SL University

I would like to create an in world college with classes that run through out the day everyday with classes of all level ranges. I imagine hiring "professors" to teach these classes and have students entroll as with any RL college to be able to earn a degree towards Scripting, Building, "Cosmetology (prim hair) etc. I have collected QUITE a bit of material in my few short months of being here. In RL I am a programmer and graphic designer so I think I could even create textbooks on these subjects.

My question is.. how could I get support.. backing.. help.. for this project or would anyone even be interested?

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The Learning Center is still active and has facilities in Mauve. I thought I recently spotted a TLC-related event, but the memory is pretty fuzzy. If I were active enough and so motivated, I'd try to hook up with these folks before trying to start something from scratch.

I've no idea what the status of the University of Second Life is, but you'll find the materials created by that group in many places. I have a vague memory of ransacking the USL library (read: grabbing the large number of freebies) somewhere near the Ivory Tower of Primitives in Noyo or Natoma... But that must have been a year ago or more now.

I'd like to restart the university again, but we would need finacing for land and a dedicated crew to build, maintain, and manage the structures, library, faculty, and curriculum.

Hmmmm....

I have to check with some folks, but I have an idea. I'll try to get an IM out to you in world or, failing that, PM in a bit.

All of SL is one big laboratory of design, programming and social science.

I don't understand why you need funds to build yet another structure and infrastructure to support it. Why not use the huge, highly diverse forest of dynamic interaction (good and bad) as the classroom, much as a botany course uses the rainforest, and the urban studies course the nearby city?

Unless, of course, you are actually thinking of a University-shaped edifice with gothic arches and ivy growing up the walls. In which case, you should work on your pitch to your benefactor as to how that is going to advance education of your target population.

And prepare an initial budget and program plan.

Who *is* your target population of students, by the way?
And who will be teaching these courses?
Will the teachers be acting as volunteers, or be actually paid in some way?

I'm trying to understand if this is a proposal for a real educational offering, or a proposal for a game of education.

I'm not trying to be glib or cynical, but asking the questions I'd expect a would-be donor to ask.

Well, I for one am for it. I do believe there would be a base of users interested in signing up. But...as with any endeavor, the offerring must be something they are interested in devoting time to and also paying for. I have a RL job and am not looking to SL to make money. But...I think paying the professors something equivalent to SLINGO hosting rates may involve them in something more edifying (I like SLINGO and have hosted so no slam intended) and also provide a service to users who would like to learn more. Even without a "university" building, there would need to be some central place to meet and have these classes...so I would vote for the building. I'm not a big land owner or merchant, but depending on structure, it may be something I would be willing to put some $L behind.

You could charge students tuition, or at least a fee per class they enroll in. This would do two things: Ensure students are serious about being in the class, and provide a source of income to pay your staff. I'm willing to teach, but while I don't need the money, you'd have to pay me to get a commitment to being there regularly.

Also, you would need land that could be secured and managed. Island space would be optimal. Rented if not purchased.

I'm definitely interested in your proyect, both as teacher as well as student. I have been looking for advanced building class, beginning/intermediate scripting classes, etc. but they all seem to have disappeared. YES, I'd be willing to pay "tuition fees" and I'm sure there are many others who would gladly pay a fee to learn!

I would be willing to teach and or put funds into this venture.

I'm willing to help you out in anyway possible.

Is there a Building Fund, a pool of contributed money or other hard resource (e.g. land), that residents have either contributed or firmly committed to contribute, to this concept?

Have you considered creating an academic village sim, perhaps called Cambridge or Oxford or Jefferson, that occupies an entire private island. The sim could include a quad/playing field, library, assembly/lecture rooms, scripting labs, art studios, and other "physical facilities" equiped with graphics that provide students with handy references. Around the quad could be "dormitories" of cheap housing (individually rented cheap with lockable doors) for students who are registered to attend for a semester or shorter block of time. A few slightly larger homes might be offered as faculty housing to those who would commit to spend time in the village interacting with students and visitors.

You could offer roles to academics and skilled artisans to reside in the village and interact with students and visitors. You might even add a sim of Monticello (Jefferson's home) as the President's House for a major benefactor.

I envision a physical set-up like that of the University of Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson as an "academic village" that works today both on an academic and esthetic level.


