Most needed classes in SL?

I'm managing a university in-world that holds a lot of SL Basics classes, as well as prim building classes from Beginner level to Advanced. The classes are popular but I've also heard a lot of requests for Scripting classes. Is Scripting the one big thing everyone is hoping to learn? Are there any scripters out there willing to join up and teach?

Are there any other vacuums in SL Education you think needs to be filled?

I haven't seen much on audio education. I don't mean teaching via an audio stream, I mean I've gotten a handful of people asking how to upload sounds, what the limitations are, how to convert them to work in SL, etc. Hmm... maybe I'll try fleshing a class out on this topic. lol

I think that some scripting classes would be great, especially ones that focused on how to write efficient scripts that are sim-friendly. There are a lot of different ways to do things in SL, but I am never quite sure which is the 'correct' or most efficient way to do some things.

I've noticed a lot questions about texturing, clothes, and Photoshop here on the Forums. There may be some positive response to a texturing or Photoshop type class.

I think design classes would be a really good idea. Even just the basics like good proportioning, complimentary colours, figure/ground, stuff like that.




And judging from some of the threads in the forums I'd say classes on how to not be a total fool would be a good idea too.

I've been learning to build myself and learning scripting... Classes on this would be great.

I will second that, covering tools for putting them in the proper format.

Manners.

I dunno if this is something you can do but I definitely think there is a need for a class for new volunteers which can be broken down into mentors classes, greeters classes etc. Coming in I really didn't know what was expected of me and was basically told "watch and learn" I think a class telling us what specifics we can go over with newbies, give us folders to give newbies, landmarks etc. would be a great help.

hi candy we have monthly meetings with jeska linden telling all that and exchangeing with each other welcome to the family

I want to help. I probably am posting this in the wrong section, but then again I don't go to forums often. I am already giving scripting lessons to my friends. I have taken college programming classes and have experience in C and QuickBasic 4.5. I will take care to include tips on server-load/lag reduction, i.e. filter your listens. I do not pretend to know everything or correctly, and I am still learning myself (mostly self taught. wiki=SL holy text). I have a knack for hitting on exceptions, such as does an agent own itself. however I can not be counted on for a regular appearance. My trolling thru the wiki has given me quite a smattering of knowledge, so I often will nose on someone when I hear a problem.

I agree about there being a lack in uploading help.
I have not niticed much on help in lighting. Particles there may be classes in, but general lighting I have not seen. Are there classes on making templates/clothing, poses/animations, and HUD's? I met some poeple who knew not what a HUD was.

hmm yeah a HUD class would be great. I find they behave differently from other attatchments or links.

sitting is when an avatar links with an object. an attatchment is an object linked to the agent/avatar. a HUD is listed as an attatchment. based upon the previous: when an avatar sits/links in on a moving vehicle, the avatar moves with it. so since an attatchment is a link, like sitting, an attatchment should be able to set the avatars position. since HUD is an attatchment it should also move the avatar. The last 2 sentences have tested false by experimentation.

sorry, I ramble. I stop now before I say too much!

I will most likely not check back on this, so if anyone has comments for me, the best way would be an in world IM.

where is this meeting? and what time?

Definatly do scripting classes. I have been around since beta and i grasp some of the aspects of it. However I do not grasp the concept as a whole and how it all excuse the pun "functions" Often ppl don't make it past the first class before their eyes glaze over or they simply do not understand. If taught it needs to be done as if the user has zero programing experience all the way to the most advanced uses of LSL.

I hope you do this, if so I will come and try to learn it again

Mar

sure. you want me to give my spiel here and now?
part one includes some of the varieables, scope and declaration, converting between variables, blocks, ifs, and maybe one function so you can do the homework. or if you want I'll detail the concept of function

I've thought about this. Currently there are scripting classes, but often times they only teach you which functions to edit to make something change. I haven't seen many "This is what this does, that's what that does, when you put them together, they do this" type of classes. Explanations of what a "function" and stuff like that is, is needed. The wiki isn't very easy for someone to understand if they have no idea what things mean. Even a class explaining what the "Hello, avatar!" script consists of I think would be helpful. Once a week at least.


