Your+SECOND+LIFE

 Share talent. Collaborate. Bridge geographic expanses. Save money. Reduce your carbon footprint. Engage in professional development. Enjoy!  A 10-minute video on Second Life can be found near the bottom of this page. 
 * Your SECOND LIFE**

No, no, no I'm not about to get spiritual on you. Second Life is, well, a video game not much different from the Sims, in my opinion, which allows you to take on virtual bodies in virtual space. I had not heard of Second Life until I attended ISTE. In the convention hall there was a special area set up, they called it a "playground", and it really was a playground for educators! Folks were so fully engaged in their laptops and chatting with each other about this aspect of Second Life and that aspect of Second Life.

After walking past the playground several times during the course of the conference and thinking //What is this, some kind of cult for teachers?// I built up enough courage to infiltrate the group and ask someone about Second Life. Well, it was like talking to die-hard fan of the Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac or Smap--you know the kind who used to follow the bands around the world and know everything there is to know about the bands. This is what I found out. Educators use Second Life to meet in cyberspace. They make avatars and dress them up as dragon slayers, princes, princesses...whatever they wish and send the characters (avatars) off to various areas of the Second Life world to interact with other characters. My Second Life guru informed me that once she and her colleagues were to attend workshops somewhere but a snowstorm prevented them from attending in person. Solution? They met on Second Life!

So there you have it. Second Life is a fun way for educators to interact. And why not. Why should the kids have all the fun?

Enough of what I have to say about it. Surely you want to try SECOND LIFE!! Before I set you off on your way, I feel compelled to share with you what my Second Life expert friend shared with me. Second Life is a tool but it's also a toy. Do be careful when you select certain areas. Some adults use the areas for activities that...well...you're all adults. Use your imagination. Ehem!

Here's how to get started: View the 10-minute intro video, courtesy of Youtube and ISTE, then select an option.

media type="youtube" key="aP137QgYKvQ" height="344" width="425"

Step 1: Visit [] to find out about more about ISTE and Second Life.
 * OPTION 1:**

Step 2: Visit[| http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/93/83/30] This is ISTE Island. It's a safe place for educators.

**OPTION 2:** Dive right in by going to [] and sign up there. ** __//CAVEAT UTILITOR//: For your safety and peace of mind, you may choose to create a fake identity with an email account just for these sorts of social networking activities.__ **