As realized, the University of Virginia is much larger than Jefferson's original vision, but the Central Grounds maintain the essence of his original concept. An interactive map with a "zoom" feature lets you see the layout from an aerial perspective. Look for the Central Grounds and zoom in on "The Lawn". Being present on the actual lawn is an architectural delight, and students are thrilled to be one of the few selected to live in the tiny buildings (boothies, really) that surround The Lawn.
The Lawn and Monticello
You can also find a Virtual Tour (360-degree image of The Lawn) .

More info, with a 3-D digital site and massing model, here

A building fund goal might be for enough dollars or Lindens to fund one full sim's acquisition ($1200?) and support for one year ($2400?), or about $3600. At recent exchange of L$265/dollar, that's about one million Linden.

It would memorialize one of the great lights of democracy, whose epitaph listed the things he had given the people:

HERE WAS BURIED
THOMAS JEFFERSON

AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION
OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA
FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

AND FATHER OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

BORN APRIL 2. 1743. O.S.
DIED JULY 4. 1826

In Jefferson, there would be no Tringo parlors, no malls, no money trees and no camping chairs.

In Jefferson, speech would be free.

It was pretty cool. It had many different ways to learn to suit the tastes of SL.

So..have options to make your university work These things help to make the time and time zone elements less important to a newby starting out or an oldby getting into a new area of learning.

Have written/notecard tutorials... I did one on water design that includes the basics of SL software design/building. But, reading is just one way to teach, and even couched in a cute SL primbook, not everyone's favorite way to learn. Some prefer the notecard/visual aid thing like Lumiere Noir at the Library Tower of Primitives. Many hate both ways and prefer YOU to demonstrate, have them 'do' it, them demonstrate again if need be.

The time and time zone element, however, not only contricts students..but the teachers you may wish to have in your group. You could offer private tutoring through YOUR university land..a type of 'learning' only sandbox--in areas--with a list of tutors to be IM'd for varied things. A great way to obliterate that time snag in both directions and increase dwell.


Hank has a point, though. It needs 'funding' for LOTS of land. NOT to fill your land up with many 'university' builds. But to give your profs enough of a prim allowance for small and LARGE building practicum type stuff..for your own library of notecards/visual aids..and primbooks. And all this..hopefully without the lag. Try asking some new or older sim owners who have not really decided 'what to do with their sim' about doing THIS! Some loved the idea of an island. Then got stranded in the idea department..


Hiring semi-newbies to teach/tutor basics would be a great way of having them earn money as well as 'learn' by teaching..and obviously, teaching others more simlilar in ways to themselves. So, yes. The funding would have to be there for this, too.

Beyond the 'dwell' that would fund you, a twist on how to get teachers/funding/money in SL..without even trying.......

Some of the more experienced builders can make MORE just designing/sellng. SO..one way to 'entice' THESE profs is to allow them to advertise their goods And emphasize that a more sophisticated/learned SL pop. is in their best interest. If newbies are caught early enough 'in life' I think there may be less 'impeach Bush' signs to get out frustration and hopefully fewer purple-box dance clubs both of which can lower land value and the attraction to play sl in general.

Lastly, beyond the experienced builders who wish to 'build' their business by advertising in classes, get the 'brand name' type professor on occasion! It's another way to get 'money' because it will not only increase your dwell but showcase YOUR university as a primo 'question and answer' lecture hall. Have 'cameo' appearances/lectures done by some superb SL talents, like Toy Lafollette, Baron Grayson, Starax Statosky, Neil and Nephilaine Protagonist, Juro Kothari, Obscuro Valkyrie, Eva Virgo, Lordfly..hey..that list goes on and on. You can 'pay' them for their efforts by giving them a percentage of a cover charge for the event. If you do wish to go this route, I'd make sure that your university looks the part..ie, a tad ..hmm...classy. Pun not intended. And by that I don't mean rococo. Most ppl don't mind lecturing on a 'soapbox' IF it's well done )

Well-oiled classes/events vs bumpy ones......

When you have your university going, maximize the 'special' events/classes that you hold there by having either yourself..or an 'expert' SL facilitator/host it. The Sojourner does this for her clients as do those Linden helpers for P.Linden during 'town halls'. I can tell you that when I hold classes with only mySELF there to conduct it, since I'm not an expert 'host' there's always one thing that goes sort of haywire. hehe. BUT when I have a host..he/she irons out the bumps of the class..IM's ppl...directs and REdirects them to 'class supplies', and generally helps larger events run very smoothly.


Good luck, I hope you get it on and please keep us posted!

It isn't necessarily true that you need large builds or overbearing structures for this kind of endeavour...

