Science Friday...Keeping our 2009 Resolutions

I have been attending weekly "Science Friday" presentations in SL for almost a year now. I think its a great model to link K-12 as well as college/university-level scientists together for timely topics.

This model links avatars "in world" in SL as well as streaming NPR Radio broadcast in real-time. I especially like how the "in world" science educators can "chat" type in comments as we sit and listen to Ira and the broadcast. Today, we heard from Edward P Krenzelok Director, Pittsburgh Poison Center University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Professor of Pharmacy and Pediatrics Gordon J. Vanscoy Chair in Pharmacy University of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania who discussed safety issues over the holidays--including ingested plant substances, preparing and keep holiday food safe, and how to contact Poison Control Center.

Additionally, we discussed the psychology behind New Year's Resolutions for 2009. The guest was John C. Norcross Clinical PsychologistDistinguished Professor, Psychology University of ScrantonScranton, Pennsylvania. He advocated reasonable, measurable goals. 75% will be successful for one week and drops to about 40% after 6 months. He has several research studies to back up his data. Interesting discussion about motivation for making/keep resolutions! He said get one or more friends (can even be different goals for each) to supporting each other to succeed!

Those who don't have a SL link, can still listen at: http://www.sciencefriday.com/ which also contains more info including archived posts.

The Science Friday land at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Science%20Friday/204/244/23 that have asynchronous science displays including some great videos!

Explore today!

Fall is in the air....

Fall is in the air.....and I've been very busy with the Aggie Student Group in SL. Our Halloween party was fun with Aggie friends.

Then, the first part of November, we built the Aggie Bonfire Memorial to honor those that lost their lives and those that were injured in the 1999 Bonfire collapse. We held a candlelit memorial ceremony on 11/16/08 at 2:42 a.m. (the time the bonfire collapsed). [See images/story behind the Memorial built on the campus at: http://www.tamu.edu/bonfirememorial/]

This past week, we spent time in world building the Aggie bonfire stack (a cherished tradition accompanying the pep rally of yesteryear)...as Aggies came together to share memories of the 90 years of official Bonfire builds (1909-1999). One participant even remarked that the build was so good--she could smell the diesel in the air...and it smelled like victory against tu! We were thankful that we have a safe, immersive environment for remembering Aggie traditions, to meet new friends, and renew our commitment to Aggieland. [see video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fP5oZMBGS4 ]

The New Psychology

I was very impressed with Milton Broom's discussion last month. His avatar is a proxy for University of Derby Research and Teaching in the 3D multi-user virtual environment 'Second Life'--see www.miltonbroome.com) and he delivered an excellent training on Aspergers Syndrome/Autism last month at the Autism Society of America.

It is interesting to see a Pyschologist to discuss and inform a group that might not otherwise access this help due to the very nature of their disability. Following Milton's presentation, there was an interesting reaction and discussion from the audience which confirmed much of what was discussed with anecdotal information from the viewpoint of those who live daily with autism.

The society was very welcoming to me, an outsider.

Value Added

I think that my focus in SL has evolved over the past year and a half to the point that I will continue to explore SL --but have committed to managing the Texas A&M Student Group that has now grown to 60+ members and are very diverse in abilities and interests.

This past weekend, I experienced the thrill of the Relay for Life (RFL) Finale of events. The RFL effort in SL has raised over $200,000 USD for the American Cancer Society to fight cancer. I was changed forever coming virtually face-to-face with Cancer Survivors and Caregivers. They were so very appreciative of all the efforts that the Aggie Team and other teams gave them to support them in their plight. I read many of their stories and how Second Life affords them the opportunity to participate in the Relay--when their health and schedules would have otherwise eliminated that chance.

With rising energy and living costs, a virtual environment like Second Life offers a flexible learning space for collaboration, training, and human resource development. I feel my time is well spent in SL as I research the best ways for virtual learning, research and interventions.
Please stay with me as I continue on my journey in Second Life. Please add comments or email me at: RachelleMunro@gmail.com.

Google Lively

World2Worlds had a great discussion last Saturday, July 12th to discuss the new beta version of Google Lively that was released last week. See their blog:

http://www.world2worlds.com/index.php/component/content/article/99

The pros seem to be that it runs on a web browser and can be embedded in Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites. The downside seems to be that it does not run on Macs and Linux platform systems for now.

But, it certainly does have the potential to get alot more people involved in virtual meetings with a "presence" (by creating an avatar) and getting used to this concept as a tool for dialogue.

--Rachelle

Celebrating Cancer Survivor's Day in SL!

Here's the link: http://slurl.com/secondlife/HalfwayThere%204/78/12/27

$91,000 US dollars raised already in Second Life to benefit the American Cancer Society through the Relay for Life (RFL) fundraising campaign.

