Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?

CLASS SUMMARY:

The class started with each student presenting an ‘elevator pitch’ that essentially consisted of a brief introduction to themselves, their area of study, and particular interest in this module.

This was followed by a presentation on team working skills by guest tutor and module graduate Sitearm Madonna.  The slides for this presentation can be viewed here: http://www.slideshare.net/sitearm/virtual-collaboration-tips-and-tools

The participants were then divided into three groups and the module project was introduced and discussed. Full details and the project specifications are given on page 6 Module Assessment. The theme for the project is: ‘Reality’. There is a growing tension between what is considered reality by different generations and groups in society. We know it is possible to live predominantly in a virtual medium and this trend is likely to continue and be more easily afforded with ongoing technological advances. Each participant is asked to explore what makes up reality to themselves and, in particular, how any virtual lives and online engagements are integrated into their daily reality.

The three groups decamped across Akron Island to allow the members to get to know each other, discuss how they might proceed as a group, arrange communication channels and meeting times.

The teams are:

1. ania, Daniel, Sam, Michael, Knitsy, and Mitch Madness
2. Seranox1, Irale, Leela, Mandana, and Twinkle Toes
3. Q, Benisgreat, Knightt, Lewis, Andrew, and Garrett

Please note: There are at least two other Akron students who cannot make it to our Thursday meetings. They are not on a team yet, but if you can coordinate other times to meet with them and other ways to communicate, please recruit them to your team.  They are: Lindsay and SteveSykes (you can search for them and find them in SL).

ACTIVITIES FOR NEXT CLASS:

1. Explore: Get to know your group members and explore SL with your group. You are to visit at least 3 locations that are new to you. Find them in search, or ask other residents for recommendations or select them at random.
2. Discuss: ideas for your project with your group how you are going to develop the project.
3. Write: the second post on your blog reviewing the locations you visited. Explain how and why you chose them and what relevance they might have for your group.
4. Read: Personal Branding Basics for 2011 (accessed on 02/21/14) by Chris Brogan, expert in online community, social media, and related technologies.

There is plenty of interesting writing about Second Life and virtual worlds across the web in online publications such as Virtual Worlds Magazine. Seek them out and try to discover others for yourself.

Virtual Anthropology and the Prometheus Myth (accessed on 02/21/14) by Salahzar Stenvaag in Virtual Worlds Magazine

Forget Playing Games. Meet the Man who wants to Empower you to Make Games (accessed on 02/21/14) by Stephen Totilo in kotaku.com

Your Second Life is Ready (accessed on 02/21/14) is an interesting, and still relevant, introduction to Second Life from Popular Science in 2005.