For all you horse lovers...

On Friday, May 1st, University of KY Island's virtual Young Library welcomes its newest exhibit:

Unbridled History: Celebrating the Horse Industry of Kentucky

The exhibit will be presented in conjunction with a Kentucky Derby exhibit held on the University of Louisville's Second Life Island. The opening of the two exhibits will be celebrated with a Derby Eve Party on Friday May 1st from 11:00 am SLT - 1:00 pm SLT on UK's Island. Everyone is welcome to attend!

The UK exhibit will feature historical photographs and information about the horse industry in Kentucky and information about the _Daily Racing Form_ Digitization Project, a collaboration between the University of Kentucky Libraries and Keeneland Racecourse Association.

For more information see http://ukisland.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/new-horse-exhibit-just-in-time-for-the-derby/. The SLURL to attend the opening event is http://slurl.com/secondlife/University%20of%20KY/113/109/29.

Quidditch Anyone?

Dr. Laura Nicosia is teaching an English course in Fantasy Literature. One of the works they read was one of the Harry Potter books. We built a Quidditch Stadium for the class and purchased the scripts and objects to be able to play Quidditch. The students have made up teams and plan to play as part of the end-of-semester festivities.

One of my student techs has been responsible for this entire project. We'd like to test out the Quidditch game in a "live" test environment before wrecking havoc on a class. :-) So, tomorrow (Thursday), April 30th, at 1pm SLT, we are inviting anyone who is interested to come by and help us test the Quidditch game.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Montclair%20State%20CHSS/139/42/22

All comers welcome - any skill level, any length of time in SL. Part of this experiment is to see how well Alex (SL: Flem Hax), my student tech, has down the explanation of how the game works. This testing will allow us to make changes before we meet the class, which will have end-users of all skill levels and lengths of time in SL.

Hope you'lll join us.

aj

p.s. - Don't forget about the premier of the Wilber Middle School Library project on Saturday at 9am SLT. See my previous email for details or wait until tomorrow, I'll be sending it out again (1 day before, as requested by the list - I have to remember to send those stats from the survey out).

--
AJ Kelton
Director of Emerging Instructional Technology
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Montclair State University (MSU)
1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043

Second Life Project Coordinator
College of Education and Human Services, MSU

----------

http://www.sorry-afk.com
http://sorry-afk.blogspot.com/
Second Life: AJ Brooks
Twitter: sorry_afk
Plurk: sorry_afk
Skype: sorry.afk
AIM: sorryafk
Facebook: AJ Kelton
Myspace: sorry_afk

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

INSEAD's MBA without Borders
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/education/blog/2009/04/29/inseads-mba-without-borders

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MBA without borders....you gotta check this out

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bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

National Autonomous University of Mexico: Education and Training Around the
World
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/education/blog/2009/04/24/national-autonomous-university-of-mexico-education-and-training-around-the-world

The sender also included this note:

Amazing University in SL

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bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

Day of Remembrance Returns
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/blog/2009/04/21/day-of-remembrance-returns

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Day of Remembrance...

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bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

Newsweek Tells the Second Life Love Story of Heart & Joe
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/press/blog/2009/04/14/newsweek-tells-the-second-life-love-story-of-heart-joe

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an interesting story

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Cool Event

Texas Woman’s University invites you to join us for our 2nd Annual Virtual Student Creative Arts & Research Symposium

Celebrating it's 12th year in Denton, Texas and it's 2nd year in Second Life, TWU's Student Creative arts and Research Symposium is an event not to be missed. For two days the island will be full of student researchers, art exhibits and displays. We invite you to bring your friends and join us in this exciting opportunity for sharing student research and creativity.

Students will be present at the following times to answer questions and discuss their research. An open house on Tuesday and Wednesday will be held at 10 am SLT (12 noon CST) where we will have tours of our student art exhibits.

All Events at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Texas%20Womans%20University4/132/115/23

Session I: Tuesday, April 21 7am- 8:20am SLT
Deborah Jones (SL: Gracious Foxtrot)- Dance
An Historical Overview of Tap Dance as an Indigenous American Art Form Transformed and
Presented as a College Course for the Online Learner

Sherry Grover (SL: Sherry Westminster)- Health Studies
The Effects of Projectpower Diabetes Education Program on Adult African Americans' Diabetes Knowledge, Empowerment, and Readiness to Change

Alex Montminy (SL: InvestorAlex Levee)- Mathematics & Computer Science
Anything is Possible in Second Life

Cristy Jefferson (SL: Crchoreia Junibalya) -Teacher Education
Collaborative Leadership Skills through Dance Composition

_________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday - April 22 10am-10:50pm SLT
TWU-School of the Arts Live: The spot for the arts in Second Life
Open house of student art exhibitons.
Guided tours will begin promptly at 10:00 and 10:30.

_________________________________________________________________________
Session II: Tuesday, April 21 12:40-2pm SLT
Gina Sawyer (SL: Selene Nubalo) - Dance
Effective Practices for Course Design and Delivery of Dance Appreciation in a Virtual Learning
Environment

John Niemi & Kat Bell (SL: Nhojnalla Ninetails & SL: Failli Constantine) Dance
Building Active and Engaging Online Learning Communities in Dance Studies

Twyla Bloxham (SL: Dubiel Werefox) Visual Arts
Pseudoscience: Examing Nature

________________________________________________________________________
Session III: Tuesday April 21 4:00-5:20pm SLT
Bethany Nelson (SL: Belamonk Snoodle)- Dance
A Documentary Film about the Postmodern Dance Form of Contact Improvisation

Elizabeth Higgins (SL: Beez Rae) -Visual Arts
The Society of The Laboriously Contrived Apparatus For Simple Living

Darlene Hunter (SL : Darlene Voom) - Family Sciences
A Phenomenological Approach: The Impact on Families of Sports Participation for a child with a Physical Disability

Catherine Dutton (SL: Catherine Soderstrom)- Family Sciences
Learning Spaces in Virtual Worlds- Pervasive and Innovative Uses

Hill, Valerie (SL: Valibrarian Gregg) - Library & Information Studies
Collaboration Among Virtual World Librarians: A Progress Report

Ida Monique Rocha (SL: DD Blackheart)- Teacher Education
Actively Integrating Multicultural Contexts as Sparks for Creativity in a High School Dance Class

Natasha Freeman (SL: Anntoinette Blackheart) - Teacher Education
Developing Interdisciplinary Knowledge Skills through Creative Movement

________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday- April 22 10am-10:50 SLT
TWU-School of the Arts Live: The spot for the arts in Second Life
Open house of student art exhibitons.

For questions please contact Catherine Soderstrom (RL: Catherine Dutton) or 2ndlife@twu.edu
_______________________________________________
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bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

The Second Life Economy - First Quarter 2009 in Detail
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/04/16/the-second-life-economy--first-quarter-2009-in-detail

The sender also included this note:

Second Life Economy

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bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

Liquid Electric
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/eureka/blog/2009/04/07/liquid-electric

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great info and events in sl

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Newbie Woman's SL Survival Kit

The SL Left Unity Feminists group has worked collectively on the Newbie
Woman's SL Survival Kit , and it's finally finished. It's available as a
notecard and as a book, which also links to the website.
You can see the contents of the Kit by going to the Women's Resource Hub,
here:
http://womensresourcehub.wetpaint.com/page/Newbie+Woman%27s+SL+Survival+Kit
If you'd like a prim copy, they're available at the Minerva welcome center
and in the Ada Lovelace Library
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva/16/19/22/
And at Shakespeare's Sister
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hallelujah Blue/49/164/23/
If you'd like the freebie giver, just let me know and I'll send it
If you have comments or suggestions (I know you will) please feel free.

--

Dr. Sharon Collingwood
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/collingwood7/
Department of Women's Studies
Ohio State University
286 University Hall
230 North Oval Mall
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1311

Second Life: Ellie Brewster
Visit Minerva Isle in Second Life
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva/10/10/29/
Visit Minerva Isle on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1115820642

Journal of Virtual Worlds

The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research has released its latest issue:

http://jvwresearch.org

Vol 2, No 1: Pedagogy, Education and Innovation in Virtual Worlds

This edition of the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research is dedicated to
exploring the breadth of designs, pedagogies and curricular innovations
that are actually already being applied to teaching and learning in
virtual worlds. We encourage participation from a broad range of
academics, researchers, educators, and educational practitioners from
across the disciplinary spectrum – including, but not limited to:
curriculum development, educational administration, distance education,
information and knowledge management, instructional technology,
e-learning, communication and education, sociology, art education, and
visual culture. We strongly encourage submissions that illustrate key
findings with examples and case studies; experimental research;
pedagogical innovations; and best practices for the integration of
virtual worlds technologies into the learning experience.

Leveraging Game-Playing Skills, Expectations and Behaviors of Digital
Natives to Improve Visual Analytic Tools
Theresa A. O'Connell, John D. Grantham, Kevin A. Workman, Wyatt Wong

Introduction: Pedagogy, Education and Innovation in Virtual Worlds
Leslie Jarmon, Kenneth Y. T. Lim, B. Stephen Carpenter, II

An Ecology of Embodied Interaction: Pedagogy and homo virtualis
Leslie Jarmon

Virtual Worlds as Educational Experience: Living and Learning in
Interesting Times
B. Stephen Carpenter, II

The Six Learnings of Second Life: a Framework for Designing Curricular
Interventions In-world
Kenneth Lim


Peer-Reviewed Research Papers

Learning in a different life: Pre-service education students using an
online virtual world.
Chris Campbell

An integrated framework for simulation-based training on video and in a
virtual world
David Chodos, Eleni Stroulia, Parisa Naeimi

Using Second Life for Problem Based Learning in Computer Science Programming
Micaela Esteves, Benjamim Fonseca, Leonel Morgado, Paulo Martins

Beyond the Game: Quest Atlantis as an Online Learning Experience for
Gifted Elementary Students
Jackie Gerstein

Virtual Education: Teaching Media Studies in Second Life
David Kurt Herold

Canadian Border Simulation at Loyalist College
Ken Hudson, Kathryn deGast-Kennedy

Using Second Life to Teach Operations Management
Peggy Daniels Lee

Questions and Answers in a Virtual World : Educators and Librarians as
Information Providers in Second Life
Lorri Mon

A virtual environment study in entrepreneurship education of young children
Angela M Pereira, Paulo Martins, Leonel Morgado, Benjamim Fonseca

Second Life Physics : Virtual, Real or Surreal?
Renato P. dos Santos

Second Life and Classical Music Education: Developing Iconography That
Encourages Human Interaction
David Thomas Schwartz

3D virtual learning in counselor education: Using Second Life in
counselor skill development
Victoria Lynn Walker

A Composite Adult Learning Model for Virtual World Residents with
Disabilities: A Case Study of the Virtual Ability Second Life® Island
Marjorie A. Zielke, Thomas Roome


"Think Pieces"

Games, Learning, and 21st Century Survival Skills
James Paul Gee

Can We Move Beyond Visual Metaphors? Virtual World Provocations and
Second Life
Pamela G. Taylor


Interactive Online Exhibits and Demonstrations

Visualizing Atomic Orbitals Using Second Life
Andrew Stuart Lang, David Kobilnyk

Between snapshots and avatars: using visual methodologies for fieldwork
in Second Life
Paula Roush, Ming Nie, Matthew Wheeler


Research-in-Brief Papers

Use of a virtual world system in sports coach education for reproducing
team handball movements
Antonio Lopes, Bruno Pires, Marcio Cardoso, Arnaldo Santos, Filipe
Peixinho, Pedro Sequeira , Leonel Morgado, Hugo Paredes, Oleguer
Camerino Foguet


--
Jeremiah Spence
Editor
Journal of Virtual Worlds Research.
http://jvwresearch.org
E-mail: jeremiah.spence@jvwresearch.org
--




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To unsubscribe
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New Art Gallery

We are pleased to inform you that a new exhibition is opening at the SL Vista Hermosa Art Center.
"Collecting Artists - An Eye-Opening Experience" will open next weekend,

Saturday, April 18th at 2pm SLT/PDT
This exhibition has been developed in collaboration with graduate students of Kansas State University from the class on "Virtual Learning". These students aided us in finding and inviting a number of talented SL artists.

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

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Second Life Lives Behind a Firewall
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/grid/blog/2009/04/01/second-life-lives-behind-a-firewall

The sender also included this note:

The Second Life Economy

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Theses and Dissertations on SL

Here are all dissertations including "Second Life" in abstract or keywords in Proquest - chronological order.

Piece of trivia: The VERY FIRST dissertation was done at a Canadian school in 2007.

Cheryl Carter did her SL work on my SJSU sim, BTW.

----

Rycroft, Alan E. (2007). Young adults and virtual public spheres: Building a new political culture. M.A. dissertation, Royal Roads University (Canada), Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT MR29791).

Kelley, Matthew James (2007). Utopia redux: On the convergence of community, technology and open source society. Ph.D. dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University, United States -- Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3266137).

Moon, Jang Ho (2007). The new ways of corporate communication in virtual environments: Case studies of Second Life. M.A. dissertation, University of Southern California, United States -- California. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 1447046).

Caravella, Mary Neuner (2007). Privacy, strategic information disclosure and new customer acquisition: Implications for customer relationship management. Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard University, United States -- Massachusetts. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3273199).