I've considered opening a building/scripting class once my own side-projects are complete (if that list ever actually gets any smaller ) but had considered the enormous prim-drain involved in this type of work. My solution? A return to the greek schools of teaching:

Imagine arriving at the 'university' and looking through the list of courses on offer in a small (2k sq m max) sized greco-roman building, booking your slot on an upcoming lesson you have an interest in, then wandering into the larger ante-room to peruse the library of well-documented freebies on the subject.

At the alloted time you walk out into the sunshine and plush gardens to the sound of the bubbling fountains. You make your way past other classes in progress (each in it's own secluded corner of the garden) to the spot the course booking gave you a LM for, to find a small group of people gathering on the lawn. In front of them, on the steps of an overgrown and tumbled-down greco-roman pergola stands the teacher, handing out a written guide to prim-torturing techniques.

Through the course of the lesson the teacher demonstrates the techniques, and encourages the students to follow along, while they wander through the group giving pointers and answering questions. Students eagerness to push the bounds of what they're learning is discussed and shared with the group and at the end the students each 'Friend' the lecturer in case they want to ask questions later, or attend a more advanced course on the subject.

Sounds like a very relaxed, informative and fun way to learn to me...

...and the gardens would be far-easier on the prims than a huge, imposing building where you have to cram into a classroom to learn.

Edit: The other advantage to this kind of setup is that outside of classes it would provide SL with some much-needed and well laid out gardens to break up the prim-coverage that is spreading over the countryside. Something the whole community can enjoy.

SABLE!! totally awesome vision

Thanks Margot!

I'd be excited to help out on this project if the general consensus falls towards this idea!

Stamped with approval.

Please IM me in world.

I have a small college called prim college with various professors teaching building and texture but we are stalled while we decide how to expand.

I'd like to be part of an SL university... linking my curriculum to prerequisite classes.

I have a large auditorium and classroom space at my new Isis fashion center project that could be used for such a university. The auditorium is designed for fashion shows, so it will be in use mostly in the evenings. There is also a large gallery and reception hall available for daytime use. Isis is across the street from the Liferain Park forest preserve, so there's plenty of gorgeous walking space nearby.

Find Arena in the regional listings (the sim marker is at the streetfront of Isis) and take a look, then IM if you want to discuss it inworld.

Most universities offer campuses in different locations. Why not distribute the load among willing sponsors who have locations suitable for classes? For instance, have a central university area for class scheduling and info, but have other campus locations (for instance our new library in Venice Beach) where some classes could be held.

Athough I like the scenario I put forward, I think that this may turn out to be the most practical setup after all (although I'll keep this dream for one of the locations ). It may also be a way to get newbies that are on the courses to travel a bit in second life and experience a range of settings

I also have some roadside/gardens sandwiched land in Butler that we may be able to use as a central registration office (I need to check prim limits and things), but perhaps we could discuss this in-world and take a look at the sites on offer?

ahhh yes sounds good (researches)

I've opened a PART of what hopefully will be allowed to become part of your wonderful learning network!!

In Avalon, I'll be offering my tutorials, urns and commissions...for a price, so there is still a commercial element. And charging 'tuition' for a continued number of tutoring sessions and an hourly tutoring fee if only one. BUT the tutoring fee will be minimal and the books, urns, given free with group classes which will always be timezone-friendly. And for timezone-friendly group classes there will be no charge. So there will be ways for all levels of 'wealth' and ppl in most rl locations to learn this and that.

Since I start school in Jan, the group classes will be occasional. but yes, still offered. Mini-lessons/tutoring will be my main offering due to time needed for rl biz. Please IM..goes to my email these days..and 'Margot' will get back asap!!

http://www.sluniverse.com/pics/pic.aspx?id=44732&sort=PictureID+desc&Name=Margot+Abattoir

Perhaps some of you would be interested in seeing the offerings provided at Teazers. The island has been home to 3-7 classes teaching everything from beginning to intermediate level building, scripting, texturing, to classes on how to start an SL business. The teachers are all Linden approved instructors, and the courses are free and designed to be fun, fast paced, and informative, while still being interesting and accessible to your average SL gamer. For those who are seeking an avenue through which to support education in SL, I humbly submit for your consideration the program at Teazers which has been going strong for almost 6 months, EVERYDaY, the only limitation to the scheduling of classes is a shrotage of instructors willing to commit to being there consistently, a problem which the in house staff has met heroically by teaching daily.

Come on by and check us out!