This week, we recapped on a number of things from before the break, but also included new experiences. Indeed, the Second Life client has moved on a great deal in a few months. Most interesting to me was the ability to talk, rather than type. Suddenly, I must admit the environment became a good deal more realistic, and ‘lifelike’. Personally, I’ve had problems with the notion of avatars and representation of myself and others in this virtual world, and I realised that hearing someone’s voice immediately helps to relate to them. More grist to the mill in understanding the relationship between learning and how it happens whether in a virtual or real space.

Some of the Naace members had an impromptu meet out on Learn 4 Life learning island to test out the new Steel Band facilities and surf and play beach games - these will soon be available to the teaching force and members on the island to hold ad hoc CPD - teacher training may well never be the same again.

And of course, and after a hard day learning, just like my daughter, you just feel like lying down …

Luckily I had recently invested in a portable Web and Walk broadband modem from T-Mobile and I can surf and interact from virtually anywhere - (Is this a good thing I ask myself?).

There was no way I would be able to get back to London from Torquay in the time needed so I set up shop in a coffee shop on the M5. I guess this is what learning platforms are all about in some cases. I need that ubiquity of access because of what I do and in this case it proved invaluable until the power ran out - no plug sockets in service station cafes :(.

I was quite amused to see all the same things happening in Second Life as happens in RL. People are late (including me), they shuffle in and information has to be repeated and protocols observed. The agenda shifts as everyone wants to get a word in or have their various needs serviced - and, of course teachers and advisors are no different to anyone else in this respect (big smiley).

I thought Jenny did an excellent job of it and considering it was a large group everyone was very engaged.

I am meant to be at a party in Soho tonight but I am not going to even try to multitask - I’ll need all my reserves to do half as good a job as Jenny did last night. It will be very interesting to see how the whole things evolves over the next few weeks.

Image credit: Josh Russell 

I found the interactions of greatest interest. Most people, because it was the first time they had met together, or maybe met people with a purpose, in Second Life, wandered off the agenda. Jenny asked for questions, but I certainly had not prepared any - something I’ll do for the next meeting. This meant that discussion ranged from the practical (how do I do this and that), to the more pedagogical (how could it be used in education). The latter something we have to think about once we have some experience. Since many knew each other in real life, having different names and visual representations that look very different was at first very strange. Although some had attempted to mimic their real physical appearance as best they could, others had clearly not. We even went round and introduced ourselves perhaps for psychological reassurance, I’m not sure. I’m sure this will wear off and we’ll get more comfortable about this.

The practical session was also rather interesting, in that it was very similar to a real session. Some learners dominated, some held back and watched. Some got frustrated when it did not work for them first time, some managed it first time. Jenny as teacher was patient and gave encouragement. While this was realistic, what struck me was the lack of other space and body language signs, but they were beginning to emerge. For example, I got irritated when another avatar stood in front of my view, and actually felt at one stage that someone was stand too close to me. What there wasn’t was a protocol for queuing (no one had found the ‘hands up feature’). This was particularly noticable when putting messages on the noticeboard, as it could only be done one at a time. In real life gestures would have given these visual signs.

Looking forward to the next meeting.