Williams, David Allen (2008). Virtual aesthetics and ethical communication: Towards virtuous reality design. M.A. dissertation, Clemson University, United States -- South Carolina. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 1450704).

Carter, Cheryl A. (2008). The Panhellenic Project: Assessing learning engagement using Web 2.0 technologies. Ed.D. dissertation, Pepperdine University, United States -- California. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3330961).

McAulay, Alex (2008). Surfing the interzones: Posthuman geographies in twentieth century literature and film. Ph.D. dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States -- North Carolina. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3304355).

Antonijevic, Smiljana (2008). Rhetoric, culture, and avatars: A microethnographic analysis of nonverbal communication in multiuser, 3D virtual environments. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Minnesota, United States -- Minnesota. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3311458).

Jamison, John B. (2008). Educators in a strange land: The experience of traditional educators when immersed into the virtual environment of Second Life. Ph.D. dissertation, Capella University, United States -- Minnesota. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3307549).

Atlas, Stephen A. (2008). Economic experiments in virtual worlds: Framing, reciprocity & trust. M.A. dissertation, Tufts University, United States -- Massachusetts. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 1450772).

Franklin, Janice Lynn (2008). Dimensions of sound in virtual online immersive environments: A theoretical exploration. Ph.D. dissertation, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States -- Texas. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3340474).

Hebert, Sara (2008). Digital memorialization: Collective memory, tragedy, and participatory spaces. M.A. dissertation, University of Denver, United States -- Colorado. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 1453941).

Cabiria, Jonathan (2008). A Second Life: Online virtual worlds as therapeutic tools for gay and lesbian people. Ph.D. dissertation, Fielding Graduate University, United States -- California. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3310397).

Derby, Jacqueline C. (2008). Applying online virtual worlds to informal professional development: A study of rural teachers participating in Second Life. Ph.D. dissertation, Walden University, United States -- Minnesota. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3320290).

Fox, F. Sutter (2008). A formative evaluation of a surface warfare simulation to improve problem solving. Ed.D. dissertation, University of Southern California, United States -- California. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection database. (Publication No. AAT 3325081).

CNN Article on SL

wow nice article!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/07/second.life.singer/index.html?iref=t2test_techtues
_______________________________________________

Some Good SL Articles

Here are some peer reviewed research articles and book chapters that have
not been posted – some are available at http://research.educatorscoop.org


Jarmon, Leslie, Traphagan, Tomoko, & Mayrath, Michael. (2008).
“Understanding Project-Based Learning in Second Life with a Pedagogy,
Training, and Assessment Trio,” Educational Media International, Vol. 45(3),
153–171. Routledge.

Jarmon, L. & Sanchez, J. (2009 forthcoming). “The Educators Coop: A Model
for Collaboration and LSI Communication Research in the Virtual World,”
Electronic Journal of Communication. CIOS.

Sanchez, J. (2009 ) Virtual Worlds: New Spaces for Service Learning. In
Service Learning: Linking Library Education and Practice. Edited by Loriene
Roy and Alex Hershey. ALA Editions. American Library Association

Jarmon, L., & Sanchez, J. (2008 in Press) The Educators Coop: A Virtual
World Model for Real World Collaboration. Proceedings of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology.

Jarmon, Leslie & Sanchez, Joe. (2008). “The Educators Coop Experience in
Second Life: A Model for Collaboration,” Journal of the Research Center for
Educational Technology, Vol. 4(2). (html)

Sanchez, J. (2007). Second Life: An Interactive Qualitative Analysis. In C.
Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology
and Teacher Education International Conference 2007 (pp. 1240-1243).
Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

Sanchez, J. (2007). A Sociotechnical Systems Analysis of Second Life in an
Undergraduate English Course. In Proceedings of World Conference on
Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2007 (pp.
4254-4258). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

Mayrath, M., Sanchez, J., Traphagan, T., Heikes, J. & Trivedi, A. (2007).
Using Second Life in an English course: Designing class activities to
address learning objectives. In Proceedings of World Conference on
Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2007 (pp.
4219-4224).
Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

Schultze, U. & Rennecker, J. (2007) "Reframing Online Games: Synthetic
Worlds as Media for Organizational Communication," in IFIP International
Federation for Information Processing, Vol 236, Virtuality and
Virtualization, K. Crowston, S. Sieber & E. Wynne (Eds), Springer: Boston,
pp. 335-351.

Journal of Virtual Worlds

There is a new issue of the Journal of Virtual World Research: Vol 2, No 1: Pedagogy, Education and Innovation in Virtual Worlds http://www.jvwresearch.org/v2n1.html

My article is Beyond the game:Quest Atlantis as an online learning experience for gifted elementary students
http://journals.tdl.org/jvwr/article/view/403/458

Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D.
http://jackiegerstein.weebly.com/
http://www.pageflakes.com/jgerst1111/
Twitter: jackiegerstein
Second Life: Jackie Rexen

National Library Week

Next week is National Library Week in the US and the American Library Association would like to invite everyone to celebrate in SL as well.

----------------------------------------------

In celebration of National Library Week, the American Library Association (ALA) will host a series of “Worlds connect @ your library” events in Second Life. “Worlds connect @ your library” is theme 2009 theme for National Library Week.

This year’s attractions and events in Second Life mark the second National Library Week to host “in-world” activities. Attractions open throughout National Library Week will include:

An ALA / Information Island Archipelago Treasure Hunt. Visitors are invited to explore the Information Island Chain while picking up fun and useful freebies along the way.

A celebration of ALA Allied Professional Association’s (ALA-APA) National Library Workers Day, Tuesday, April 14. ALA Island will feature the Gallery of Library Stars, where visitors can pose for a picture and have it added to the gallery.

Build-Your-Own-Tour of Libraries in Second Life. SL users can use the pictures on the ALA Island to visit different library locations throughout Second Life.

A Youth Media Award art gallery. Visitors are invited to stop by the Lorlei Junot Gallery to check out this National Library Week art exhibit featuring cover art from Caldecott, Pura Belpré and Coretta Scott King award winners and honor medal recipients.

Also, during National Library Week, ALA staff members will be in Second Life to reach out and connect with SL users. Special events will include:

10 a.m. SLT, Monday, April 13 - Main Stage, ALA Island
Megan McFarlane, coordinator for the Campaign for America’s Libraries (Second Life avatar, Bunny Iwish), will host a talk on the fourth season of Step Up to the Plate @ your library. McFarlane will be on hand to discuss the 2009 season, which will focus on the history and diversity of our America’s national pastime, and to answer questions on promoting the program.

4 p.m. SLT, Tuesday, April 14 - Banned Books Week Town Square, ALA Island
Tina Coleman, ALA membership specialist (Second Life avatar, Kay Tairov), will moderate a book discussion of “The Watchmen.” The discussion will focus on the graphic novel and its impact on modern literature and pop culture.

6 p.m. SLT, Wednesday, April 15 - Main Stage, ALA Island
Joe Sanchez, author of “Library Technology Reports” and doctoral candidate in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin (Second Life avatar, North Lamar), will host a presentation titled “Implementing Second Life: Ideas, Challenges and Innovations.”

12 p.m. SLT, Thursday, April 16 - Salon Huron, ALA Island
Valerie Hawkins, ALA library reference specialist (Second Life avatar, ALALibraryVal Miles), will moderate a T.A.R.D.I.S (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) @ your library, a discussion of the world of the popular British science fiction show “Doctor Who.”

12 p.m. SLT, Friday, April 17 - Main Stage, ALA Island
Furthering promoting the theme of “connections,” Jenny Levine, internet development specialist & strategy guide, ITTS (Second Life avatar, Cielo Paris), will host a presentation on ALA Connect, ALA’s new social networking site.

The ALA Island/ALA Main Stage is located at 128, 107, 29. In Second Life, teleport there directly: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/128/107/29/

To learn more about Second Life, visit ALA’s Second Life wiki at http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php/Second_Life. For more information on National Library Week, visit the National Library Week Web page at www.ala.org/pio/nlw.

The Campaign for America’s Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA’s Library Champions, corporations and foundations who advocate the importance of the library in American society.

SL Economy

Hi all,

Check out the blog on second life economy:

Coming soon we will be holding round tables regarding business and entrepreneurship in Second Life..in the meantime check out the discussion here:
https://blogs.secondlife.com/thread/1053


Thanks!
Cathy

Day of Rememberence

In observance of the annual Days of Remembrance, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is offering guided tours of WITNESSING HISTORY - KRISTALLNACHT: THE NOVEMBER 1938 POGROMS on our sim in Second Life. Please invite friends, family, colleagues, students, and others to join us for these tours on the US Holocaust Museum Second Life sim at any of the following dates and times:

TUESDAY, APRIL 21 @ 4pm SLT / 7pm ET
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 @ 11am SLT / 2pm ET and at 5pm SLT / 8pm ET
THURSDAY, APRIL 23 @ 4pm SLT / 7pm ET

Please RSVP to secondlife@ushmm.org or to Eubie Doobie in SL.


David Klevan Education Manager for Technology and Distance Learning 202.488.0462
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
www.ushmm.org


April 19-26, 2009
DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE
NEVER AGAIN: WHAT YOU DO MATTERS
www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

Second Life BunnyJam: Contests, Egg Hunts & More!
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/blog/2009/04/06/second-life-bunnyjam-contests-egg-hunts-more

The sender also included this note:

fun times in SL...check it out...

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bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

Liquid Electric
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/eureka/blog/2009/04/07/liquid-electric

The sender also included this note:

These Sites are Amazing

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Useful Web Sites for your Essays

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7733264.stm

http://corporategeek.info/Measure-Readability-Documents-Emails

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/debates/3394545/Oxford-compiles-list-of-top-ten-irritating-phrases.html

http://www.confusingwords.com/

Please ensure that you take your document through the readability measure for your own benefit for this paper.....It will be required for the Research Paper...

dr. c

Art Contest in SL

Hi all,

I’m excited to announce that the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence, Kansas is issuing a call to artists for two separate Second Life juried art shows, “Virtual World/Natural Responses” and “A Prim Life: Photographs from the Virtual World.” We would love to have you and/or your (18+) students participate.

The deadline for entry is May 1, 2009 and show dates run mid-May through mid-June on the Spencer Art Museum Island. I’ve attached information for both shows, and check for updates here: http://www.spencerart.ku.edu/exhibitions/secondlife.shtml

Linden dollar prizes will be awarded for the top 3 pieces in “Virtual World/Natural Responses.”

For tips, attend one of our two building workshops on the Spencer Art Museum Island, April 1, 10-11 AM SLT, and April 6, 10-11 AM SLT. Teleport now (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spencer%20Art%20Museum%20/118/131/21/?title=Spencer%20Art%20Museum ).

We hope to see your entries!

Thank you,


Jessica Lea Johnson
Project Coordinator
IMLS Engaging Communities Grant
Spencer Museum of Art
University of Kansas
1301 Mississippi Street
Lawrence, KS 66045-7500

Phone: 785.864.0120
Fax: 785.864.3112
jeslea@ku.edu

Virtual Worlds and Hybrid Learning Talk

Please join the SL Education Roundtable tomorrow (Tuesday), March 31st, at 2:30pm SLT at the CHSSSouth Amphitheater, on Montclair State CHSSSouth.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Montclair%20State%20CHSSSouth/129/158/22

We meet every Tuesday and talk about a variety of subjects. Some weeks we may have a guest speaker and/or focus on one topic and other weeks we may just talk about what folks feel like chatting about.

Tomorrow's meeting topic will be
Virtual Worlds for Hybrid and Online Learning
with our special guests
Ellen Marie Murphy (SL: Elani Matova), Jane Wilde (SL: Esme Qunhua), Sharon Collingwood (SL: Ellie Brewster) and Stargazer Blazer

Don't miss this event and see below for our future meeting schedule.

If you are on Facebook, please join our group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44078263753&ref=share

Hope you can make it Tuesday at 2:30pm SLT.

Medical Training in SL Article

Nice article and video on CNN today.

"Can Second Life help teach doctors to treat patients?"

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/30/doctors.second.life/

Education Round Table

Please join the SL Education Roundtable tomorrow (Tuesday), March 31st, at 2:30pm SLT at the CHSSSouth Amphitheater, on Montclair State CHSSSouth.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Montclair%20State%20CHSSSouth/129/158/22

We meet every Tuesday and talk about a variety of subjects. Some weeks we may have a guest speaker and/or focus on one topic and other weeks we may just talk about what folks feel like chatting about.

Tomorrow's meeting topic will be
Virtual Worlds for Hybrid and Online Learning
with our special guests
Ellen Marie Murphy (SL: Elani Matova), Jane Wilde (SL: Esme Qunhua), Sharon Collingwood (SL: Ellie Brewster) and Stargazer Blazer

Don't miss this event and see below for our future meeting schedule.

