A "lighter-weight" Second Life viewer

I have just tried Kristen's Viewer for Second Life (Windows only). It is supposedly a bit more lightweight, so I decided to give it a try on my netbook, an Acer Aspire One.

I tested both it and the SL viewer and set the preferences the same in each. I bumped the graphics up one notch above the bottom, to see if the avatar could still walk with any success and ran a slide show off of a presentation board in Second Life while using each viewer.

Kristen's Viewer did perform much better on the netbook. I have included two screenshots below so you can see the rendering in the Second Life viewer and her viewer.

Second Life Viewer


Kristen's Viewer


In a pinch, which is the only time I would even try to use the netbook for presenting about Second Life, it could be done via Kristen's viewer. It is nice to know I have this option!

**Update 1/18/09: Port of Kristen's viewer available for the Mac here.

Virtual Pioneers Article

Here is a link to a great article appearing in the Open Press about Andrew Wheelock and his Virtual Pioneers project on Lighthouse Learning Island!

Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach joins Lighthouse Learning Island!

Scott Merrick (Scottmerrick Oh/SL), in his role as the Teacher in Residence at the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach, now has a educational building on Lighthouse Learning Island. Scott will be utilizing the space for his in-life work with teachers and for extensions of projects the "outreachers" are working on in conjunction with the CSO.

The Vanderbilt CSO "is dedicated to enhancing scientific and technological literacy through the establishment of unique partnerships between University scientists, K-12 educators and students, and the local and global science community."

We welcome the new group to the island and look forward to lots of professional sharing and collaborating!

Virtual Pioneers

Spiff Whitfiled (SL), from the WNYRIC organization located on Lighthouse Learning Island, did a presentation for the DEN group last evening. The reviews are raving!

Metanomics Show

A few weeks ago, Metanomics did a show on the K-12 presence in Second Life. You can read about it, listen to it, or watch it here.


The speakers and guests were Jennifer Ragen-Fore from ISTE, Peg Sheehy from Ramapo Central (Maggie Marat SL), yours truly (Kathy Dryburgh SL), and John Lester (Pathfinder Linden SL) from Linden Labs.

Enjoy!

Welcome to WNYRIC CSLO Model Schools!

The newest addition to Lighthouse Learning Island is the Western New York Regional Information Center CSLO Model Schools building. A group of educators, headed by Andrew Wheelock (RL)/Spiff Whitfield (SL), is working on a project called Virtual Pioneers.

Virtual Pioneers is "a site is dedicated to teachers exploring the potential of using MUVEs for teaching and learning about social studies." They use Ning for their collaboration, so, if this interests you, take a look at their page, and come visit them on Lighthouse Learning Island!

Kathy

New tenants and DEN Gala

Things have been busy for my avatar in the past week. I presented and took teachers from the Westport (CT) Public Schools on a tour of my favorite spots in Second Life while they were attending a summer institute. Soon thereafter, they joined Lighthouse Learning Island, and their new building is all set and ready to go!

There may be another group joining this week, too, but more to follow if when that becomes a reality.

Tonight I attended the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Gala in Second Life. Everyone was dressed to the nines, and there was dancing, arcade games, and much more. A purely social event, which was perfect right before many of us go back to school! Here is a shot of Pia Klaar (a teacher from my district) and myself as we enjoyed the party!