That internet thing will never catch on!

So once again I here of another news report presenting Virtual Worlds such as Second Life as a playground for evil doings.  I have to wonder 'what price for a story?'  These so called journalists never mention improved learning outcomes or student engagement. 

News flash to all media journalists - we are human! There are good people and not so good.  In all areas of our lives we have access to both.  But just as in other areas, to find these things you need to go looking.  For example there are nasty areas in news stores (usually down the back if you look). Also there are movie stores that don't sell PG only, there are religions, toy shops and more, that are not so innocent.  That is the market.  We know that sex and perversion are present and the more we advertise it, the more we make news reports and new articles on it, the more it will be there (note I didn't provide links to that riduculous story)

Virtual worlds will also be around.  They will be the next Internet.  They will be as common as Google is today.  Very few struggle to conceptualise how the Internet works (unless they have had their head buried in the sand somewhere) but how will 3D worlds work?.

My message is simple.  Don't be scarred off by the soothsayers but  rather create the world that you want to see.  If you have a problem with the terrible things that are happening, go out and make good things happen.

I want to share two you tube movies with you that show how Virtual worlds will soon replace the Internet as we know it (movie 1) and also how easy they will be to build and become a part of what we do (movie 2).

Comments

[John Larkin]

Hi Westley,
Perhaps you saw this. Kathy Schrok writing on Second Life in teaching and learning a few days back.

http://nausetschools.org/lighthouselearning/2007/10/new-life-for-k-12-use-of-second-life.html

Ignore the media Westley. Second Life is becoming more established and pragmatism will replace the hype as my friend Kevin Lim pointed out recently. As more and more academics/students utilise it for conversations, sharing and conferences Second Life will become second nature... a natural progression in technology, teaching and learning. As educators learn to value its difference it will become the tool of choice for many.
John