If you are on Facebook, please join our group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44078263753&ref=share

Hope you can make it Tuesday at 2:30pm SLT.

best.
aj


UPCOMING SCHEDULE (subject to change)
April 7th - SPECIAL Interview - Ramapo Island and the Teen Grid. Special Guest: Maggie Marat
April 14th - Bringing Faculty and Students into Second Life - Guest: Suzanne Medders (SL: Mirt Tenk)
April 21st - Best Second Life Administrative Practices
April 28th - The Linden Listening Tour: Changes to Adult Content - an EDU Perspective - Special Guests: Claudia Linden, George Linden, and Pathfinder Linden
May 5th - SPECIAL Panel Discussion - Health and Health Education. Special Guest: Carolina Keats
May 12th - Students and Second Life. Coordinated by Margaret Michalski, with special student guests.
May 19th - Increasing our Ranks
May 26th - Virtual Worlds other than Second Life
June 2nd - Special - details TBA
June 9th - Are we our Avatars?
June 16th - International Perspectives
June 23rd - Dealing with Non-Virtual Worlds Issues.


p.s. - btw - I still haven't closed this survey on event notifications. I hope to do that soon but feel free to provide your input if you have not done so already.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cFFBZ2YxajJ0LWhORGJjR19tRXBBVlE6MA..


--
AJ Kelton
Director of Emerging Instructional Technology
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Montclair State University (MSU)
1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043

Second Life Project Coordinator
College of Education and Human Services, MSU

----------

http://www.sorry-afk.com
http://sorry-afk.blogspot.com/
Second Life: AJ Brooks
Twitter: sorry_afk
Plurk: sorry_afk
Skype: sorry.afk
AIM: sorryafk
Facebook: AJ Kelton
Myspace: sorry_afk

Second Life Official Blog RSS Feed

feed://feeds2.feedburner.com/LindenLab

Official Linden Blog

Three Questions for Diane Berry, CEO of TPMA on an Event in Second Life
Posted: 19 Mar 2009 12:29 PM PDT


By now you’ve all read the IBM case study and know that internal meetings within Second Life work well. But, what happens when you have many people coming together from across the globe from different organizations? More importantly, what happens when nearly everyone attending has never set a virtual foot into Second Life? Well, the technical, cultural, and usability challenges can potentially cause an SL event to take a turn for the worst.

But, thankfully, when the Trade Promotion Management Associates, or TPMA held an event in Second Life last month for 160 attendees representing manufacturing, retail, and industry analyst firms, the event went off without a hitch—in great part to the work of Grondstedt Group, TPMA’s inworld partner. Grondstedt led all participants through a 30-minute training session and all speakers and exhibitors through a 60-minute training session to ensure that when the conference day arrived, everyone was ready to walk, talk, text chat, and participate in this new virtual event experience.
When I read this story in Virtual World News, I had to find out more. And, so, I asked Diane M. Berry, the CEO of the TPMA for her thoughts on how the event went. Here are three questions for Diane and her responses:

Amanda: “What was the most pleasantly surprising thing about your inworld meeting?”

Diane: “I was pleasantly surprised with our entire experience: First, the number of registrants who were interested in attending the TPMA Brownbag event on Second Life surpassed our expectations; second, our partnership with The Gronstedt Group, which made attendance easy through many training sessions for speakers, attendees and our staff, and using their “real estate,” an “island” on Second Life, as well as their creation of booths, etc.; and thirdly the lack of technical difficulties. We felt the conference went off without a hitch. I was also pleasantly surprised that, just as you have in a live meeting, at the end of our sessions we had people lingering in groups, chatting together. Our organizations foster collaboration between retailers and suppliers; this was highly valuable because it was highly collaborative.”

Amanda: “What was the most difficult or challenging aspect?”

Diane: “The Gronstedt Group removed I would say all of the technically challenging aspects. On the non-technical side, however, there is still a lack of knowledge and awareness of Second Life, so that was a bit of a hurdle for us with speakers and sponsors. That said, the novelty of introducing people to Second Life is very rewarding, both from a personal standpoint and from a thought-leadership, image standpoint for TPMA. One disappointment was not knowing precisely who was in attendance as attendees naturally used their avatar names; similarly, we had a bit more drop off from registration to attendance than one normally sees, most likely due to the complexity of registering, creating an avatar, and joining the meeting.”

Amanda: “Do you believe that the meeting was less productive/as productive/more productive than a real world meeting--in terms of the ideas, collaboration, and action plans? Tell me why.”

Diane: “I would say the TPMA meeting was more productive than any virtual conference our organizations, VCF and TPMA have attended or run, including webinars, because it is such an immersive experience; attendees have the responsibility of responding to their avatar’s surroundings, including other individuals, so there is some “social pressure” to pay attention. The entire experience approaches the value of an in-person meeting, but there really is no substitute for developing relationships through in-person, shared experiences, and I believe these must be mixed into every organization’s marketing program. In today’s difficult economic environment, it may be more viable for companies to run Second Life conferences which avoid the cost of travel and provide the closest thing I’ve experienced to an in-person meeting.”

Wow. Need I say more?

Big thanks to Diane at the TPMA and to Anders at Gronstedt.



Smithsonian's Latino Virtual Museum in Second Life
Posted: 19 Mar 2009 10:28 AM PDT
Art and culture are no strangers to Second Life--this we all know! The opportunity to visualize artistic content in a 3d space allows for innovation that can expand and expose art collections from the real world. Use of audio, video, and interaction in a virtual space to explore cultural education is a method that educators and academics are utilizing to reach and engage their classrooms and audiences. Today, we're excited to announce another innovative use of Second Life in the arts and culture space. We're proud to announce the Smithsonian's Latino Virtual Museum!

The Latino Virtual Museum (LVM) is launched with developmental support from the Ohio University and Disney and shares the institution’s art and exhibits surveying content from their Latino collections. The launch also celebrates Smithsonian’s very first multicultural museum to focus on Latino heritage. Melissa Carrillo, Smithsonian’s Web Programs & Virtual World Director, has led the effort with a goal of increasing the visibility of and improving access to the collection through Latino art and music exhibits at the LVM. What's especially cool about this is that much of the content that will be shown in Second Life has never seen the light of day - a real treat if you have an interest in arts and culture!

Check out the Arts and Entertainment Showcase entry for the Smithsonian Latino Museum (slurl), which focuses on bringing you audio, slides, and video to provide a basic understanding of navigation in Second Life. If you’re more interested in beginning at an exhibit, tour the Music Showcase entry for Smithsonian Latino Music (slurl), which spotlights the Son Clave Lounge and the Amphitheatre, upcoming home to live performances, oral history, and dance. For a sneak peek, you'll really want to see the LVM machinima or the LVM press release.

While the museum provides something for anyone interested in museums and cultural history, Smithsonian is excited that developing in Second Life has helped their creative endeavors, too. The use and flexibility of virtual space in Second Life has helped them to demonstrate what a Latino Museum might look like in the real world. The virtual museum ultimately lays the foundation and provides inspiration for the possibility to someday expand on this museum in real life! This is a must-see example of creativity in Second Life converging with arts, humanities, and sciences in the real world.

We hope you have the opportunity to explore the art, music, and events at the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum, and that you enjoy its celebratory launch! Has the exposure of museums and culture in Second Life helped to enhance your learning and teaching needs? Let's hear your thoughts!

Business Event

Welcome to the New Ventures and Leadership in Virtual Worlds Conference on April 2-3!

On April 2-3, the New Ventures and Leadership in Virtual Worlds Conference will be hosted by the McCombs School of Business and the Center for Business, Technology and Law at the University of Texas at the AT&T Executive Center at the University of Texas Austin. The conference will also be hosted in Second Life on the Stockholm School of Economics island, SSE MBA.

The conference’s speakers and panelists will be drawn from leading universities and companies from around the world and will include business executives and academics, computer scientists, political and social scientists, entrepreneurs, lawyers, information scientists, etc. The purpose of this inter-disciplinary conference is to promote the exploration of the possibilities and an understanding of the challenges of tomorrow's business worlds. This discussion is needed to prepare future leaders for environments of fluid and heterogeneous workforces, self-organized and collaborative work activities, decentralized nonhierarchical leadership, etc. For additional information, see the schedule before or please visit http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/virtual-worlds-conference/default.asp.

For those who would like to attend via Second Life, the SLurl is the following: http://slurl.com/secondlife/SSE%20MBA/134/198/26/?title=SSE%20MBA&msg=Welcome%20to%20the%20Virtual%20Worlds%20Conference!%20 . The conference is also open to all faculty, students, and staff of UT Austin as well as the broader Austin community and elsewhere who would like to attend in real life.

You may also contact Robin Teigland (SL: Karinda Rhode), SSE, robin.teigland@hhs.se, for more information.

Hope to see you there!

Robin (aka Karinda)
-----------

Robin Teigland
Associate Professor
Center for Strategy and Competitiveness
Stockholm School of Economics
Stockholm, Sweden
www.hhs.se/csc
Personal URL: www.knowledgenetworking.org
robin.teigland@hhs.se


----------------Schedule-------------------

New Ventures and Leadership in Virtual Worlds
Conference Schedule

April 2nd-3rd, 2009
AT&T Executive Center


Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm SLT (5:00 pm – 5:15 pm CDT)
Welcome mixer

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm SLT (5:15 pm - 6:15 pm CDT)
Strangers In A Strange Land: IBM's Exploration of Virtual Worlds
Craig Becker, IBM

4:15 pm – 6:15 pm SLT (6:15 pm – 7:15 pm CDT)
A Virtual World Communication & Collaboration Platform: Second Life Demonstration
Leslie Jarmon, DIIA



Friday, April 3rd 2009

6:30 am – 7:00 am SLT (8:30 am – 9:00 am CDT)
Welcome Session
Sirkka Jarvenpaa, Sharon Dunn, Elota Patton, McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin

7:00 am – 8:00 am SLT (9:00 am - 10:00 am CDT)
Recognizing the Routinization Trap: Avoiding Predictable Patterns for Virtual Worlds to Achieve their Utmost Potential
Tony O'Driscoll, Duke University

8:15 am – 9:30 am SLT (10:15 am - 11:30 am CDT)
Panel - A Platform for Commerce and Collaboration
Blake Ives, University of Houston (Chair)
Anne Lange, Cisco
David Neff, American Cancer Society
Robin Teigland, Stockholm School of Economics
Laura Thomas, Dell

9:30 am – 10:30 am SLT (11:30 am - 12:30 pm CDT)
Virtual Worlds at Work and Learning
Eilif Trondsen, Virtual Worlds Consortium for Innovation and Learning (VWC), SRI

11:00 am – 12:00 pm SLT (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT)
The Virtual Worlds Exploratorium: Insights and Implications for VL and RL
Marshall Scott Poole, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm SLT (2:00 pm - 3:30 pm CDT)
Panel - Video Game Industry and MMOG
Huseyin Tanriverdi, University of Texas (Chair)
Ed Anderson, University of Texas
Ed Cavazos, Fish & Richardson
Rodney Gibbs, Amazeent.com
Chi-Hyon Lee, George Mason University

1:45 pm – 3:00 pm SLT (3:45 pm - 5:00 pm CDT)
Panel - Virtual Worlds and Learning
Sharon Strover, University of Texas (Chair)
Chuck Hamilton, IBM Center for Advanced Learning
Leslie Jarmon, DIIA
Rachel Maguire, Institute for the Future
Joe Sanchez, University of Texas


More information on the schedule and speakers can be found here: http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/virtual-worlds-conference/schedule.asp

The schedule is subject to change. Please check for updates.

Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference, March 27-29

Schedule is at the link above....hope you can attend.

Taj Mahal

think so, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tajmahal/110/80/21

Reference from google...

New Exhibit

Hello!

We have a brand new exhibit at the Federal Reserve Underground, our rented space on Jokaydia SLurl http://slurl.com/secondlife/jokaydia/161/245/22 I would love to get feedback. I'm in the process of designing a program for the exhibit and would like to get a sense from other people how easy it is to grasp the content, how interesting is it, what is missing, and any general comments. I'm so close to it that it is hard for me to tell. Philip Mallory Jones did the build - and it is a smaller version of an exhibit in RL that has just opened at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and will soon open in a second location at the Museum of African American History in Boston.

Any comments through the list or offlist would be welsome! I can also meet people there to explain a bit more.

Thanks for your help!

Melita Podesta (melita.v.podesta@bos.frb.org) Oothoon Ogg in SL
Curator/Project Coordinator
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
600 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
________________________

Tour

This weekend Janita Collins (SL) and I will be visiting Wired Island. Guest tour guide Kestral Karas (SL) will lead us through a fascinating set of builds that make up the Shawnee State University's SL Campus and the OVITA (Ohio Valley Interactive Technology Alliance) Department of Labor funded WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative.

This unique project combines higher education, industry, economic/ecological sustainability and immersive technology to support the Ohio Valley transform itself into a leader in the 21 century.

And there's some really cool educational stuff there!

Join us Sunday at ISTE Island Headquarters
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/93/83/30
Please arrive early to collect tour materials and prepare for a prompt 9 AM SLT departure.
The tour will take one hour.

Esme

--
Esme Qunhua/Jane Wilde
Geek

New Museum

Hello!

Thought I'd poke my head in for a quick announcement :) the Smithsonian,
with developmental support from Ohio University and Disney, has launched
its Latino Virtual Museum in-world today. Some of the content has never
been exposed in a real world exhibit, and there's lots to see. If you'd
like more details on their launch, check the following blog entry:

https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/education/blog/2009/03/19/smithsonians-latino-virtual-museum-in-second-life

(Right now, we are experimenting with a Discussion feature at this blog
- please bear with us as we tackle this new feature. :) )

Culture, art, and education go hand-in-hand! Hope you enjoy!

