Coming in to Land

I decided to go undercover to look at these orientations. Linden Labs have just released a whole stack of new names so I went and created a couple more avis. Jasper Jinx I hadn’t yet customized so it was Jasper I took on the expedition. She looks brand new.

Orientation Stations, Dore

This is a very appealing looking build. I think that when the build is interesting, it helps you to see the possibilities of Second Life.

The first place I went to was ‘Changing your appearance’. I like that when you click on the Linden Labs symbol you get an explanatory notecard. This helps you to form a small library of useful information. Maybe, an explanation of that possibility would be a good way to start the orientation.

What I didn’t like about this build is that there was no set path to follow. I can imagine that being a newb that this would create some anxiety because you would be worried that I would miss something and that something would be the whole crux of understanding Second Life.

The layout of the place was confusing. I could see steps leading to higher places yet it wasn’t obvious how I could get there. Once I did climb the stairs, I wasn’t sure what to do. Because I’m not a newb, I clicked and the doors opened but I’m not sure that it would be obvious to a person brand new to Second Life.

I go inside and there are paintings. I see stairs and I climb them but they don’t go anywhere. The ceiling is low so I often lose sight of my avatar; again, potentially confusing for someone new. I come back down the stairs but it’s not obvious how to get out. I leave the buildings and move towards the water. I see that this leads nowhere so I try and retrace my steps but the steps are too high and I have to fly back up the steps; not easy for someone new.

I didn’t feel that the time spent at this orientation would justify going there. There’s very little in the way of information or useful, interactive exercises.

Unfortunately, at first there was no one else there when I was there. But just as I was about to leave another avatar showed up. I chatted to him for just a few moments before he started flirting and being sexually suggestive. He even asked me to marry him! This is exactly what I don’t like about some of the public orientation places. I had the same thing when I emerged at the Linden Labs Orientation Island.

NMC Orientation

This is an orientation that I am very familiar with. My university is a member of the NMC and this is where I direct everyone to. If you join Second Life through http://sl.nmc.org/join/ you automatically emerge here. I’ve had lots of very good conversations with other educators that I’ve met here.

As with the previous build I discussed, this build is very visually appealing. It was dark when I arrived and it occurred to me that it would be good to have a notecard when you arrive that welcomes you to the space, but importantly, tells you have to change your environment settings so that you can see. Why would a newb already know this?

The instructions are easy to follow and I like the fact that you are guided around the orientation by following the orange arrows. And there is an area specifically for educators.

What I also like about this orientation is that you have access to lots of free resources in the NMC Resource Centre. Unfortunately, although this is a beautiful building, it would be very difficult for a newb to get up all those stairs and along all those paths. The effort is worth it though.

I like this orientation. I feel completely comfortable here. This is somewhere I can return to without being worried that I’ll be harassed. And you can meet some good people here.