Currently It's Emerging Tech

I'm trying to keep up to date with my emerging tech course, I'm finding that it is tough at times. We are discovering and playing with so many "toy's" right now, that it's hard to find that happy medium of keeping up with what's required. I still think we are discovering what technology is more important then others. I am working on my new podcast, as well as doing research for my group project, blogging, twittering, and trying to stay active in SL. The group project thing is a bit more work then I expected, because there is not a lot of research based information out there on Collaborative Learning and Wiki's. It's good that we have a work day this week because I think we all need some time to research and meet on our own right now. I plan on being productive this week, so let's see if I can keep up!

Second Life

Today I finished flying around in Second Life and trying to manage the tutorials. I'm not the most patient man in the world, so I started experimenting with the tools and options before the tutorials were complete. It is so strange, because I find myself interacting with people in the virtual world similar to the way that I interact with people in the real world. I am not one to go up and strike a conversation with anybody, and I often avoid it at times with strangers. I find myself trying not to bump into people, and not "stair" at them if they have on odd attire lol. I was reading my classmate Sarah's blog and she had a lot of frustration with getting to know the software. I had similar problems, but I like the trial and error methods so I just kept testing tools out. Sarah was saying that through her frustrations she can see the value that the software can have on the educational and training fields and I agree. If I'm interacting the way that I would in the real world in this virtual world, I think that learning can also be just as effective. I have some more flying around to do, so I'll be posting on additional findings again soon. In the meantime you can take a look at Sarah's blog and give her some feedback about what you think: Sarah Rad