Have a good one~

George

Fun Event

Mini-Morph, Comics in Classroom Event in Second Life 3/18

Following up the Second Life Met@Morph Comic-Con held in October 2008, Mini-Morph is a product of Met@Morph’s roundtable discussion on college comic course. Mini-Morph will be held on March 18 in Second Life. It iss an international gathering of artists, scholars and students reflecting on the Watchmen movie and comic. How effective was the adaptation? What questions does it raise for the scholar? How do we explore those questions in the classroom? Expert panelists from three countries weigh those questions. The event will consist of five sessions – Make Like a Action Figure, The Significance of Watchman, Panel on Developing a College Comics Course, the Library’s Role in College Comics, and Open Gallery and Discussion from Second Life comic creators.”

9:00 – 9:30: Make like an action figure! With Sabine Reljic from the Center for Social Presence
9:30 – 10:00: Andrew Edwards on the significance of Watchmen.
10:00 – 11:30: Roundtable Discussion with on the college comics course.
11:30 – 12:00: Derik Badman on the librarian's role in the college comics course.
12:00 – 1:00: Open Gallery and discussion from Second Life comic creators

Front Range is a closed island so if you wish to attend please email Beth Davies at beth.davies@frontrange.edu

All times posted are in SLT.

Thanks,

Kae Novak/Kavon Zenovka

Search and Message Site for Second Life

This site is fantastic folks...check it out...

http://www.zonkster.com/index.htm

Become a Futurist Class

I am new to teaching in Second LIfe but I would lke some feedback so if you can attend the below session that I am teaching I would appreciate it. TLE is free so if you have students who may benefit by attending please encourage them to do so. If they are unable to get into tonight's class please encourage them to attend a new session which will start Tuesday, March 17 @ 6 PM (SLT).

I am doing a bit of self-promotion but I would like to invite any of you who may be interested to attend my class tonight:

THURSDAY 03/12 @ 8:00 PM SLT (PST) DESIGNING YOUR FUTURE

This course will help you become familiar with the tools necessary to better adjust to the future, make decisions and understand how you too can become a "futurist."

In these "unpredictable times" you will feel more confident as you learn more about the future as you participate in this class.

*** IM Instructor CathyWyo1 Haystack for a TP if you get lost ***

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kimokeo%20Cove/98/84/22

st. Pats Event

in librarians and educators in Second Life for a Chicago-style St. Patrick's Day party on Thur, Mar 12 at 9pm ET/8pm CT/7pm MT/6pm PT! We will have a live DJ playing celtic and blues music in our jazz club, free gifts, refreshments, and an Irish trivia scavenger hunt. The Chicago River is dyed green for the occasion. Virtual social events are opportunities to network with other educators in an engaging environment. This event hosted by the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries. SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chicago%20Public%20Schools/84/34/23.

Teacher Trainees??

Over the past few months, I gave away several copies of a Revised Bloom's Taxonomy Model in SL. But I can't remember who all received one.

I just completed some major changes (corrections and simplifications) to the pop-up learning objective examples within the model.

If you are interested, you may get a free copy (buy for 0 L$) at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching%204/209/175/25

And I have replicated the whole thing on the web at http://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/RevisedBlooms1.html

Event

The Virtual Worlds Story Project Presents: The Second Life Story Quest

The Virtual World Story Project is pleased to announce its first annual Story Quest, to be held on World Storytelling Day, March 20, 2009.

With a goal of helping writers and storytellers imagine, craft, and share Second Life stories, the Quest will lead participants along one of four Story Trails. Along each trail will be a series of Enchanted Books. Touching the books will not only provide information to include in the story, but clues that lead to other points on the trail as well.

The Quest will allow participants to choose from one of four genres, and be held across multiple sims in Second Life. The Quest's final stop will be Karuna (the new HIV/AIDS sim) where participants can sit in scenic surroundings to write, submit their stories, and/or get help from writing coaches.

The day will conclude with story readings, the awarding of prizes, live music, and dancing.

This event is ideal for educators wishing to help students learn to write well and experience the immersive and creative possibilities inherent in virtual environments.

DETAILS

Date: Friday, March 20th

Location: Starts on Storybook Island (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Storybook%20Island/129/70/25) and ends at Karuna with multiple stops at other sims. A notecard with LMs will be provided.

Start Time: Story Sleuths can pick up their first clues on Storybook Island (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Storybook%20Island/129/70/25) at Midnight.

End Time: The Quest ends at 5:00 pm SLT. That is the time that stories must be submitted. The rest of the festivities, which include story reading, live music, and dancing commence immediately after. The awards ceremony will be held at 7:00 pm.

Questions: Please IM Jenaia Morane or drop her an email at: jenaia@tvwsp.com

Live Performance

I teach a 2nd year Drama class, and this year we are putting on a very
short play in Second Life. The play is 'Guppies' by Clem Martini, designed
and performed by the Drama 364 class at the University of Calgary. I
thought that it might interest some to see how a game environment can be
used to teach University level topics in set design and stage production.
Invite your class, share with other teachers!

Date of performance - March 16 11:00 AM Mountain time, 10 am pacific, 1 PM
eastern at the New Media Campus arts centre at
http://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Arts/73/51/32. We are there from
10-11:45 Mtn Mon and Wed doing rehearsals and working on technical
details.

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

New York Times Magazine Covers Artists in Second Life; NPR Reports on an Educator Inworld
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/press/blog/2009/03/06/new-york-times-magazine-covers-artists-in-second-life-npr-reports-on-an-educator-inworld

The sender also included this note:

A Must Read Post

--
Sent via a FeedFlare link from a FeedBurner feed.
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/publishers/feedflare

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to content of interest

bc7@mac.com sent you a link to the following content:

If It Ain't Baroque, Don't Fix It
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/eureka/blog/2009/03/02/if-it-aint-baroque-dont-fix-it

The sender also included this note:

A must for those interested in Art in SL

--
Sent via a FeedFlare link from a FeedBurner feed.
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/publishers/feedflare

Public Talk

Hello,

You and your students are invited to a public astronomy talk on Saturday. Here are the details:


Dr. Knop Talks Astronomy

Title: A Snapshot of the Early Universe: The Cosmic Microwave Background

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2009

Time: 10:00 AM Pacific Time (SL Time)

Location: The large amphitheater on the sim named StellaNova

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/StellaNova/213/210/32/

Abstract:

If you look between all of the stars and all of the galaxies, and you get outside of the Earth's atmosphere, and even outside the glow of the gas and dust in our own galaxy, you would see that everywhere the sky glows at a temperature of about 3 degrees above absolute zero. This is the cosmic microwave background, and it represents a snapshot of the aftermath of the Big Bang. In this talk, I'll summarize how it was discovered, I'll describe how it came to be a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang, and I'll tell you some of the very important things we've learned about our Universe from studying it.

This science talk is intended for the general public. All are welcome. It's part of a series of popular talks called Dr. Knop Talks Astronomy. Dr. Knop was on one of the teams that discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Feel free to ask questions or make comments.

Produced in association with the Meta Institute for Computational Astrophysics (MICA). For more information, see http://mica-vw.org/

Link on the Official SL Events calendar:

https://secure-web12.secondlife.com/events/event.php?id=2434573&date=1236412800

Social Interaction and Education

New Citizens International

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kuula/151/209/29

is an organization devoted to helping people get started in second life.
They offer about 60 classes a week. they are free, there is no enrollment. About 1/3 of those are basic SL skills of various sorts, about 2/3 are building and scripting.
They have a number of classes of the 'function in SL' variety, and there is almost always someone at NCI Kuula who can help you get that box off your hand or find your hair.

Women in SL

Sunday, March 8 is International Women's Day and Four Bridges http://slurl.com/secondlife/Four%20Bridges%20Project/58/191/25 will be holding several events. We'll have Nany Kayo who will speak on Native American Women's rights and issues as well as some displays, musicians, etc. This might be a great place to gather information.

Amnesty International -E (Amnesty's SL official presence) is also there with great information regarding women's rights.

Please feel free to drop by anytime.

millay Freschi
Amnesty International - E
http://icea-sl.org
http://secondvirtualventures.org

Education Article

Thought folks would be interested in this article



Second Life: Engaging Virtual Campuses
By Denise Harrison03/04/09
In the previous article in this series, Real-Life Teaching in a
Virtual World, we looked at the state of Second Life as it pertains to
higher education. There are so many schools represented that one could
spend days exploring the college and university campuses. The ways
they are used in the 3D online virtual world vary drastically, and how
much and how well they are used appear to vary as well.

two very interesting projects

Hi Muxe,

Sorry for the slow reply, but I wanted to point you toward the Spencer Museum of Art’s Second Life Island. Thanks to designer Stacey Fox (SL: Sage Duncan), we have an “island” which is made up of icebergs and a giant tree. In conjunction with art exhibitions in the real life Spencer, you can learn about the work scientists are doing in Greenland and Antarctica to measure and chart the ice sheets. Here’s our website with a slurl: http://www.spencerart.ku.edu/exhibitions/secondlife.shtml. Hope you like it!

Jessica (SL: Beacon Wirefly)


Jessica Lea Johnson
Project Coordinator
IMLS Engaging Communities Grant
Spencer Museum of Art
University of Kansas
1301 Mississippi Street
Lawrence, KS 66045-7500

Phone: 785.864.0120
Fax: 785.864.3112
jeslea@ku.edu
From: educators-bounces@lists.secondlife.com [mailto:educators-bounces@lists.secondlife.com] On Behalf Of Andrea B
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:10 PM
To: educators@lists.secondlife.com
Subject: [SLED] Education and the Expanding Metaverse

Hello!
I'm Muxe Magic and doing research on the evolution of online education around the
metaverse for a mechinima TV show called Life Online. (http://life-on-line.tv/)

After the screening event on Spacejunky island in Second Life, I had a chat with the producer about the amazing things going on with education and he wants to share that on the program and on the website.
I am having no trouble finding content to cover in Second Life, but I am looking for virtual campuses and project of all sorts on grids such as OpenLife, OpenSim, 3rd Rock, Avatar Hangout, etc. Being that this program is about the metaverse at large, that's what we would like to present to the audience.

The program is in English, but we would like to show what's happening all over the world international studies, projects, etc. It would also be great to include a wide range of subject matter. Has anyone created an underwater world ala Jacques Cousteau? Do you have something interesting going on in meteorology showing virtual storms? Perhaps your agricultural / ecology studies have some kind of simulation project about the effects of global warming. How about art and music history, culture and spirituality? Do you know of some grids that has some great building tutorials for particles, clothing, skins, scripting, etc?

Please email me, or drop me a card in my post box on the Dradis University sim on OS Grid.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dradis/17/25/22

Thanks,

Muxe Magic

Photography Class

On Saturday, March 7th Pia Klaar will be giving a workshop on Photography in SL. This will be an entry level session. More advanced sessions will be scheduled at a later date. This event will be at the Teacher Networking Center on Eduisland 5 at 10:00 am SLT http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%205/145/29/43

Concerts in SL

he following article appeared today in the Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/593643 about classical music in Second Life with a focus on my own series at Music Island.

I hope it might be useful to some here as a positive article about Second Life.

I also hope that if you support live music in Second Life, you'll weigh in on the poll in the grey box on the right hand of the article's page "would you or your avatar attend a concert in virtual reality?" Early in the day the "no's" were winning but the "yes's" are ahead at this writing.

News Report on Education in SL

** Moving to the Second Classroom **
Regular commentator Bill Thompson on how the classroom can make its way in the virtual world.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/technology/7747951.stm >

To Cite a Lecture

I’d follow MLA guidelines for a lecture/speech. Many times you know the av’s real name and affiliation. If not, I’d indicate the in-world name with “avatar” as a title like Dr. or Ms.

To cite a lecture or a speech, provide the speaker's name, title of the lecture or speech in quotation marks, the meeting and the sponsoring organization (if applicable), the location [including place and city], and the date. If there is no title, use an appropriate descriptive label (e.g., Lecture, Address, Keynote speech). Do not underline or enclose in quotation marks (MLA Handbook, 204).

RL:
Libris, Lola. "Introduction to Online Databases." 2003 Arkadelphia Library Association.
ZaZa Hotel, Arkadelphia. 28 March 2003.

SL:
Linden, Lola: Avatar. “Introduction to Online Databases.” 2009 Second Life Library Alliance.
Info Island, Second Life. 28 March 2009.

Want to know more about the Middle East?

University of Delaware is presenting a live in-world simulcast of its Global Agenda series again this semester.
The Global Agenda 2009 theme this year is Tinderbox - Understanding the Middle East.
Time: 4:30 p.m. SLT (7:30pm ET)
Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/University%20of%20Delaware/56/150/26
Theme & Guest Speaker: Understanding the Arabs - Mona Eltahawy
This is the first in a seven part series and we will be taking questions from our SL audience.
For Questions or TP help: Firery Broome

Mona Eltahawy
An award-winning syndicated columnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues.
She is based in New York, currently teaching new media in the Arab world at The New School.

She is one of a few writers whose essays appear regularly in both the western and Arab press. Her opinion pieces have been published frequently in the International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper and Qatar’s Al-Arab.

Read more about this weeks guest:
http://www.udel.edu/global/agenda/2009/Global_Agenda_2009/Speakers.html

The series is hosted by Ralph Begleiter, Rosenberg Professor of Communication and Distinguished Journalist in Residence, and former CNN World Affairs Correspondent.

