Three weeks of class in Second Life and I’m continuing to enjoy attending sessions in the virtual world. Got rid of my mustache – the one I didn’t know I had, found some cool jeans – just like the ones I bought in the real world, and attended a social at the virtual UH campus – something I haven’t done in years. I’ve learned how to build things in Second Life and even competed in a Primsionary game where my building skills were tested. Okay, I know, I have a long way to go before I’ll be building anything that’s architecturally significant.

One thing I noticed this past week reading articles for my annotated bibliography assignment was that many of the topics were similar when it comes to the use of virtual online environments for education – at least the ones that I read. What particularly stood out for me was the consistent mention of the feeling of “presence” when in-world and how much it enhances learning.

The other thing I’ve been thinking about is the whole idea of the lines blurring between the real and virtual worlds. But what intrigues me even more are what its going to look like as the lines start to get clear again – not because we can tell the difference between real and virtual, but because there won’t be any difference. That’s wild! In what ways will technology need to progress to get us closer to that reality? Could a trip somewhere or experience be more “real” in the virtual world than in the real world? Stay with me on this one. Could our experiences in the virtual world touch more of our senses than if we traveled there in person? Right now, I think not, but maybe, just maybe in future that might become a reality – a virtual reality.

I thought it was great fun playing “Primsionary.” Ever heard of Pictionary? Well, Primsionary is basically Pictionary played in Second Life, except instead of drawing on a piece of paper you try and create the objects using “prims” – which are 3D objects used in Second Life to build things. We broke up into two teams, sat on different sides of the room, and even went to the stage when it was our turn to create an object. The score was tied with only a few more avatars to go, and my name was called. Yikes! Pressure! It’s funny because I experienced a bit of anxiety thinking that I might be the first one to not get a point for our team. Good thing that I can conceal my fears through my avatar who confidently strutted up to the stage. Thank god for the good guessers on our team because my headphones looked more like a lollipop with candy on both ends. As I reflected about our game in Second Life, I thought about how fun it was, how we got to practice our building skills, and how we were able to interact with each other, or should I say, how our avatars were able to interact with each other, or should I say how we were able to interact with each other through our avatars. Yup, the lines are getting blurred. Will it get clearer? Only time will tell.

So before I go, here’s one more experience I had involving my avatar. Markieparkie (aka Mark), who knows me in the real world said to me the other evening when we were meeting in world, “Hey, I didn’t know you had a mustache.” Mustache, what mustache? When I turn around to look at myself (sort of a virtual look in the mirror) I noticed that I had a mustache. How the heck did I get that. You mean I need to shave in the virtual world, too? Seriously, I wanted to get rid of it and to change my shirt at the same time. It seems like everyone else in class is going to the virtual mall and buying new clothes each week and I wanted to do the same. Well, I was already in class, so I felt like I needed to excuse myself to the first floor where no other avatars were so I could get rid of my mustache and change into something new. I teleported to the first floor and was just about to change my appearance when Kekoa came by. I stopped what I was doing and chatted for a while. Once our conversation was over, I felt like I needed to wait till she was gone before changing my shirt. So now I ponder, if I didn’t know that Kekoa (SL avatar) was actually Deanna (real world), would I have waited till he/she went away? Hmmm… Is techtiki (my SL name) more than just an avatar that I created in some virtual world? Is it actually becoming an extension of me, one who I rely on to interact with others in world, and one who I need to complete this class? Okay, this is getting kind of wierd. Hang in there with me. I’m sure you’re interested to know where this is going, too. I know I am.

dean

Two weeks into class and everything is beginning to seem “normal.” Our virtual classroom overlooking the ocean is refreshing and familiar. I know where the front of the class is, where Powerpoint presentations will be shown, and where I need to go to get my materials for class. In fact, I’m even finding that I tend to sit in the same place each session. I know my classmates by their avatars, not by what they look like in the real world, but rather what they look like in world. In fact, for some who I never met in person yet, that’s that only way I know them. I would probably walk right past them in Wist Hall, but not is Second Life.

I’m finding that the sessions have been rich and equal to many face-to-face classes that I’ve had in the past. For me, one of the greatest advantages of having class in Second Life, beyond the fact that I get to be at home, is the interesting worlds that we can visit. When we talk about breaking down the classroom walls, I never did think of it in this sense, however, I’m finding that the more sessions I attend in world, the more I see a future for this method of delivering instruction. I wonder what it’s going to look like in five years when computer processors get even faster and 3D technologies further evolve and mature.

A couple of observations…co-presence or ambient awareness – the sense of being there and connected, is really evident when we’re in Second Life. I mean it literally seems we’re meeting face-to-face when we’re in class and meeting with our groups. I wonder if it’s because, subconsciously, we know that someone is controlling each avatar we see in class? It was funny when Mark, Cheryl and I met a few nights ago in Second Life. At the end of our meeting both Mark and I complemented Cheryl on the dress she was wearing – her Second Life dress. It was a beautiful dress! The lines are getting blurred. Are we beginning to interact with avatars in Second Life or are they merely a window to the person behind the avatar? That would be an interesting study – to see who we begin to associate more with when we’re in a virtual world, avatars or the people who create and control them? In our minds, do we acknowledge a difference between the two or are they one in the same? Is Techtiki and Dean the same? Do people in class think that Techtiki and Dean are the same, think the same, act the same, etc.? I think the methods of communication impact our perceptions. I believe it’s easier to represent yourself differently if you only use local chat and IM. It’s harder to do so when you use audio. Not sure if I’m making sense, but I’d like to follow this train of thought throughout the class and see how I feel at the end. Stay tuned….