3 Classes took on Second Life

During the last 3 days, I took 3 classes on Second Life, which I commet below.

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Learning Event: Basic Scripting – Floating Text and Who Touched

If you haven’t pressed the New Script Button, before, that Floating Text you’ve seen about is a good start. Class is Text Only, since the Teacher’s system won’t do Voice.

Location and Time: Spirit City (247,91,22) Mystic Academy Sandbox – Thursday April 10/2008 @ 6:30 PM – SLT

Instructor: Arawn Spitteler

Sponsor: Mystic Academy (?)

Perceived Learning Outcomes: some notions of scripting in Second Life and some tips, like:

You can create the script in your inventory, without generating the green words.

Not only the name of an object, but also its description cam be hovering over the object.

llSetText (llGetObjectName(), <1.0, 1.0, 0.3>, 1.0);

llSetText (llGetObjectDesc(), <1.0, 1.0, 0.3>, 1.0);

// introduces a comment in SL code

Learning Resources used: text chat

Learning Activities: practice scripting in an object

Assessments: none

Discussion: during the class and at the end

My reflection:

This was a much less productive class than the building one I took at NCI.

Many doubts, people did not know how to open a script, how to correct code problems etc., the teacher had a hard time on answering, and the class was not so organized as the previous ones I have taken. People started to copy the wrong scripts to the chat, which was very difficult to follow.

Also, many parallel comments out of focus.

Suddenly, from the middle to the end, the class worked, people helped each other etc.

Donations could be made at the end

The class took more than an hour, as originally programmed.

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Learning Event: NCI Class: Scripting 1 – BASICS

Ever wondered how all that funky stuff you see in SL works and moves? Want to learn the scripting magic to do that on your own? This class will cover all the basics you need to know to get started writing your own scripts or modifying existing ones. Tips on where to find useful information on scripting will be given.

This class is open to all, though knowledge of basic building prior to attending is recommended so that you know how to create prims and how to edit a prim’s inventory.

NCI Classes – Welcoming All – FREE to Everybody!

Location and Time: NCI Beach (Fishermans Cove) Island Classroom / Saturday, April/12/2008, 3pm to 4:30pm, 1.5 hours

Instructor: Zuleika Deere

Sponsor: NCI

Perceived Learning Outcomes: structured notion of scripting in Second Life.

I learned that we can use Scripting wiki and guide – from the help menu at the scripting window.

Also mentioned: http://www.lslwiki.net/, scripting groups and scripting library.

I also learned how to use the insert menu, to help you insert the functions (had never used before).

State contains events, event contain functions (this was also not clear for me).

I also learned the difference between constants and variables in SL.

And the difference of the rules of syntax for compiler (a must) and humans (not a must, but a good habit).

AO = animation overrider.

1st line in the script = line 0.

(5,4) line and column of the error. If you place the cursor in any place on the code, it will show you the line and column.

Learning Resources used: text chat, notecard giver and slides

Learning Activities: lecture and practice scripting in an object

Assessments: none

Discussion: small space left for questions during the lecture, but some questions during practice.

My reflection:

This was a very different class than the other scripting class I took on Second Life. Much more organized, and you could follow the whole lecture part of the class through a notecard, a valuable resource. A problem noted in the other class was solved from the beginning: problems with the code? Copy your code to a notecard and drop at the teacher – it becomes easier to correct and the rest of the class does not need to keep reading wrong codes on the text chat.

There was a Basic Class Supplies given – notecards, including the scripts we were going to work on during class.

The presentation was actually a lecture copied from a notecard, really fast-paced.

Donations at the end.

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Learning Event: NCI Class: STARTING A BUSINESS IN SECOND LIFE

Location and Time: NCI Caledon (Caledon Highlands) Great Hall / Saturday, April 12, 2008 – 5pm to 6:30pm, 1.5 hours

Instructor: Nancy Villota

Sponsor: NCI

Perceived Learning Outcomes: reflection on starting and having a business in Second Life, and some tips

A nice link to tools used in Second Life: http://secondlife.com/community/resident_resource.php

Blender is a 3D tool that can be used to produce objects to be then brought to SL.

A nice discussion on the permissions system in Second Life, what is the basis for business. Suggestion: use an alt to test your permissions.

Also a reflection on the function of malls in SL, and the web based SL sellers – like onrez.com and SLExchange.

A nice link to copyright on Second Life:
http://secondlife.com/corporate/dmca.php

Why are vendors used in SL? To save prims!

There are also free classifieds in the SL web forums. A link:
http://forums.secondlife.com/

You can also advertise paying in publications like: Metaverse Messenger, SL Herald, SL Business Magazine, Second Style Magazine etc.

Learning Resources used: text chat and notecard giver

Learning Activities: lecture and discussion

Assessments: none

My reflection:

The lecture was actually the reproduction of the notecard on the text chat, but with a lot of space for questions, which helped a lot.

The discussion at the end was very interesting, about the kinds of business in Second Life, which ones are doing well (and which are not) etc.

This was pretty much a basic class, drawing from business standard practices (like business plans, research, marketing etc.). I hoped to learn more about what is going on in business in Second Life.

No donations at the end!

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