My Expierence with Second Life

My experience using Second Life for the first time was unusual. At first, it was very confusing just because I never used it in my life. So navigating through the different islands and learning the basics of the program was difficult at first. It reminded a lot of the The Sims games I loved to play on my computer. After becoming more familiar with the software & content, I was able to learn how to add friends to my Friend list and chat with other avatars near me.

I found it pretty fascinating how this program could be used for educational purposes. It really gives meaning to the concept of TPACK. This is a great example of integrating technology in the classroom
for a lesson. I'm pretty sure a lot of students in schools today are familiar with video or computer games that have these "avatars" you can create and play online with others in real time and it won't be long until your students catch on to using Second Life!

It is quite a unique program to use in your curriculum because you can create a space and invite your entire class to view a PowerPoint you created, a video, or to discuss a topic without either of you having to leave your home. It's a virtual classroom! This is an excellent resource because not only is it being for educational purposes, but your students are engaging in the lesson and having fun at the same time. With technology becoming more apart of our everyday lives, our classrooms and schools should keep up with the technology that our students are exposed to everyday.

This video on the SL (Second Life) website gives an overview of what this program offers and what it's all about.