Get Schooled on Second Life
Media Contact: , (859) 257-1754, x229
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2007) − University of Kentucky Libraries and the Teaching and Academic Support Center will present a drop-in
session dedicated to educational uses for Second Life, a computer-created virtual world where
people through online versions of themselves called avatars interact without ever leaving their
computer desk. The session runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 25, in B108-A in William T.
Young Library or online via Wimba.
Second Life is a Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE) used for social interaction and, increasingly, for education. The Education in Second Life Drop-in Session is part of an online international conference. The UK session will include demonstrations and make UK Second Life users available to answer questions, as well as present the online Second Life International Best Practices in Education Conference.
While the conference itself will take place in the virtual world, those interested in attending can stop by the Young site anytime during the scheduled conference hours.
Wimba sessions will also make the session available from a desktop computer for UK community members located elsewhere on campus. Wimba session participants will be able to watch conference events and ask questions of UK users via chat.
Second Life is a privately owned, partly subscription-based 3-D virtual world, made publicly available by San Francisco-based Linden Lab. The Second Life "world" resides in a large array of servers, known collectively as "the grid," and users, known as residents, have tools to view and modify the virtual world and participate in its virtual economy. This has concurrently begun to operate as a "real" market.
Second Life has surpassed 1 million residents, including students from about 60 colleges and universities who use the platform for educational purposes. UK is considering "buying" land in this virtual world, where individuals create their own online version or avatar. These online personas can then do everything from use the site to visit ancient cities or tour modern day foreign communities where they can interact with local residents.
For more information on the Education in Second Life Drop-in Conference, visit the session's online Web site, or e-mail Randolph Hollingsworth and Beth Kraemer. UK community members who need more information about using Wimba to view the conference can e-mail Gerry Swan.
Second Life is a Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE) used for social interaction and, increasingly, for education. The Education in Second Life Drop-in Session is part of an online international conference. The UK session will include demonstrations and make UK Second Life users available to answer questions, as well as present the online Second Life International Best Practices in Education Conference.
While the conference itself will take place in the virtual world, those interested in attending can stop by the Young site anytime during the scheduled conference hours.
Wimba sessions will also make the session available from a desktop computer for UK community members located elsewhere on campus. Wimba session participants will be able to watch conference events and ask questions of UK users via chat.
Second Life is a privately owned, partly subscription-based 3-D virtual world, made publicly available by San Francisco-based Linden Lab. The Second Life "world" resides in a large array of servers, known collectively as "the grid," and users, known as residents, have tools to view and modify the virtual world and participate in its virtual economy. This has concurrently begun to operate as a "real" market.
Second Life has surpassed 1 million residents, including students from about 60 colleges and universities who use the platform for educational purposes. UK is considering "buying" land in this virtual world, where individuals create their own online version or avatar. These online personas can then do everything from use the site to visit ancient cities or tour modern day foreign communities where they can interact with local residents.
For more information on the Education in Second Life Drop-in Conference, visit the session's online Web site, or e-mail Randolph Hollingsworth and Beth Kraemer. UK community members who need more information about using Wimba to view the conference can e-mail Gerry Swan.