Second Life and Virtual Worlds
Several Penn folks from different schools have been meeting every so often to discuss Second Life and other virtual worlds. Here at the Weigle Information Commons, we have rented some space on a library-focused island – this SL space looks much like the real commons with a central conference area suitable for a class or meeting of up to 20 people and two data diner booths with six seats each. Three video screens in the space can play any quicktime video on the web. We welcome interested folks to join the Penn Libraries group and start to hold events in Second Life.
So far, we have held several beginner workshops (how to walk, chat and fly in Second Life) and one building workshop by the builder of our space, Tim Allen. There seems to be broad interest in Second Life as people try to figure out what role it could play at Penn. Our online resource links to some educational resources.
This Halloween, we will try our first SL event – an avatar contest to go with the Penn Reading Project’s Inner Fish activities. Do you have suggestions on how to reach students who may be interested in Second Life avatar building?
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Hi Lisa, Yes, we help people with training on SL use. Once someone is a member of our Penn Libraries group, they have admin rights on the new space and can set the three screens to stream the videos of their choice. It is informal right now – we hope all will be polite and reset the space when they are done using it! Interested folks can send email to wic1@pobox.upenn.edu
Several folks in Student Services at LPS are interested in using the SL space for virtual orientation sessions for prospective and incoming students.
Does WIC provide collateral infrastructures (e.g. how to set up events, how to instruct participants, stream video, etc.) for people wanting to set up events?