Shakespeare

PRESS RELEASE
February 23, 2009
Contact: Lora Constantine

SL Shakespeare Company's Twelfth Night, Act 1: The Open-Ended Run

Shakespeare, Second Life: The virtual worlds performance of Twelfth Night, Act 1 unabridged, live and direct from the first folio returns and will play on indefinitely—as you will it! The SL Shakespeare Company's long-awaited open-ended run premiers Sunday, March 1 at 1 PM PST, and will continue indefinitely every Sunday at 1 PM PST and every Tuesday at 6 PM PST at the SL Globe Theatre.

Artistic Director Ina Centaur is directing this play with a new cast and a rare vision in Shakespearean productions, "This production attempts to be as true and pure to the play as possible… This is the only one of the Bard's plays that is not under suspicion from various bad quartos editions, so there might be some insights to be divined if we try to dramatize it based on a close reading—independent of the shackles of any era interpretation."

Although the play is rich with references to Elizabethan England, Centaur has chosen to let more intrinsic elements define the visuals, "Avoiding the extraneous notions of modernity, the play looks like it's from the 'generic past'… The visual elements aren't bound to a particular era or interpretation—but serve to help embellish the intrinsic elements of the play."

Starting in April, the troupe will be trying several possible "Variations," including an all-female production, a switched-genders production, and several more. Artistic Director Ina Centaur explains that despite the changes, the "Variations" will be related by a certain "unmoving pivot," "Twelfth Night, Act 1 is about the formation of love triangles… There's a salient love triangle that evolves through the act, connecting Viola, Olivia and Orsino, and a subtle relationship triangle that forms between Maria, Andrew and Toby in Scene 3. That's like the unmoving pivot that connects the 'Variations.' Our goal is to be able to vibrantly convey these archetypal relationships in both our main 'traditional' production as well as our 'Variations.'"

When asked why the troupe is performing just a single act, Centaur asserts, "We're doing it in obsessive detail step-by-step, since we plan to perform the play unabridged in a way that's not only worth your time to see, but may also delight and even enlighten you. It's a bite-sized chunk of goodness each time. Come see Act 1 to get a glimpse of the SL Shakespeare Company magic before we move onto Act 2 this summer!"

The play stars Caliban Jigsaw, Ixmal Supermarine, Kerry Takashi, KeyKey Underwood, Mokey Mokusei, and Sensuality Cordeaux.

Premiering March 1, the performances will be held Sundays at 1 PM SLT (GMT-8) and Tuesdays at 6 PM SLT (GMT-8) at the SL Globe Theatre, in the virtual world of Second Life, accessible anywhere in the world with an Internet-ready computer. http://visit.SLshakespeare.com

Subtitles will be provided in English, French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.

About Twelfth Night, Act 1

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is the story of a shipwrecked girl named Viola, who chooses to go incognito as a boy eunuch. Act 1 establishes the love triangle that Viola, Duke Orsino, and Olivia become entangled in, and also introduces some of Shakespeare's most memorable characters—Malvolio and Feste. Unlike the Bard's other plays, Twelfth Night exists only in the folio editions.

About the SL Shakespeare Company

Set in the virtual world of Second Life (SL), the SL Shakespeare Company (SLSC) is the flagship project of sLiterary's Virtual Reality Shakespeare Initiative (VRSI). SLSC is a resident-funded and resident-supported professional theatre company that embraces the best of what Second Life (SL) has to offer. While it is primarily known to provide quality live Shakespearean theatre available to anyone in any location, SLSC is also the curator of Second Life's most historically accurate theatres and architecture relating to William Shakespeare.

About sLiterary

sLiterary, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering literary and artistic endeavors in Second Life and other virtual worlds.

About Second Life

Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its residents.

Neither the SL Shakespeare Company nor sLiterary is affiliated with Linden Lab. Second Life is a trademark of Linden Lab. No infringement is intended.





For Visuals, please see:
http://playbills.SLshakespeare.com for our 2009 playbills (and http://playbills2008.SLshakespeare.com for our 2008 playbills)
http://programmes.SLshakespeare.com
http://blog.SLshakespeare.com

Grand Opening

Join us on Monday night, February 23, for the grand opening of VSTE Island and the Jamestown Settlement.

We will be streaming live from Virginia Beach, VA where the annual Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) Conference is being held.

Evening's Events:

7:30 PM EDT (4:30 PM SLT) New Voyages Concert - VSTE Island Pavilion

8:00 PM EDT (5:00 PM SLT) Treasure Hunt - Jamestown Settlement

9:00 PM EDT (6:00 PM SLT) "Aye on the Future" Pirate Social & Dance - Come dressed in your favorite pirate costume! VSTE Island Community Center and First Landing Park

Come celebrate with us on this special night!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/VSTE%20Island/125/139/24

For more information about VSTE visit: www.vste.org

Religious Site Tour

ISTE SL Bi Weekly Tour
Sunday, February 22, 9 AM SLT
Leaving from ISTE Headquarters
Please arrive early to prepare for a prompt departure
Topic: Spirituality - Religious Traditions

We will visit sites related to new & old religious traditions. We will
consider the builds, tools, activities, membership etc. As always we
are looking at the personal and educational application of what we
see. There is no religious orientation to this tour.

Digital Dropbox Instructional Video

Theater Project

We would like to introduce our newly opened virtual museum of
Noh on our SIM (Hosei Research Center).
So please take a look at the following informational site below,
which you can watch a short macinema as well.
http://www9.i.hosei.ac.jp/information/info09/info_event09_english.html
And if you find it interesting, please visit there to appreciate
it and hopefully give us your feedback!
We are also thinking of starting up a next project with students
from various interdisciplinary fields to replicate the Noh
theater which is illustrated in the virtual museum.

Thank you,
--
Yoshiyuki Hino
Hosei University IT Research Center (Tokyo, Japan)
http://www.hosei.ac.jp/hitec/
PHONE:813-3264-9370 FAX813-3264-9287
email: yoshiyuki.hino.44@adm.hosei.ac.jp
______________________________________________

Need some Linden?

Hey folks!

We have a huge success with the survey! If you have done the survey, thank you so much!

One final push this week. We want to get really big numbers, so if you have not taken the survey please do.
The Synthetic Worlds Initiative (Edward Castronova's group) at Indiana University is rolling out an in-world survey tool. Our first survey is on demographics and the quality of life for virtual world residents.

Respondents will be paid L$ 250.

All you need to do is take a survey from a kiosk located on our island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Synthetic%20World/127/130/32

Thanks for your willingness to help out a fellow educator/researcher.


Mark

Aspiring Writers?

Bring Your Stories to Life: Free story writing class and feedback sessions starting on Karuna

How many times have you thought about writing down the amazing events in your life? Now is your chance to jumpstart the process and get feedback on your work through a new class being offered FREE of charge. Written by Jenaia Morane (a professional writer, educator, and founder of The Virtual Worlds Story Project in SL), the class consists of seven, self-paced lessons which include easy to follow instructions on how to craft and fine tune a story. Writing exercises that allow you to practice the skills covered in the class are included as well. The lessons are available as either notecards (inworld) or via a free online classroom known as NiceNet (www.nicenet.org ).

Feedback on the exercises from the lessons will be offered once a week starting Tuesday, February 24 at 6:00 pm.m (SLT). Additional feedback sessions, designed to reach the European community, will begin on Wednesday, March 4 at noon (SLT). The feedback sessions will be led by Jenaia Morane and Judi Newall (a writer and librarian) and held at the Story Hut http://slurl.com/secondlife/Karuna/61/107/26 on Karuna Island .

To Get Your Free Class: Visit the Story Hut on Karuna Island (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Karuna/61/107/26 ) and click on the buttons on the "Classes" board (the one with the seagull sitting on it). You have the option of getting the class as either notecards or via the online classroom.

Feedback Sessions: Offered once a week starting Tuesday February 24 at 6:00 pm (SLT) and Wednesday, March 4 at noon. The first session will cover the exercises in Lesson 1 of the class, the second session (Tuesday, March 3) will cover the exercise in Lesson 2 of the class and so on for seven weeks. Once the first round is complete, we will begin again. Please try to do the exercise BEFORE coming to the session.

Note: No previous writing experience is necessary.

Questions: Please IM Jenaia Morane or Judi Newall inworld, or send Jenaia an email at: jenaia@tvwsp.com.

We look forward to reading your stories!

Science Event

Hello!

You and your students are invited to a free public workshop organized
by the Meta Institute for Computational Astrophysics (MICA -
http://mica-vw.org).

Date: Monday, Feb. 16, 2009

Location: The MICA small amphitheater at StellaNova (70,206,31)

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/StellaNova/70/206/31

Schedule - Quick Link for the schedule: http://bit.ly/MICAws
********************************************************************************

All Times are SLT (SL Time = Pacific Time)

10:00 - 10:20 Piet Hut / Pema Pera (IAS & MICA): "From MODEST to
MICA, and from a Vax to virtual worlds: a personal perspective"

10:20 - 10:40 Roundtable discussion: reviewing the progress over the
past year

10:40 - 11:00 Steve McMillan / Lagrange Euler (Drexel & MICA), and
others: "Stellar Dynamics in VWs: A Progress Report"

11:00 - 12:00 Roundtable discussion: "Towards more general WV
environments: OpenSim, interoperability, and portability"

12:00 - 2:00 Lunch break (or go to Metanomics!)

2:00 - 2:20 Adrienne Gauthier / Ourania Fizgig (U. Az. & IYA2009):
"International Year of Astronomy 2009"

2:20 - 2:30 Open discussion: "Broadening astronomy participation in SL"

2:30 - 2:50 David Pitman / Rez Tone (IBM): "Computational chemistry
and visualization in VWs: a progress report"

2:50 - 3:10 Open discussion: "How to advance and facilitate
interdisciplinary collaborations in SL and VWs?"

3:10 - 3:30 Coffee break

3:30 - 3:45 Matthew Graham / Matthew Grantham (Caltech & MICA):
"Looking to the future: semantic web and virtualization of knowledge
environments"

3:45 - 4:15 Open discussion: "The future of virtual worlds in a
broader context"

4:15 - 4:45 Roundtable discussion: "Art and science in SL"

4:45 - 5:00 George Djorgovski / Curious George (Caltech & MICA):
"Where next? The future of MICA, and science and scholarship in
virtual worlds"

5:00 Adjourn

Quick Link for the schedule: http://bit.ly/MICAws

Saving Your Essay

Instructions on how to properly name and save your essay

Download File

Design Studio Classes

If you or your students have ever wanted to learn how to design and make your own clothes in Second Life, check out the Soma School of Design Fashion Fair and school at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Boudoir%20Isle/193/180/761. Take a look at their library and course offerings. Lots of freebies and discounted clothes during the fair. Test one of the sample HUDs that are offered free in the lobby and play with it. There are also in world classes and workshops....

marty snowpaw

Tempest Production

Avatar Repertory Theater presents
William Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
at Garden World sim.

The Tempest, a story of love, deceit and redemption... come witness this classic tale brought to life - Steampunk Shakespeare like you have never seen before!!!

Designer JubJub Forder calls the visual style of the production "pre-apocolyptic post-victorian furry steampunk... and with a dedicated sim, special effects, uniquely created stage and props, and of course the finest actors in SL....its bound to be a blast"
��

Sodovan Torok and Ada Radius founded Avatar Repertory Theater in the summer of 2008, to create a small, tightly knit group of players with a broad range of technical and artistic skills. The troupe's first production was "Tales from the Metaverse" for Halloween 2008, and "The Tempest" is the group's first Shakespeare production. Many other projects, live and machinima, are in the works.

The troupe now boast the talents of (in alphabetical order): Ada Radius, Dolgoruky Umarov, Em Jannings, Joff Fassnacht, JubJub Forder, Kayden Oconnell, MadameThespian Underhill, Mickie Nickolaidis, Persephone Phoenix, Prospero Frobozz, Rowan Shamroy, Sodovan Torok, Suzy Yue, and Thundergas Menges. The cast list varies for each show and will be posted, um, somewhere before the show.

Dragons, Furries, Tinies, Humans and Humanoids are welcome. There is space in the water for particularly large dragons. Doll up and bring a date for Valentine's Day!

Land access is L$500 and audience member will receive a treasure chest of steampunk, and other free gifts worth L$1000. The show is 90 minutes long, and you can tp in and out during the show if you need to. About 90% of the revenues will go to the actors - nearly all production costs were donated. Seating is limited. Please contact Ada Radius for an advance reservation (or just show up at the door and take your chances)
��

Thursday, February 12, 6pm SLT
Saturday, February 14, 3pm SLT
Sunday, February 15, 3pm SLT
Tuesday, February 17, 3pm SLT,
Wednesday, February 18, 5pm SLT
Friday, February 20, 8pm SLT

Want to Earn Some Linden?

Greetings,

The Synthetic Worlds Initiative (Edward Castronova's group) at Indiana
University is rolling out an in-world survey tool. Our first survey is on
demographics and the quality of life for virtual world residents. If you are
in SL, please stop by the SLURL below and take our survey.

Respondents will be paid L$ 250. We have been having some infrequent issues
with payment, so if you are not paid, please contact Synthetic Shan in-world
or email me off-list.

All you need to do to take a survey is click on the kiosk located on our
island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Synthetic%20World/72/79/32

Then follow the instructions on the notecard.

Thanks for your willingness to help out a fellow educator/researcher.

