Tech Note: Advising In World

Virtual advising has officially entered Penn State's stock of student services. The institution's Second Life island is the locale for meetings between avatars "in world"; advisers' availability is posted on the Penn State Online web site. See the staff photo (of avatars) on that web site.

An inventive feature of the Penn State initiative: walk-in hours.

The image at right is not from Penn State. That's my avatar on the island of Texas Woman's University. I have keynoted in SL, met with students, and helped to create a student research symposium. All good things to do virtually. Recommended starting point for anyone new to the immersive environment: NMC, New Media Consortium.

FYI: I don't worry over the debate of whether we in higher ed should be teaching in Second Life. Or even whether higher ed should invest in virtual worlds. But I do think we should all practice in every SL venue open to us. We need to practice. SL is probably not going to be the virtual world we teach in 10 years from now. But it's a great place to practice now.

© 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Email contact: bold[AT]marybold.com. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (www.marybold.com, www.boldproductions.com, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as legal or professional advice. Bold is the co-author of Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. She is a consultant and speaker on assessment, distance learning, and technology.