Scripting!

Char, I'm addressing you in this because I know you could be an awesome spokesperson for what I'm about to say--a kind of "go-between" for residents to LL; but, I don't want you to think I'm complaining to you, in any way.

Here's the deal, though. Mentor events tend to be very social, very easy-going, and tend not to be direct education but rather student-centered learning. In short, Mentors tend not to experience the "trip to the dentist" feeling of hosting that might occur at an Instructor event.

Consider this:

Instructors have to:
A. organize a class structure
B. implement a teaching technique that will address as many of the learners as possible
C. alter the teaching technique to fit those who could not learn from the original model (no one model of teaching works for everyone)
D. halt the teaching model to answer specific questions, confused new people, and perhaps griefers
E. hold events twice as long as Mentor events, sometimes way more than that

And yet they get paid the same. Behaviorists say that people will do anything providing the incentive is great enough. Mentors host Mentor events with the incentive of meeting new people, helping new people with basics, throw out tips that we would have liked to have known when we were in our first weeks. An added incentive is the money. For instructors, you don't -really- get to meet new people, you're not so much "helping new people with basics" as much as you are directing them, and handing out tips feels more obligatory than anything else because people will give or take a building tip without regard for what the instructor thinks about it. The incentive is not the money, because like Eggy and others mentioned, 500L is inappropriate for events of such complexity.

What I'm suggesting is that, for Instructor events, there be a "one hour minimum" placed on the rules and regulations for hosting them, and that the payment increases to 1000L. I think you will have twice as many Instructors helping out if this was the case.

Let me know what you think or if this idea can at least be considered!

I have to add, why on EARTH is the dwell pool and the dwelloper's incentive constantly increasing while mentors and instructors have been stuck with $500 since the dawn of time?
Econ 101:
Scarcity=Value.
If scripting instructors are scarce, then salaries must be raised until demand is met.

Thank you, these are some good thoughts for thinking. Will discuss. =)

Nod,

I do Instructor Scripting Q&A's frequently, but that only serves to help those who already have a handle on scripting and last about 30-45 min.

My full scripting courses, to take a newbie who knows nothing and get them scripting run over an hour, and I do charge for them when i teach as AE University instructor, because its a significant investment of my time, and the students are able to make money (in theory) by using the knowledge they learn.

If scripting instruction, honest coursework, is desired by LL, i agree with Eggy that they should be willing to fund it.

There is a difference in being an instructor for small issues, and doing what I do in first life, develope courseware with standards, testing, tracking, improvement, and structured such that each less builds on the earlier one.

Let me be clear this is not a flame.

Arch, that people can take what you teach and make their own money from it should have nothing to do with what LL pays as compensation for instruction. Nothing.

The goal of any instruction here in SL, it seems to me, is to increase the quality of experience for SL residents. If that experience means developing/using some skill to make money, real or imaginary, that is fine... That is in line with SL's stated goals. However, running your own univesity, you can write your own rules.

Compensation for instruction is something I am dealing with in the real world myself as a professional teacher. Despite teaching the same classes as a PhD, I earn less than a quarter of what some earn and do so without any benefits. So, I am familiar with placing a value on instructional ability/performance.

However, here in SL, those considerations are not the same for LL-sponsored Mentor/Instructor "positions". For whatever reason, these are viewed as "volunteers" as opposed to employee positions. The compensation is almost viewed by most oldtimers (it seems to me) as something other than "pay"/salary. So, what is inherently different in this perspective and yours, it seems, is that of goals. Your goal is compensation for imparting knowledge on your time. Theirs (LL's) is to enhance the experience of the "SL ignorant" and to show a bit of "gratitude" to the "volunteers". The Mentor/Instructors, IMHO, are a mixed group - even within those two groups. Some are becoming more desirous of compensation for their "knowledge and investment) in and about SL. Others simply enjoy the experience of passing their knowledge along (and possibly being seen as an expert - different thread there entirely).

So.... I haven't even considered applying for either Mentor or Instrouctor status for what are almost similar reasons to those you have expressed - my perception of value for my time, that is, what I think my time is worth. I come to SL to play. If I work, and teaching even if you like it is work, then I am not playing. Work is not relaxing. So I would seek compensation... that's me.. not necessarily anyone else.

OTOH, Char. Personally, I agree that Instructors are not compensated appropriately in comparison to Mentors. I have attended a number of both types of events. I have to say that the Instructors definitely seem to have a far more difficult job and deserve a different type of recognition. But that's just my little $0.02L fwiw.

Hmmm... I've been thinking about teaching some scripting classes when I had a bit more time. (Don't have any to spare at the moment.) But I was planning on holding them on my own terms and for a flat fee that includes a few weeks or so of further scripting help. But I'm talking around L$1000 per person for serious instruction into programming, not cheap. Several sessions, one-on-one, etc. These classes would not be for totally new players. I'd except fresh-off-Orientation Island avatars only if they can pass a simple entrance exam, because scripting requires knoledge of a lot of the other aspects of Second Life. Players that have been around for a little while (or a long while) and just never got into scripting but think they have what it takes to learn would be the primary pupils.

I'm a professional programmer and my first major back in college was in education (Early Childhood Education, but that just means I know how to talk slower and use simple words, right?)

So again, I'm not starting this now, but thought I'd mention it here.

But Linden-sponsored scripting classes are a GREAT way to get your feet wet. If you are a scripter with the time, try and volunteer to teach. Even just learning the basics can give you all the help you need... Since REALLY learning to script means WRITING scripts on your own and experimenting.

EDIT: Oh, and I was planning to incorporate TeamSpeak into the class, so that everyone can use voice for added speed and clarity of communication. (TeamSpeak is a free Windows program that works in the background to allow you to voice chat with a group of people.)

Nod tiger, i charge a flat fee per student for my group classes, and a flat rate per hour for one on one instruction.

And Korg, I agree with you.

I enjoy teaching to teach, but I also enjoy compensation if my efforts make LL more money by making SL more successful.

I applied for Mentor and Instructor titles and use them to mentor and teach, and do ask for the compensation because its there, is it a big amount, nope, about 500 for 1 hour work, or 1/2 hour if your lucky, so making 2.40 - 4.80/hr at current conversion rates.

How about some night time Scripting courses? my schedule prevents me from playing in the day time, which is when all the classes happens.... Im only able to get on after 8pm LL time which bites