Mark

--
Mark Bell
PhD student in Indiana University's Telecommunications program
SL: Typewriter Tackleberry
http://www.indiana.edu/~telecom/
http://swi.indiana.edu/
http://blog.markwbell.com
"Communications tools don't get socially interesting until they get
technologically boring." - Clay Shirky

Architecture

Stories from Second Life: DB Bailey’s LOCUS
Posted: 06 Feb 2009 01:59 PM CST

Did you ever wonder why so much of the architecture in Second Life seems to strive to model reality? David Denton did, and his work on LOCUS in Second Life seeks to go beyond replication to explore new possibilities for expression that can only exist in a world without weather, gravity or budgets.

Known as DB Bailey in Second Life, David set out to design a place which allows “each building to have an individual architectural expression, working together as an aesthetic whole”. Currently located on the region known as Cetus Institute, eventually LOCUS will be housed on its own island.



LOCUS takes the approach that architecture in a virtual space should reflect the unique character of that space, while fostering a sense of community. In that regard, it’s possible to walk together throughout the space along tree-lined boulevards. At the same time, vertical signs hover above, providing orientation for airborne avatars.

It’s not surprising that such a creative place would attract a community of artists and designers. There are exhibits by individual artists, galleries and design showcases, and clearly the range of artistic involvement will grow. As Denton and his partner, Alex Noble (Happiness Merryman in SL) describe their goal:

The overall direction for the project is to create a community of design oriented entities, each connected to its Internet website, drawing traffic to and from the websites and Second Life. LOCUS will be a colony of virtual versions of websites that would encourage the meeting and interaction of website visitors. The intention is to strengthen the connection between SL and RL as well as to promote the sales of RL art and design services through the SL venue.

LOCUS is still in development, but stop by — there are already installations by well-known real life artists Robert Wilson and Daniel Maltzman, and showcased Second Life designers such as Eshi Otawara, with more to come. Or take the elevator up to the top of the tower (originally built for Burning Life), which features music by Second Life’s own Dizzy Banjo.



Feel free to discuss in the forums. I’ll join you there.

Very cool events on Info Island

ebruary is Romance Month on Info Island

Exhibits by Cindy Elkhart

Feb. 13 - 6 - 8 PM SLT Mr. & Mrs. AVL Contest and Fund Raiser
Here is your chance to win the title of Mr. or Mrs. AVL! This event is a fund raiser for Alliance Virtual Library and will require an entry fee of 300L. Contestants will model swimsuit, formal, and costume of choice. There will be an interview segment of the contest with one question asked to each contestant. Contestants can reply through text or voice. Voting is through donations and Rolig Loon will have donation boxes set up to measure votes. We will announce and crown the winners at the conclusion of the contest and take photos. We hope that you will join this fun fund raiser by entering or by participating in voting! Please contact Rolig Loon to enter.

Feb 14 - 2 PM - Joaquin Gustav in Concert on Info Island - Marimar Berchot hosts this romantic concert at Info Island's auditorium. If you have never heard Joaquin, please be sure to come! It will be a perfect start to your Valentine's evening.

Feb 14 - 6 - 8 PM SLT Cylindrian Rutabaga at the Jazz Cat - One of our favorite SL/RL musical artists will play at the Jazz Cat on Valentine's Day! Please join us to listen and dance to the lovely music of Cylindrian!

Feb. 15 - Romance Author Talk - 2:00 PM SLT - Diana Allendale (Diana Hunter) author of "Promise for Now," "Submission Revealed" and numerous other works will speak to us on Feb. 15th. She became interested in writing stories with bondage and D/s themes when she found a dearth of them on the web. Nothing she read seemed to have the romantic element she knew was possible in such relationships. Challenged by a friend to write a better one, she wrote her first full-length novel, "Secret Submission."

Feb 21 - Romance Poetry Slam - 10 AM SLT - Teofila Matova hosts AVL's 2nd poetry slam. Participants will read 3-5 poems of their own creation or by favorite poets. Afterwards there will be an open mic session for audience participation. Please contact Teo if you want to be featured at the poetry slam.

Feb. 22 - Stonewall Book Discussion - 6 PM SLT - "Brokeback Mountain" hosted by Katt Tomsen at Info Island Auditorium.
Abe's 200th Birthday Celebration
Historic musical performance, Poetry and Storytelling
Backintyme Performances will treat us to the songs of Abe's time, plus
some of the stories behind them. Valibrarian Gregg will share some of
Abe in Poetry, followed by Abe Stories done by Daisyblue Hefferman.
Wednesday, February 11
5pm-7pm slt
Land of Lincoln White House
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Land%20of%20Lincoln/128/128/22
Contact: Daisyblue Hefferman

Take Heart: A workshop for caregivers
Saturday, February 14th
10-11:30 a.m., SLT
Facilitators: Avalon Birke and Carolina Keats
Location: Healthinfo Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/102/190/24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Take some time on Valentine's Day to care for yourself! Join
counselor Avalon Birke and consumer health librarian Carolina Keats on
Healthinfo Island for a workshop on a topic of concern to many:
care giving.

Avalon will be talking about coping methods for caregivers, then
Carolina provides an overview of good resources, including legal,
financial, and health information. You’ll leave with a listing of
top-quality links that can help you get the help you need. If you
cannot attend, the handout is available to all.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Please note: If this topic interests you but the date or time won't
work – let me know. I am happy to conduct another workshop on the same
topic. I am also delighted to tailor workshops or classes on the
following topics, or will build a class around a health information
topic your group would like to know more about!

Carolina Keats
Consumer Health Librarian

Supported by funding from the National Library of Medicine
Administered through the Alliance Library System

Alliance Virtual Library, Alliance Library System, and TAP Information Services will host RAYdio Bradbury Book programs, which will be broadcast on the Internet at http://music.radioriel.org and in the virtual world of Second Life on the Bradburyville Island at the Palladium Theater. Leading the discussions are Dr. Loren Logsdon professor of English at Eureka College and Bradbury scholar and Tom Peters, CEO of TAP Information Services.

Programs are scheduled at 6 pm SLT, 8 PM central, 9 PM Eastern on the second Thursday of each month: February 12, March 12, April 9, and May 14. Books for discussion are October Country, The Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and I Sing the Body Electric. Radio Riel will broadcast each program on the Internet. Programs are free and everyone is welcome to attend! For more information, please contact Lori Bell at the Alliance Library System at 309-694-9200 ext. 2128 or at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com.

More information on the books for discussion is listed below.
The October Country, according to Bradbury, is his purest work of fantasy. Halloween is his favorite time of the year, and the stories in this book take place in a country defined by its psychological state rather than its geography.

The Martian Chronicles was not immediately popular when it was first printed, but with the passing of time it gained Bradbury an audience in Russia and, later, an audience in America because of Sputnik. On the cover of the 1967 edition of The Martian Chronicles Bradbury was advertised as "The world's greatest living science fiction writer."

Something Wicked This Way Comes is the result of Bradbury's fascination with carnivals. The arrival of a carnival at the wrong time of the year provides the setting for a suspenseful tale of good and evil. Bradbury said in an interview that after he had published this novel he realized that the father in the book was his own father, "a man who tried to save the world with his love."

I Sing the Body Electric is a collection of short stories. The title of the book comes from a poem by Walt Whitman. Bradbury has long been critical of machines, but this book tells us how machines can be used in positive ways. Some of the stories address the idea of progress, the conflicts of the old and the new. Another interesting idea to pursue is the use of the imagination, and my favorite story in that vein is "Any Friend of Nicholas Nickelby's Is a Friend of Mine."

We encourage you to visit Bradburyville Island in Second Life, but if you want to use these for a class, we can provide you with the broadcast information so that you can broadcast anywhere in Second Life. For more information, contact Lori Bell or Lorelei Junot in world.

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, Winterfell, Steelhead, New Toulouse, New Babbage, Amatsu Shima, West of Ireland & Steeltopia Library Events for February 10-17, 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Book Discussion - The Picture of Dorian Grey (1890) by Oscar Wilde
The Sense of Self in 19th century literature - a discussion series led by Kghia Gherardi
Tuesday February 10 6-7 pm SLT
Caledon Library & Welcome Centre, Caledon Victoria City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/160/117/23

As exploration, industrialization and colonization expanded during the nineteenth century, the way the individual viewed his and her role within this world also altered. This literature series will look at how the individual defines himself or herself, how societies react to these changes, and how the evolving sense of self succeeds and fails.

In The Picture of Dorian Grey" (1890) Oscar Wilde explores the union, and the disjunction, of the social, or worldly, self, and the private self...and gives us a portrait of vanity and hypocrisy that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned.
-------------------------------------------------------
WOI – Scheherazade's Final Tale with Derry McMahon & Elder Priestman
Tuesday February 10 @ 6:30-7:30pm
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

We'll be telling the Thousand-And-Second Tale Of Scheherazade, wherein Edgar Allen Poe relates his idea of what happened that last night between the lovely lady and her evil husband. The story offers lots of adventures, and is altogether alternative-Poe.
-------------------------------------------------------
WOI – Neil Gaiman's Stardust with Aoife Lorefield

Wednesday February 11 th 7-8pm slt
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29
Stardust, Chapter 6 & 7: The threads of our story come together as Tristran and his star, the Witch Queen, and the heirs of Stormhold meet at a lonely Inn ... but who will survive the night?
-------------------------------------------------------
Winterfell Library - Aianna's Fireside Tales
Wednesday February 11th 6-7pm SLT
Bard's Bonfire, Winterfell Taur en Lore
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell/21/221/22

A weekly reading of short stories by fantasy authors including some short stories of Aianna's own. Come relax in the beautiful Gothic setting of the Winterfell heartland and listen to tales told around a crackling fire. This week continues with stories by Charles de Lint
-------------------------------------------------------
Steelhead Public Library - Shalmendo Glineux reads The Call of the Wild
Thursday February 12th 4-5pm SLT
Steelhead Hotel Ballroom, Steelhead
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/75/156/26

Please join us as Shalmendo the literate gargoyle brings Jack London's Call of the Wild to life at the Steelhead Grand Hotel. AND, you don't even have to be at the hotel or logged into SL! You can listen to Shalmendo on the Gargoyle Wireless station! http://slan13.ipr365.com:10212
-------------------------------------------------------
WOI – Tales from Darby O'Gill w Shandon Loring
Thursday February 12th 6:30-7:30pm slt
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29
Tales from Darby O'Gill - Old as Ireland these whimsical Irish folktales
bring you the jumble and tumble of men and magical creatures who walk the lanes of the Emerald Isle by day and wander its fields by night.

Tonight, from the conclusion of The Banshee's Comb - "...was ever such a dangerous purdicament! Here he was, with ghosts in the trees above him an' in the hedges, all of them searchin; for the bit of enchanted comb that was in his own pocket!"
-------------------------------------------------------
Weekly radio play broadcast from Radio Riel
Thursday February 12th 7- 8pm SLT
Radio Riel HQ, Edison Hypatia
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Edison%20Hypatia/95/116/30

Or tune in at http://music.radioriel.org

Join Alexandrian Free Library collaborator Radio Riel for another thrilling hour of Radio Drama, Sir Edward Pearse, Lord Primbroke, presiding.
This week we will hear episode 6 of the BBC production of JRR Tolkein's epic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Breaking of the Fellowship. With death of Boromir the fellowship is irretrievably broken: Frodo and Sam set off on their own to Mordor, but take an unlikely guide - Gollum. Pippin and Merry follow Treebeard, and the rest of the company are led by Gandalf who has found his way back from the darkness of Moria.
-------------------------------------------------------
Caledon Library - Wind in the Willows Listening Parties
Chapter 2: The Open Road
Saturday, Feb 14th 10am-11am SLT
Tinyville Library, Caledon Tanglewood
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tanglewood/23/214/23/

Come as a character from Kenneth Grahame's novel, The Wind in the Willows, and join us as we listen to, and discuss, a new chapter each month of the adventures of the shy but loyal Mole, the poetical Water Rat, the brave Otter, the gruff but kindly Mr. Badger, the vainglorious Toad, and all the other creatures of wood, stream, and field who populate this much-loved story.
This month, the story continues as Mole and Rat pay a visit to Mr. Toad, of Toad Hall...and a journey is undertaken, wherein a most portentous encounter occurs.
Big People may join us in Tinyville, or repose in comfort at the Oxbridge Library in Caledon Oxbridge
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge/196/96/24

Those who can't be with us in-world are invited to tune in at http://music.radioriel.org
---------------------------------------------------------------
WOI – Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain
Saturday February 14 2-3pm slt
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

Adam (Elder Priestman) and Eve (Derry McMahon) read from Mark Twain's Diaries of Adam and Eve – Twain gives us his humorous version of interpersonal relationship issues, much of it still true today. Guests are requested to wear more than a fig leaf, the WOI Library is very drafty.
----------------------------------------------------------------
WOI-Meet the Romance Writers - Melissa Mayhue & Lynda Hilburn
Saturday, Feb 14th 4-5pm SLT
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

Join us as 2 RL authors read excerpts from their books and lead a discussion on Vampire and Highland romances!
Lynda Hilburn - Dark Harvest
Denver psychologist Kismet Knight counsels vampires. Her life changed forever when she discovered a preternatural underworld, became involved with gorgeous, eight-centuries old Devereaux, the powerful leader of the vampire coven, and was forced to rethink her notions about reality. Now there's a new problem. Lyren Hallow, Vampire Hunter Extraordinaire, has come to harvest a local bloodsucker. And he has disturbing plans for Kismet as well.
Melissa Mayhue - A Highlander of Her Own
Ellie Denton's world has spiraled out of control; with a strange new birthmark, animals talking to her, and her mother's ex-husband laying claim to the family ranch. But Ellie doesn't know the birthmark's connection to her Fae ancestors. Only their magic can determine whether Ellie will find a Highlander of her own when she is magically transported back to Scotland, 1304.
-------------------------------------------------
R.F. Burton Library of New Babbage - Amour!
Sunday February 15, 2pm slt
Aether Salon, Babbage Palisades
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Babbage%20Palisade/97/59/105

Ah, February! The month of friendship and romance. What better time to discuss undergarments?

