Technologication [beta]

Slurls:

1. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/128/128/20
2. http://slurl.com/secondlife/NASA%20eEducation/128/128/28

1. Bobcat Village, in Second Life (SL), is a campus tour of Texas State University. Other universities offer this virtual experience, but I found this one particularly nice. The island is very well built (from my experience) and you can set up “tours” of the campus. They also provide a YouTube tutorial to help perspective students.

On this island I experienced three of the four parts of LTCA Theory: Strategic, Normative, and Dramaturgical. Constantive communication might have occurred for me if I would have scheduled an appointment for a tour. Strategic communication occurred for me every time I read a sign or followed directions that SL/island gave me. The environment of SL provides the user with the normative communication so that he/she understands what is acceptable and possible in on the island. Of course second life would not be successful if it was not for the Dramaturgical aspect of the communication experience.

The 3D experience allows users to explore what Texas State University has to offer without the obligation to commit to anything else. I enjoyed the well thought design and how the different environments complimented each other.

2. NASA eEducation is one of the most exciting revelations for me in SL. After our last class experience in SL I found the program to be pointless for education. NASA changed that for me. Exploring the island was like stepping into a museum of vehicles, pictures, and text. I enjoyed exploring the different exhibits and reading about the history of various projects. This experienced allowed my “new” eyes to explore SL in a new way. I began looking for islands that provided students with experiences that would not normally have been afforded them (titanic, solar system, Eco-systems, etc.). Opening up students world to a larger perspective is the greatest aspect of SL in the classroom (that is right, classroom).

I experienced LTCA Theory in full at the NASA eEducation island. While I was there I spoke with other individuals that shared their ideas of second life. Most were there for recreation and spent and average of 20 hours a day on SL (their words). Which brings on the concerns of the artifical environment and escaping reality.

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SL Class experience:

As a distance learning tool I thought Second Life (SL) sucked! Sorry to be so straight forward but I have no other way to express it . As I explored SL this last week I found that it would be very cool to use SL in the classroom with students or even for students. Using SL can allow students to see and experience other places, times, events in a more immersive way than a text book or picture. The world is interactive (good and bad) which allows for students to live it rather than imagine living it. Again issues for me are the adult content that is not blocked, the way the user feels as if they are playing a game (addication), and technical difficulties.