Presentation Description: This hands-on workshop will address events as one use of the virtual world, Second Life. Virtual worlds such as this provide many opportunities for engagement and immersion. During the workshop participants and presenters will discuss possible events, evaluate advertising possibilities, considerations for a world-wide audience and the limitations of the Second Life platform.

1. Welcome! Step 1: Quick Survey-http://bit.ly/campustechSL Step 2: http://www.secondlife.com

2. Planning Campus Events for the Virtual World of Second Life Catherine Dutton, PhD & Jean Mankoff SL: Catherine Soderstrom & Gno Jewell Instructional Support Services Texas Woman’s University

3. 3 Campuses Denton, Dallas & Houston Enrollment: 12,000 10- 100% online programs 20% are 100% online Non-traditional student population undergraduate average age 25 Primarily female Texas Woman’s University

4. Virtual presentations

5. Why Second Life?

6. TWU in SL- When we began… Spring 2007 First course enters SL Official Explorations Begin Summer 2007 Island Purchase Development of space Regent’s presentation Fall 2007 Community presentations & Orientations Two courses - Family Sciences & Theatre Spring 2008 Knowledgebase & Policy Development, Family Science Course 1st event: Student Research Symposium in SL

7. Summer 2008 Develop Training Materials Two family Science Courses Fall 2008 Dance Department enters SL FamSci courses cont … Spring 2009 Island redesign Alumni Events- Guest Speakers 2nd Research Symposium in SL Art Gallery Opening Dance Student Video Exhibition Summer 2009 Veteran’s Student Association Historic Recreation of Little Chapel Fall 2009 Dance Department – Digital Dissertation Symposium Library Sciences space Spring 2010 2nd Virtual Alumni Event 3rd Research Symposium in SL

9. Technical

10. Pre-Event Considerations Second Life Access Application installed Creating Accounts Login to Second Life Equipment Headsets & Microphones Video Cards/Computers Wireless vs Wired connections Additional Software

11. Second Life Limitations Users must have an account Sim limitations- 100, 80, 40 New users will need some orientation Rez-time and Lag Linden Dollars Security

12. Setting Preferences Activity

13. Content & Activities

14. Is the event appropriate for SL? Art exhibit speakers discussions research music Role play open house simulation

15. Greeting Post event chatter Transporting people Time and space for socialization Interactive activities like dancing! Orientation/Troubleshooting Feedback Timing

16. Your event? Activity

17. Environment Planning Environment Planning

18. Considerations for Creating Event Spaces Spacing & Chat Large spaces–chat bridge Voice- parcel land settings 4- Sim design to accommodate large groups Landing point vs Event location

19. Landing Points Voice Parcel Settings Activity

20. Can we use what we already have? Build or hire? Scripts Animations Textures 3-d Modeling Flexible spaces One time “special” spaces Resource: www.xstreetsl.com

21. What exactly do we need? What do we buy? landscaping- Life is Good & Heart Garden furniture- check poses first xstreetsl.com visitor counter xstreetsl.com What do we get free? Scripted Seating NMC Learning Sim Evaluation Drop IBM What do we make? Teleporter Transport- golf cart Campus Signage Campus Buildings Art

22. What do you see when you sit down? New user accessibility & ease in moving

23. Environment Evaluation Activity

24. xstreetsl.com Visitor Counters Activity

25. Signage (hovertextvs texture) Arrows on ground Distinct pathways

26. Hovertext item & Texture item Activity

27. Embed Troubleshooting Directions & Signs in Environment

28. Modeling after RL? Refreshments

29. Event Management

30. In World Greeters- identify with titles & t-shirts Group chat for quick aid

31. Group Chat & Group Titles Activity

32. Event Staff Roles Greeters Moderator Tech help Photographer(s) Videographer Transcribers - for non-voice users

33. Area Scanners- Mystitool Activity

34. Staff Orientations prior to events Empower staff- land management tools What to do if? SL Skills Review Event layout

35. Security Empower facilitators to handle situations by training prior to the event Check land settings (no rezzing, auto-return, no pushing, etc) IM individuals causing problems New users may appear to be causing trouble when they’re having problems. If there are expectations about clothing, put in invite.

36. Land Settings Freeze, Eject and Ban Activity

37. Quick Glance Guides

38. Contacts for future events Gift Bags & Group Invites

39. Group Invites Activity

40. Evaluations We focus on 6 areas: Total # of Attendees RL Locations How they found out about event Who they are (RL or SL) Who returns later Association with TWU We do it through: Surveys Visitor Counters Profile Surfing Individual Conversations

41. Shared Media Evaluation Activity

42. Shared Media Etherpad- http://typewith.me/ Google docs Google Wave Dabbleboard Google Moderator Adobe Connect Adobe Connect Now (3 users free) UstreamYoutube _popup Other examples: http://secondlife.com/destinations/sharedmedia

43. Advertising

44. Who is your target audience? SL educators Greater SL Population Campus Population Distance Students Alumni I’d just like someone to come….

45. Facebook RL Event Handouts E-mail Word of Mouth Second Life Events Linked In On Campus Signs Second Life Groups SLED Listserv

46. Second Life Events www.secondlife.com/events Post event at least 24 hours in advance- 72 or more recommended for optimal attendance Include who is hosting the event, if voice is needed, and clear description

47. Second Life Groups Post in group chat 15-20 minutes prior to event Include SLURL for easy teleporting (Map- Copy SLURL) Include event start time and brief description Advertising What are your favorite groups?

48. Activity Taking Photos Using Snapzilla Snapzilla – snapshots e-mailed from SL to pics@slpics.com or private@slpics.com

49. Challenges Meeting demands of two audiences SL Downtime- backup Total misunderstandings about event location Accidentally blocking access to island RL Tour guide appears naked  Copyright concerns Despite what we’d like to believe few people on our campus actively use/know SL New users every time “I’m not dressed appropriately” and “I look too new to attend”

50. Event Outcomes Alumni Event: more people attended in world than they have had face to face for the past two years Would you come to another event? Resounding YES! “I feel like a real TWU Pioneer today”‐ Valerie Hill, doctoral student Symposium Presenters: Please do it again next year! Include information on copyright for presenters– possible form for presenters indicating that all is original work or that they have secured proper rights for video/music

51. Catherine Dutton, PhD SL: Catherine Soderstrom E-mail: cdutton@twu.edu Jean Mankoff SL: Gno Jewell E-mail: jmankoff@twu.edu