At this month's salon, Captain Redgirl Llewellyn will give an informative and lively presentation on corsets, corsetry, and female body modification as a reflection of status and fashion (with an emphasis on the Victorian era).

Following the discussion, there will be a live charity auction of Babbage-and-beyond's brightest, wittiest, and most creative... all to benefit roomtoread.org and the Aether Salon. For more information about who has stepped up to help, and what they're offering, please visit http://aethersalon.blogspot.org.
------------------------------------------------
Winterfell Library - Sunday Afternoon Poetry at The Green Fairy
Sunday February 15th 2:30-3:30 pm slt
The Green Fairy, Port Absinthe, Winterfell
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell%20Absinthe/36/128/23
Presented by Eiden Ember and Star Fairymeadow

Spend an hour or so on a Sunday afternoon, enjoying beautiful Winterfell Absinthe and listening to a selection of poetry. Ember. Eiden will be heading off with a piece or two of well known poetry and then asking for contributions for those gathered. A chance to simply listen or if you wish, to contribute, be it a favorite piece or something of your own, modern or traditional, or perhaps a piece of song? You are not expected to participate if you prefer to just listen, but the more chip in, the more interest the event holds.

We will be using the voice channel so please arrive with voice set up to make the most of the event. For further information please contact Eiden Ember.
-------------------------------------------------
Winterfell Library - Lyric Tales with Hesiod Falta
Monday Feb 16th 5-6pm SLT
Bards Island, Winterfell Taure En Lor
http://slurl.com/secondlife/winterfell/22/222/22

Hesiod Falta will read lyric poems and the works of Mykyl Nordwind over the live music stream in Winterfell. This week, Hesiod begins a series of Monday readings of Sir Walter Scott's "The Lady of the Lake"
-------------------------------------------------------------
WOI - The Borrowers with Caledonia Skytower

Monday Feb 16th 7-8pm SLT
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29\

Join Caledonia Skytower for THE BORROWERS: the first book in author Mary Norton's much loved series featuring the wee people living amongst us. "There are not so many Borrowers left, as the rush of modern life does not suit them. They like to likve in quiet, out-of-the-way country houses where things move in an orderly, well-established pattern and there is little chance for surprise. So live Pod, and Homily, and their daughter Arrietty –the Clock family, so called because the entrance to their apartment was under a grandfather clock that had not been moved in two hundred years." Well, not moved till now . . . Stories read in Voice, and repeated Tuesday nights at 7pm at Magicland Park in Bracket.
-------------------------------------------------------------
WOI The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, told by Derry McMahon
Tues Feb 17th 6:30-7:30 pm SLT
West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

Hmmm so, if time travel were possible, would you go forward or backward? Join Derry McMahon for Ted Chiang's tale of time travel, romance, greed, and much more. Story in voice, Arabian dress encouraged but not required.



Lori Bell
Director of Innovation
Alliance Library System
600 High Point Lane
East Peoria, IL 61611
(309)694-9200 ext. 2128
lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com

Health Care Event in SL

Hello,

Here's a healthcare event in SL that you may want to attend, or which
you may want to tell others about:


NHS Healthcare Innovation Day - Attend free in SL
******************************************************************************

When: Wednesday, 11 February, 2009

Time: 10.00 GMT until 16.15 GMT (2am until 8:15am PST = Pacific Time
= SL time)

Where: The National Health Service sim in Second Life

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/National%20Health%20Service/133/113/26

If you would like to attend this event please register here:

http://healthcare-innovation.eventbrite.com/

Agenda also at: http://healthcare-innovation.eventbrite.com/

Imperial College London and the NHS Confederation would like to invite
you to take part in an exclusive event that on previous occasions has
been closed to members of the public - an opportunity to learn about
and debate the most effective ways of adopting new technologies and
innovative services and overcoming barriers and challenges arising in
the process.

The Embracing Healthcare Technology and Innovation Conference has been
organised by the SDO Network and the NHS Technology Adoption Centre
and will be broadcast to you live in SL directly from BMA House in
London on Wednesday 11th February starting at 10.00 GMT (arrive at
09.30 for a video check). There will be keynote speakers who will
share evidence based management practice from real world experiences
and the latest research knowledge in this area as well as break-out
groups for discussion and feedback.

Your questions will be posed to the speakers and panels in BMA House,
and you are also invited to attend a break-out group in SL that will
feed back into the RL conference.

Want to Make Some Money? (Linden Dollars)

Hey folks! The Synthetic Worlds Initiative (Edward Castronova's group) at Indiana University is rolling out an in-world survey tool. Our first survey is on demographics and the quality of life for virtual world residents.

Respondents will be paid L$ 250.

All you need to do is take a survey from a kiosk located on our island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Synthetic%20World/72/79/32

Thanks for your willingness to help out a fellow educator/researcher.


Mark

--
Mark Bell
PhD student in Indiana University's Telecommunications program
SL: Typewriter Tackleberry
http://www.indiana.edu/~telecom/
http://swi.indiana.edu/
http://blog.markwbell.com
"Communications tools don't get socially interesting until they get technologically boring." - Clay Shirky
_

Fashion in SL

A Series of Conversations on Fashion and the Internet

Organised by London College of Fashion Research Hub

Wednesday 11th February 2009

5.30pm, UTC 09:30 PST

http://slurl.com/secondlife/London%20College%20of%20Fashion/175/229/32
Dr Julia Gaimster (London College of Fashion) in conversation with Iris Ophelia, Second Life fashion correspondent.

Dr Julia Gaimster Head of eLearning at London College of Fashion aka Lulu Minnelli will be in conversation with Second Life Fashion Correspondent Iris Ophelia. Iris is the Managing Editor of the Second Style magazine. She writes an influential Second Life blog called Ophelia Drowns and is a fashion correspondent for the New World News. They will be meeting on the London College of Fashion Second Life island where they will be discussing the role of fashion in virtual worlds and its implications for real world brands.

If you would like to attend in SL please IM Lulu Minnelli with your avatar name and we will put you on the guest list- limited spaces- first come basis

More Info Island Events

Alliance Virtual Library, Alliance Library System, and TAP Information Services will host RAYdio Bradbury Book programs, which will be
broadcast on the Internet at http://music.radioriel.org and in the virtual
world of Second Life on the Bradburyville Island at the Palladium Theater.
Leading the discussions are Dr. Loren Logsdon professor of English
at
Eureka College and Bradbury scholar and Tom Peters, CEO of TAP
Information Services.

Programs are scheduled at 6 pm SLT, 8 PM central, 9 PM Eastern on the
second Thursday of each month: February 12, March 12, April 9, and
May 14. Books for discussion are October Country,
The Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and
I Sing the Body Electric. Radio Riel will broadcast each program on
the Internet. Programs are free and everyone is welcome to attend!

For more information, please contact Lori Bell at the Alliance Library
System at 309-694-9200 ext. 2128 or at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com.

More information on the books for discussion is listed below.
The October
Country, according to Bradbury, is his purest work of
fantasy. Halloween is his favorite time of the year, and the stories in
this book take place in a country defined by its psychological state
rather than its geography.

The Martian Chronicles was not immediately popular when it was
first printed, but with the passing of time it gained Bradbury an audience
in Russia and, later, an audience in America because of Sputnik. On
the cover of the 1967 edition of The Martian Chronicles Bradbury was
advertised as "The world's greatest living science fiction writer."

Something Wicked This Way Comes is the result of Bradbury's
fascination with carnivals. The arrival of a carnival at the wrong time
of the year provides the setting for a suspenseful tale of good and evil.
Bradbury said in an interview that after he had published this novel he
realized that the father in the book was
his own father, "a man who tried
to save the world with his love."

I Sing the Body Electric is a collection of short stories. The title of the
book comes from a poem by Walt Whitman. Bradbury has long been
critical of machines, but this book tells us how machines can be used in

positive ways. Some of the stories address the idea of progress, the
conflicts of the old and the new. Another interesting idea to pursue is the
use of the imagination, and my favorite story in that vein is "Any Friend of
Nicholas Nickelby's Is a Friend of Mine."

We encourage you to visit Bradburyville Island in Second Life, but if you
want to use these for a class, we can provide you with the broadcast
information so that you can broadcast anywhere in Second Life. For
more information, contact Lori Bell or Lorelei Junot in world.

Info Island Event

Come visit the newly remodeled reference area at the Alliance Virtual
Library on Info Island International
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/120/227/33)
any time you are free. We have a library volunteer on duty about 80
hours a week, always ready to greet and help newcomers. We can answer
many of your questions and can direct you to resources all over SL,
including our own Resource Center. Besides, it's always good to know
where the library is. ;-)

Dr. C

Grand Opening

Greetings fellow educators!

You are invited to join Rio Salado College for our 30th Year Anniversary and Grand Opening of our "Rio World" campus in Second Life! Come enjoy presentations on teaching and learning in Second Life, activities, tours of Rio World, and ending with dancing and a live concert! Take a look at the fantastic line up at http://www.riosalado.edu/30years/sl/ and make plans to be there!

WHEN: TODAY! Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009
TIME: 10:30 am SLT/PST
WHERE: http://tinyurl.com/rio-world

>> Also join us this evening for a very special dance and live concert with the famous Cylindrian Rutabega! 6-8pm SLT/PST! BRING A FRIEND! <<

See you there! :)

Murray Inman (aka Mur Zimminy)
Rio Salado College - Information Services
About Rio: http://riosalado.edu/ci/
_

Looking for Second Life Locations....Places to Visit?

Hey everyone, I just found this amazing web site that lists more Second Life locations than you can imagine. Many are searchable by category such as "health", "science" and "ecosystem" to name a few. You simply must check this site out!!

click here

Top 10 Art Installation Exhibits in SL

I am not sure if they are all still there but worth visiting if you have time:


Gazira Babeli's works @ Odyssey Exhibit A Gallery, Ian Oh's Squat
Odyssey, 49, 19, 22
Website: http://odysseyart.ning.com
Website: http://www.gazirababeli.com

Adam Nash's works @ Ramonia: Garden of Immersive Sound & Vision Sculpture Art
Miami, 220, 199, 23

The Bitfactory/Columbia SL Exhibition space
I AM Columbia, 186, 100, 26

Gallery of Reflexive Architecture by Keystone Bouchard
Architecture 193, 111, 601

Website: http://www.archsl.wordpress.com

Brad Kilgerman's work @ Ars Virtua
Dowden 43, 59, 52
Website: http://www.arsvirtua.com

==================================
Here are some places we may not have had time to see:
The Port
The Port, 235, 62, 26

DanCoyote Full Immersion Hyperformalism Exhibition
Arts and Letters, 45, 133, 706

Chris Dodd's sound works
Marni, 210,54,24


Dr. C

The People Behind the Avatars???

Care to see real pictures of people behind the avatars? Check out: http://slprofiles.com

quite an interesting site...Create an account and begin making new friends...

dr. c

Looking for In-World Assistance?

Another place that you, or any educator, can go to get help with in-world basics or educational inquiries is ISTE Island. We have docents on duty most times that are more than willing to answer whatever questions you may have, or direct you to where those answers can be found! You can either search for us using the Map or Search function, or use the following SLurl: http://www.slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/90/80/30. Copy and paste The SLurl into a browser window and it will take you straight to their HQ Building.

Dr. C

FREEBIES!!! Check this out everyone!!

As we pass the 50,000 view mark, I have suddenly been getting requests from readers to blog items that I have already blogged. In the pages area on the sidebar there is a Freebie Breakdown which is an ongoing list of the regular freebies and where to get them. This list is sorted by categories to help you search better. I will not be listing quickies here because they have a time limit. Here is a recap of the shops that have been blogged as of this posting.

