edumuve.com » libraries

NMC Campus

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:20:24 +0000

Soon after the New Media Consortium (NMC) Campus opened in 2006, it became a hub of activity for educators in Second Life, hosting numerous seminars, discussions and exhibits.

The NMC rapidly added more islands to the archipelago, including several on which they rent spots to educators who want G-rated space amidst other educators. The New Media Consortium includes nearly 200 colleges, universities, museums, corporations, and other learning-focused organizations dedicated to the exploration and use of new media and new technologies.

You may want to avoid Second Life’s usually hectic orientation areas and enter Second Life directly at NMC Orientation island, a good place for educators and students to get started. To do that, create your Second Life account at the NMC’s Web site instead of at the Second Life site.

NMC Campus Observer (blog for news and events)
NMC Campus Wiki
Seriously Engaging, a video about the NMC Campus. (12.4MB QuickTime file)
Location: NMC Campus (128,225,42) Important: You must join the “NMC Guests” group before you can visit the NMC Campus. Just click your Search button and, on the Groups tab, search on NMC. Select the group “NMC Guests” and click Join.

Info Island

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:11:36 +0000

A team of librarians and other volunteers from around the globe have grown Info Island from a few buildings in early 2006 to a cluster of islands bustling with activities that explore roles libraries and librarians may play in 3D virtual worlds. Educators will particularly like the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Library on the main island. It houses a collection of scripts and other tools for teaching in Second Life. Be sure to explore the presentation tool demonstrations on the nearby plaza.

Info Island and the surround islands also host nonprofit organizations, a medical library, a science center, and more. A number of universities have claimed spots on Eduisland. Info Island was initiated by the Illinois-based Alliance Library System. You can read the latest news from Info Island on its Web site and in a weekly column in the Metaverse Messenger.

Social Simulation Research Lab

Jeff Hiles — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:10:25 +0000

If you need to do a literature review of articles related to the social aspects of virtual worlds, the Social Simulation Research Lab is a good place to start. Each book on the shelves links to an article or Web site.

According to the site’s notecard, “The Social Simulation Research Lab is a public hub of cyber-research resources in Second Life. The Lab’s library brings together over 150 publications on the social science of internet research, computer-mediated communication and online studies, plus many links to researchers’ homepages, other online resources and online cyber-research journals.”

Social Sim blog
Location: Hyperborea (218,90,24)