those that are enthusiastic but, more importantly for me, to be among those that have faced the same obstacles at the post-secondary levels. I have a great deal to learn from the ISTE group but, in general, I have to work within different parameters. At least in virtual space, however, our worlds can overlap much more easily. I'm also interested in the great research potential made possible by SL.