A lesson on second life..is actually quite cool!
5.15pm Gather at shout-out corner to teleport to the class together.
Basically there are several channels of communication that we can use: local chat and IM would be the more common ones. Local chat allows us to talk to the people who are nearby, while IM would be one-to-one conversation.
5.30pm When most people have gathered, we will all teleport to the classroom together.
The classroom, as we had been briefed previously, has a U shaped table with chairs where we could sit, and a projector screen where the powerpoint slides will be shown. Behind us were actually sofas where lecturers could take a seat "comfortably" if they wanted to.
Here in the classroom, local chat was used to facilitate class discussion, and I have to say that it works quite well to generate ideas rather than in face to face lessons. Perhaps because it's in the form of typing, that's why it appears as though many people are trying to talk, including me.
Going for a lesson on second life has made me understand why people are so attracted to this hyperreality. This is where you can do what you want (for example be a DJ if you always wanted to but never had a chance to in real life and earn linden dollars for doing this job!) and you can make a business out of it, be it in the virtual world for linden dollars, or exchanging these virtual properties for real cash.
Although it was really a weird experience, and to a certain extent, "lame" experience as many people commented, it was really a worthy experience.
This was how I had my lesson. Aircon+ stable wireless+ bubble tea + potato chips + msn on desktop + second life on laptop + lecturer's voice booming in my room + ibun + sitting and swinging on my rolling chair. Totally different what I have in school. =)
