FOC09 - Catching up, Second Life & Mini Conference

Well, I know that I have some catching up to do and have definitely neglected the Facilitating Online Community for awhile, however I think I am getting my head round wikis, Second Life and also have signed up to the Online Facilitators Network on Grou.ps.

I was able to experience one session in Second Life, which was a general orientation. Pommieangel (my alter ego) certainly enjoyed “jumping” around the place and began to get used to chatting (either using the chat function or via voice). In some aspects Second Life gives you freedom to explore and be someone that you may not necessarily be in your “true” life, whilst another part of me thought what are we doing sitting here, chatting through these avatars. I would like to have the time to explore this as a teaching method more as I could see benefits for students in role play situations, however, it would be good to see these in action.

In relation to facilitation, I could see that if you were having a meeting or some form of formal teaching that the use of facilitator and moderator could be required.

Although it would be great to have held something in Second Life for the mini conference, due to timing and also the technical issues that some people have with connection, then I think that I will change that.

FOC09 - Catching up

Back to reality with a bump! after 10 days of glorious sunshine in Queensland. Now I have quite a lot of catching up to do. Need to digest wikis and second life so that I can also think about the online conference. Will be back soon with further ideas. Did manage to get into Second Life before I went away, although will be glad of a tutorial - found it rather daunting when a dashing young man came up to me and started chatting! At least I managed to "walk away" (well stumble over something!).