[school-discuss] "Second Life" in Education Interview: Wow...

["Steve Hargadon" <steve.hargadon@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://educationbridges.net/k12opensource/wp-content/uploads/SecondLife.mp3
http://educationbridges.net/k12opensource/wp-content/uploads/SecondLife.ogg

I don't know whether to be scared or excited about 
Second Life.   This interview today with 
Gavin Dudeney of  
The Consultants-E,
who run the EduNation island in Second Life, was a fascinating look at
this virtual online world--a place where Gavin spends 8 - 10 hours per
day!

We spent the first half of the interview just talking about
how Second Life works. It is both compelling and frightening at the
same time--the idea of "going" to a virtual location for a conference
actually makes a lot of sense (with all of the technologies built into
the venue, it will be very intuitive), but paying money for designer
clothing to put on your online avatar (character)? Yikes. I have an
image of pale, lifeless children sitting dark rooms in front of their
computers, sucking nutrients from a tube while their heroic online
avatars live their lives for them...

When I asked about the
safety issues relating to the use of Second Life for youth, Gavin
described a "teen grid," which even Gavin doesn't have access to
because you have to apply and go through some security/background
checks to be able to interact with youth there.

This interview
is only about 33 minutes long, and--for those who don't know anything
about Second Life--should be a real eye-opener. At the end of the
interview Gavin generously gives instructions for getting a personal
tour from him once you are in Second Life.

Steve

-- 
Steve Hargadon
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx
916-899-1400 direct

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