Second Life and School Libraries?

Boy was that a fun way to end the class! I had lots of fun exploring with Linda and Eileen in SL earlier this week. "Exploring" is an appropriate term... I really felt like I was a foreigner in a strange land, and although Linda clearly has more experience, it felt like she was exploring with us. I think that was the most wonderous thing about it: feeling like we were a little group that stuck together, learning new things. I really see how that would translate so nicely in a school atmosphere. I personally think it would enhance the social spirit in a classroom community. Everyone would learn new things together.

I'm not sure how excited I was about the libraries there- pardon me, I mean cibraries! I just can't get beyond the idea of a library without books. Entering those empty spaces to sign a guest book and access the library's catalogue online wasn't quite cutting it for me... it honestly felt very cold and personality-less. Perhaps this will change as the infrastructure evolves.

After reading all the problems classmates were having logging on and staying on, I wonder if it would be practical to introduce SL during a library lesson? I think it's true- all things like this need an alternative lesson "back-up," but wouldn't it be frustrating nonetheless. Especially because anything "alternative" would be a huge disappointment for the students! (How could a lesson be more cool than creating avatars to explore a virtual world????)

That's not to say I'd rule it out. I would just give lots of practice runs before going for it!