There are building classes almost every day. Check "Education" in the Find window.


I think "design" would be really difficult to teach in-game. It's not easy to teach things that the 'students' can see, and the instructor can't see them working on. Especially when every attempt at a texture will cost them L$10 to upload. There are online tutorials I believe for these things. Maybe an updated, static list, is needed so people can find these easier than searching the forums for an hour.

I'd be happy to give scripting classes. I've scripted a Sudoku board, a Chess board, and a Tic Tac Toe (TTT is now a freebie, available at Yadni's or at the SL Chess Club).

I could organize and design a class on the Tic Tac Toe (i.e. "Build your own Tic Tac Toe board" if you think there is an audience for it ?

Not at all, good design can be done purely with primitives.

That's actually more or less the way I try to do things. Being busy with the holidays, and now some RL concerns I've slacked off holding classes for a bit, but I'm looking to start it back up soonish.

Roll an undead rogue.

I don't know how many people agree with me, but I'd like to see:

1) A lot more (any?) "intermediate" and "advanced" classes on anything SL-related. It seems like the vast majority are "how to create a prim", which is indeed vital. However, what about established builders who want to learn super-advanced stuff like prim torture and visual tricks, or scripters who'd like to understand XML-RPC?

2) Maybe some kind of socialization class on common etiquette and SL manners.... Mostly as they apply to special situations that don't exist in RL, like P2P teleporting to someone who may be doing something private, or proper use of IM for private conversations so as not to disrupt a public dialogue. I can hear the ethics of this idea being contested already though.

3) More RL topics! For example, I saw a "learn Japanese" course in the events listing. If I'd caught it earlier in their syllabus I'd have taken it.

4) Even a course on some of the nuances of the controls in SL. Many new residents seem to find the controls difficult, and many camera tricks aren't prominently documented. I just learned last night that the tab key actually does something, and I'd though I was proficient!

Anyway, that's what my stream-of-consciousness poured out for class suggestions. For all I know, there may just not be enough public interest for those kinds of things, and I personally do no constitute "the public".

Thought there were. Seconded

Dunno, different people have different preferences.

Definately! SL has quite some promise as a platform for teaching standard subjects.

Might be a nice idea, although possib;y would work better as a notecard or webpage. What does tab do, btw?

Not to get off-topic, but the tab key appears to point your camera at the nearest avatar. I haven't played with it much, but until last night I didn't know it did anything at all.

[/QUOTE]I think "design" would be really difficult to teach in-game. It's not easy to teach things that the 'students' can see, and the instructor can't see them working on. Especially when every attempt at a texture will cost them L$10 to upload. There are online tutorials I believe for these things. Maybe an updated, static list, is needed so people can find these easier than searching the forums for an hour.[/QUOTE]

I have multiple solutions for that which do not use textures.
also I plan on just a few lines (5 or less) at a time.
one or two of my solutions are ready for use in a few minutes

Ah Oak Trees Bearing Acorn Squash! I was gonna make a sudoku! guess I'll have to go back to my billiards project. oh wait someone made that too! is there nothing left?!

I think a more general Secondlife class could be usefull. We all see people asking, what now, people who haven't seen all the wonderfull things yet. I envision a tour through SL like a RL school class going on a field trip.
Visiting and spending some time at several different places and let people see the wonders of SL. There are lots of places that don't advertise much but are lots of fun to visit and give the inspiration and motivation to explore SL and RL to it's full potential.

Don't be afraid to compete, there isn't one car factory or one tv factory, competition encourages improvement, and improvements is what keeps the world going round.

Even just making it for yourself will make you a beter scripter and might give you new kwel ideas to do.