Today is the RFL Halfway There Fair.....50 days to the end of RFL '08

I saw lots of fun activities! Come by and take a look!

--Rachelle

Virtual-Aggie Muster

Softly Call the Muster.....


Tonite was an awesome night to be an Aggie in SL! We had a solemn, but informative "Muster" program for Aggies and guests. We learned about the history of the Aggie Muster and we held our candles high and remembered those who left us this past year.


Following Muster, we had a "Celebrate Life" dance at the new Aggie property...I filled in as DJ. We had lots of great music and dancing....and we raised another 5000+ Lindens tonite for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life (RFL) as the Texas Aggie RFL team.

Click the link above to see the great pictures that the Relay for Life photographer put in Flickr also!

--Rachelle

Mexico Tourism

Thinking about travelling today....

I set out to explore the "Visit Mexico" tourism site:

~Chichen Itza~Archeologic, Visit Mexico (173, 123, 37)

As I arrived, I was given a Mayan Princess outfit, climbed and explored a Mayan Pyramid, and then rode a gorgeous blue butterfly for a tour of the sim. A whole new way to promote tourism!

Memorials

At the Aggie Chat (a weekly meeting of grad students, faculty & friends) last night, we toured the memorials set up to remember the victims of Virginia Tech and the soldiers who died in the Vietnam War. They were both thoughtfully done.

But, I have to say, the most disturbing of all, was the thought that there was much more land to build on at both places--telling me that we have not seen an end to violence or death by wars we must fight.

Second Life has a unique way of combining graphics, video, and sound to experience events in a way that you have not before. And, you have a presence in that experience and you will remember it.

ASTD--American Society for Training & Development

Happy Easter!

I wanted to share a few thoughts with you about training in Second Life. First, I attended a great session last week at Train for Success. Thanks to Anders Wildcat (Anders Gronstedt, Ph.D in "real life"--RL--see: http://www.prsaokc.com/swdc/speaker.html), I was able to hear Anthony Allen from ASTD talk about the unveiling of their new sim island in SL.

http://www.astd.org/resources/secondlife

According to Anders: "The American Society for Training & Development, ASTD, just unveiled its island in Second Life. Meet Anthony Allen, director of digital media for ASTD, this Thursday at Train for Success, to learn how the world's largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals views virtual worlds and how it plans to use its Second Life presence"

I decided to teleport to the ASTD island and have a look around. I found 5 main areas including a welcome area, orientation training for newbies, a large meeting area, several break off areas and even a campfire area. It's great to see that an organization as large as ASTD is getting on board!

I learned from the presentation that SL is considered just one of many virtual worlds termed the "Metaverse" that 0rganizations are looking at for training and conducting business. One of the boards on their island told it all:

"Second Life is one of many 3D virtual worlds that can improve communication, learning and understanding between people that would otherwise be separated by geography, personality type, or work title. ASTD acknowledges that 3D communication tools offer the potential for richer communication than 2D tools such as email, instant messaging, and blogs. Virtual environments and relationships will almost certainly be part of learning in the future"

ASTD "gets it"....they see that Web 2.0 is now becoming 3.0 and virtual worlds and environments are becoming more robust spaces for connecting, learning, and training!

Wearing of the Green

It was a fine night at the St. Patrick's Day Party at the Aggie Beach House...friends stopped by to donate to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life (RFL) fundraising campaign. Dona was spinning some good ole' Rock & Roll tunes!

To blog, or not to blog

Sorry--I haven't spent time blogging lately.....But, these past few weeks have been very exciting in Second Life! I have been conducting research in this medium and it has been such a learning experience as I have interviewed 30+ participants to capture their thoughts around adult learning in a virtual environment.

Last Week, I volunteered to Captain the Virtual Aggie Relay for Life (RFL) team in SL benefiting the American Cancer Society. I was told that over $150,000 was raised for ACS in 2007 by 20+ teams and I'm sure the Aggie Group can do some serious work toward the 2008 goal! Go Aggies! Our first fund raiser is 3/17---with a St. Pat's Day Party at the Aggie Beach House. Come join us! --Rachelle

(RSVP me for access)

NOAA --WEATHER & OCEANIC SITE IN SL

I joined a very interesting tour of the NOAA ---the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--site in Second Life last Thursday (Feb 7th). It was great to see all of the real-time weather displays as well as learning displays such as the tsumani safety site. According to their website at www.noaa.gov, "These and other virtual adventures are attracting large numbers of "avatars," or virtual selves, to one of the first government-sponsored, Earth-science "islands" in the rapidly growing online world of Second Life."