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Colette Meiji
Registered User
Join date: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 15,556
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01-09-2008 11:22
From: Bradley Bracken People doing "research" and wanting to ask questions doesn't bother me. People who regularly post "Why do you think..." threads do. New Thread Topic: Why do you think people make "why do you think" threads?  |
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Christi Maeterlinck
Registered User
Join date: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 126
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An 'umble addition to this thread
01-09-2008 12:07
Well, I'm one of those chaps you're writing about: an RL full Prof here in SL.
I'm senior enough and hence lucky enough not to have to search desperately for dry-as-dust research topics ('Aha! A new social medium: let's study it and get some publications!'), which may be a _very_ irritating attitude to people here, but is just a way poor young beginning academics try to make a living for themselves in an intensely competitive and cut-throat academic world. Really, some of the questions they're investigating are good, and SL is a great medium in which to examine them. Your sympathies and assistance are requested...!
In my university avatar, I'm associated with an RL university sim built here recently in SL, and interested in using SL as a technique for distance learning and e-learning: students all over the globe registered with us, is the ultimate hope, and any academic research I do is directed to that very practical end. Fortunately, none of this requires me to pester people here in-world; and as it happens, it's nothing to do with my usual research interests. But I _do_ recognise the potential of SL for the future.
Rght now, the consensus seems to be that Linden need to make this platform a _lot_ more stable before we can offer fee-paying people, some of whom are in poorer countries and have spent scarce savings to register with us, this platform for our teaching. 'Blended learning' rather than complete 'e-learning' is the best we can offer them at the moment, and even there, there is a good argument for continuing with VIPER (the integrated group voiceIP software system) and similar technologies until Linden can deliver on their recent promises of stabilty. But, I say again: there is a strong view that something like SL is the future for distance learning.
And in the meanwhile? Well, chaps, look at my Profile! I've been here for over 2 years now using SL for pleasure and enjoyment, LOVE spending my spare time here, and intend to continue doing just that!
Big hugs
Christi
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