General Freebie Place:
The Free Dove: Gallii(101,87,32)
Freebie Jeebies: Bloom County(69,93,23)
The Gnubie Store: Indigo(198,63,38)
Sarah Nerd's Freebie Paradise: NineInchNerds(126, 111, 23)

Complete Avatar Kits:
Calla: Callatropia(142,159,24)
Inspired: Sibine(51,40,51)
Nyte'N'Day: Couture Isle (152, 174, 52)
SugarCube: Blumfield (204, 79, 27)

Accessories:
Argyle: Wingo(94,72,50) (Scarf)
ALady Female Skins & Shapes: Alady Island(53,49,22) (prim lashes)
Beyond the Veil: Chamisak(76,38,66) (veils)
BooN: Zapico (39, 154, 35) (face lamp)
Little Heaven: Little Heaven(109,126,23) (brooms, cross)
Reghan's Hats: Zebranky(46,105,23) (hat)
Tesla: Dreamworld South(230,222,21) (hats)

Clothes:
<3 Cupcakes: Optimal(87,216,40)
Adam n Eve: Genesis(66,211,43)
AnnaH Couture: Sedna(192,157,27)
Amaretto: Boracay Island(155,112,21)
Awesome Designs: Awesome Isle (209,124,23)
BareRose: Bare Rose(187,33,30)
Battered Boudoir: Boudoir Isle(229,26,23)
Boneflower: Temenos(151,138,101)
Bossa Nova: Amour(184,59,27)
CaLLie CLine Homestore: caLLiefornia(176,175,22)
Canimal: Canimal(198,68,26)
Differ*nt: Juicy(196,152,22)
ETD: ETD Isle(132,137,32)
Evolution Creations & Mystics: Pamran(154,136,22)
Fashionably Dead: Tableau(42,219,17)
Here Comes Trouble: Troubled City (29, 32, 25)
House of Zen: Hinode Shima(190,58,29)
*ICINGS*: Mischief(116,158,25)
Ingenue: Mangakino (224, 111, 21)
Ivalde: Ivalde(95,184,43)
Kaliwulf Kingdom Fetish Emporium: Kayliwulf East(177,126,45)
Kcreations: Myeolchi(120,25,62)
Kikis Closet: Kauai(222,161,22)
LaynieWear: Kidd(162,188,29)
Lily's "Be Mused": Al Tang(125,181,65)
Little Heaven: Little Heaven(109,126,23)
Marzipan's Closet: Business Bureau Isle(221,91,22)
Microphage: Seomna(93,152,47)
MG Fashions: Portucalis(81,155,22)
(N): Thistledown(110,124,417)
Neko Gear: Ganesha(137,206,21)
Nicky Ree: Deimos(145,176,27)
Nuclear Boutique: Archipelago Wild(156,163,31)
Pampered Princess: Wingo(27,68,51)
Panache: Panache(86,161,123)
Papaya: Wingo(69,84,53)
Pedalpusher Designs: Linji(110,229,72)
Persona: Southern Paradise(35,146,23)
PixelDolls: Port Seraphine(19/162/27)
Ranoel Home & Shop: JapalandTokyo(72,30,23)
Rebel Hope Designs: Monarch Bay(145,67,38)
Rose Petal Creations: Epione(115,50,71)
Sirena: West Sunset(159,50,21)
Skin Flicks: Boonootoo(97,58,56)
Spirit: Plush Terra (31, 110, 21)
SugarCube: Blumfield (204, 79, 27)
SYD: Style Your Destiny: Kidd(162,188,29)
Szentasha Fashions: Whisper(28,227,37) (1 outfit under 60 days)
Talisman Designs: Yawgoo(30,81,97)
Tuli: Plush Rho(143,231,22)
Wilted Rose: Bloom Bounty(73,126,24)
Veschi: Fuzzy(176,251,36)
Vintage Clothing Reproductions: Zebranky(11,55,23)

Eyes:
BareRose: Bare Rose(187,33,30)
Skin Within: Serenity Islands CTR(163,227,22)
SYD: Style Your Destiny: Kidd(162,188,29)

Hair:
Adam n Eve: Genesis(40,189,22) (Female Hair)
Adam n Eve: Genesis(120,95,43) (Male Hair)
Analog Dog: Triggerfish(18,14,20)
Bewitched: Lemon Island(90,125,22) (Join update group)
Bryce Designs: Nerdalicious(51,215,23)
Calla: Callatropia(142,159,24)
Curl Up and Dye: Inari(34,223,400)
Diversity: Dacham(66,117,45)
ETD: ETD Isle(132,137,32)
Frangipani: Iladil(168,93,351)
Goldie Locks: Nantli Xolal(198,201,23) (under 30 days)
GuRL 6: GuRLyWood(133,65,33)
Hairapy: Callalily Cove(156,155,23)
Hair Solutions: Elite Island(19,116,22)
Here Comes Trouble: Troubled City (29, 32, 25)
K@E Kids & Shapes: Kyoto Bakumatsu(106,124,22)
Marlys Vintage Clothing & Hair: Envy(154,80,23)
Mirada Hair: Hairspray(17,72,52)
Mystikal: Mystikal(93,119,29)
Nuclear Boutique: Archipelago Wild(156,163,31)
Panache: Panache(117,138,124)
Pazazz: Pazazz(57,27,36) (under 30 days)
Pixel Dust: Salliohsis(149,187,301)
Sirena: West Sunset(159,50,21)
SYD: Style Your Destiny: Kidd(162,188,29)
Talisman Designs: Yawgoo(30,81,97)
Taunt: Taunt(183,78,30)(Treasure Hunt)
Tickled Pink: Chatouille(88,122,24)
Wilted Rose: Bloom Bounty(73,126,24)
Zero Style: Zero Style(118/164/41)

Jewelry:
BareRose: Bare Rose(187,33,30)
Canimal: Canimal(198,68,26)
Caroline's: Lo Lo(125,212,23)
The Creaky Cauldron: Zebranky(44,76,23)
GuRL 6: GuRLyWood(133,65,33)
IzA Boutique: Gealain(197,78,117)
Kallista Kreations: Kakapo(130,58,105)
Miriel: Nouveau(104,199,23)
Papaya: Wingo(69,84,53)
Secrets of Gaia: Yeodeol(126,25,53)
Talisman Designs: Yawgoo(30,81,97)
Tickled Pink: Chatouille(88,122,24)
Woo's!: Stadtrand(28,207,21)

Shapes:
SYD: Style Your Destiny: Kidd(162,188,29)
Talisman Designs: Yawgoo(30,81,97)

Shoes:
Adam n Eve: Genesis(54,120,22) (Under 30 days old)
Awesome Designs: Awesome Isle (209,124,23)
BareRose: Bare Rose(187,33,30)
Boutique Lovely: Swinside(149,186,28)
Frangipani: Iladil(168,93,351)
Here Comes Trouble: Troubled City (29, 32, 25)
Kaliwulf Kingdom Fetish Emporium: Kayliwulf East(177,126,45)
Lassitude & Ennui: Nouveau(53,71,30)
Nuclear Boutique: Archipelago Wild(156,163,31)
She's So Unusual: Redux NW(148,193,21)
SLink: Blissfully(45,13,23)
SugarCube: Blumfield (204, 79, 27)
Talisman Designs: Yawgoo(30,81,97)
Tickled Pink: Chatouille(88,122,24)

Skins:
<3 Cupcakes: Optimal(87,216,40)
Adam n Eve: Genesis(68,173,22)(Under 30 days old)
Another Shop: Lippert(74,176,178)
BareRose: Bare Rose(187,33,30)
Boneflower: Temenos(151,138,101)
BooN: Zapico (39, 154, 35)
Canimal: Canimal(198,68,26)
Neon Neko: Sunwi Do(131,199,321 (Neko)
Panache: Panache(86,161,123)
PanJen: Absence(164,137,25) (Camp 50 minutes)
RealSKIN: Pogon(69,15,38)
SinSkin: Sin Skins(28,7,25) (Under 30 days old)
Skin Within: Serenity Islands CTR(163,227,22)
SYD: Style Your Destiny: Kidd(162,188,29)
Talisman Designs: Yawgoo(30,81,97)
Tete-a-Pied: Nouveau(216,147,30) (Under 30 days old)

Other Useful Items:
SL Profiles: Alcona(95,84,106) (SL Gadget)


Dr. C

New Religious Sim

Holy City is a replica of the Temple in Jerusalem. It’s historically accurate and a PG island.

Robby Dittmann
Enrollment Counselor
Division of Online Learning
Darton College
229.317.6815
1.877.522.2231

Political Art

Hi friends,

those of you who select Art in Second Life may find this particularly interesting

- Rik Panganiban / Rik Riel


-------------------------------------------


LOCATION: The International Justice Center Auditorium: http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Justice%20Commons/134/130/29

Can virtual art stimulate real-world political action? Find out on Friday, October 24, as digital media artists Peggy Weil (Ping Rau in SL) and Nonny de la Peña (Nonny Writer) discuss how they are using 3D artwork as a form of political expression and civic engagement. At the Global Kids' Justice Center (click here to teleport )

Peggy and Nonny have been involved in a number of ground-breaking digital media projects that explore the intersections of art and politics, from "The Redistricting Game" that Peggy designed to "Unconstitutional" a documentary of civil liberties in America post 9/11 produced by Nonny. They will talk about their latest explorations of political artwork in SL, from the "Gone Gitmo" project to the "Mauerkrankheit/Wallsickness" installation that was an Annenberg Public Good Merit Award winner. Then we will teleport over to their exhibits to get a guided tour from them!

Science Sims!!!

Check out Sploland: The main museum has many small science exhibits http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sploland/175/75/25

And the Exploratorium: follow the moving yellow dots to the eclipse exhibits http://slurl.com/secondlife/Exploratorium/147/120/22
at the end of the line of eclipse exhibits you can ride a light pulse from the sun to the earth/moon all built to scale

Try these large exhibits too:

Destination Mars: a simulation of a meteorite impact on Mars: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Exploratorium/134/164/251

Chain Reaction: the experiment where you drop a ping pong ball into a chamber full of mousetraps with ping pong balls
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SploLand/139/71/25

Mr. Dopplers Wild Ride: see the doppler effect in action: http://slurl.com/secondlife/SploLand/184/243/21

Newton's Cannon: Ripped from the pages of the Principia ride the cannon ball into orbit http://slurl.com/secondlife/Exploratorium/122/127/901

The Big Bang: Ride a galaxy cluster as it rushes outward from the big bang: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Exploratorium/129/126/426

Brownian Motion: Ride along on a pollen grain in a tank of water: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Exploratorium/165/196/26

Cool Event

College Debate Teams to Face Off in Second Life
College debate matches can be physically intense -- with participants rattling off arguments at top speed and gesturing dramatically. So it will be interesting to see if a virtual contest next month, billed as the first tournament debate in the virtual world Second Life, captures the richness of in-person competitions. Stephen Llano, the director of debate at St. John's University, in New York, announced the event this week. It will take place on February 4 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time in the university's virtual campus. A two-person team from St. Johns will go head-to-head with two students from the University of Vermont. The topic will be whether or not colleges should limit tenure for professors. The event will not be an official competition, but if it goes well, it could lead to virtual matches in the future that would count toward tournament scoring, said Mr. Llano. He said the technology could be particularly helpful in letting students compete against teams in other countries. "Not everyone gets a chance to travel internationally to debate against universities all over the world," Mr. Llano said. "We could have some international debate online where people could stay at home and particpate in an international debate at very low costs." He said he was not sure how well the technology would work. The plan is to use a voice-chat feature of Second Life so that competitors can hear each other. Meanwhile, the participants can use their cartoon-like virtual characters, or avatars, to gesture to emphasize their points. Mr. Llano said Second Life was chosen for the event over other types of online chat environments because so many colleges have built virtual campuses there. In the past, some debates have been held online using Web cams rather than virtual worlds like Second Life, he said. --Jeffrey R. Young

Those of you doing your first paper on Education in Second Life may find this event helpful...

dr. c

Freebies!!!

We all love freebies - so I thought I'd let the list know - As of today, Yadni has added 8 new boxes to his Junkyard. Look on the upper level under 3/07 for the new boxes. He has furniture, clothing, buildings, some very useful scripts, gadgets and avatars in the collection. At 1L per box - it is worth the price if you use one item out of the sizable lot. The scripts were the hit for me.

Yadni's Junkyard - Leda 210, 28, 54 (Mature)


Dr. C

Freebies Galore

The Free Dove:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gallii/113/54/33

The Changing Room for Women-Ladies at Noob Island:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/NOOB%20ISLAND/245/13/22

FREEBIES STORE of Free Union:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Thinktank/33/23/24

Student Personal Blogs

Below, please find the Personal Blogs of your classmates. Feel free to click and explore their blog sites...:

Mary Bluhm
Bret Dooley
Shakeyla Kimble
Alyson Bill
Sarah Nanney
David L Gaines
Mary Dueker
Tara Hannon
Kelly Schneider
Eric Amyx
zac bryan
Annie Fares
Brandon Murray
Bret Dooley
Madison Harrington
Alex Auer
Elise Gregory
Kelsey Garland
Kasey Martin
Kristie Simmer
Carrie Roberts
Courtney Cloninger
Andrew Avery
Matt Jordan
Tena Trolinger
Chantel Parker
Kyle Hughley
jacob connors
Kristen Jennings
Kiersten Hale
Megan Romer
Amanda Crocker
Shane Hamilton
Murrell Smith
Jake Loesche
Whitney Brown
Jacob Connor
Sarah Nanney
Kelly Schneider
Neil Hayes
Whitney Brown
Jessica Mathis
Mary Dueker
Joe Prater
Jennifer Buckwalter
Keely Mayer
Jared King
Trevor Cunningham
Kirk Thomas
Cuong Duong
Candice Bradbury

Welcome Message

Please listen to this welcome message and post your introduction by clicking on the word "comments" to the right. (try to be more creative than just listing bullet statement responses). Also, please answer the following questions:

Have you heard of Second Life before?
Do you consider yourself a pretty good writer?

Post your response by the deadline date in our course syllabus for credit on this first assignment. Please be complete in your thoughts...remember, this is one of your early introductions to me through writing, and you know what they say about first impressions...

Welcome...

Dr. c

This post is due by Midnight, January 20.



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