Alone - lots of wandering around. I accidentally flew and wasn't sure how I did it. A couple of other avatars showed up with what looked like similar names. At first I was completely freaked out. After checking in with our mission leader about the experience, we came up with a pretty good guess that it was students from another island in the world, and was less freaky than it seemed at first. I also realized that my inexperience with the tools in this world meant that I didn't figure out how to access my communication tools. As it was happening, I was really intimidated and thought about how I would feel if I was in another country (alone) and had people walk up to me trying to talk with me in a language I didn't understand.
A Guided Tour - I met with our course leader in world, and I was able to become more familiar with the tools. It was very helpful to have someone who could provide some background on how the world actually worked, which made me feel a lot more comfortable.
In a Group - I seemed to forget many of the things I had learned in my two earlier visits, which was a bit frustrating. But being in a group made dealing with it easier and a lot funnier. As I walked around with one arm in the air, I felt like an overeager student who constantly things she has the right answer (think Hermione Granger in Harry Potter).
All in all, I am enjoying the experience (as you can see from my relaxed posed below). If I can make the time to visit every couple of days, I think that will help cement my understanding (please note the repeat of the brick/wall metaphor).
I missed the group meeting so I hope to be at the next one- I have so far only communicated with one other avatar- someone I didn't know and I am looking forward to a meeting with many people/avatars all at once.
ReplyDelete-Diane/ Bina Wondercat
Show of hands please, who would like to take out the virtual trash bin? Suzannie! Thanks for volunteering! :p
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting thought about feeling as if you were in a different country, I kept thinking about how to indicate to a Jokaydian that I'm not native and do not mean to be rude if I accidentally push them around or anything.
So far I haven't run into anyone though, so it was cool to be in world with the rest of the class, it was a very different experience.
I figured out that you go faster if you fly than if you walk, so I tend to fly about when crossing vast terrain.
I had a similar encounter with sentient others in Second Life; I was trying to get oriented in a really overstimulating environment (a freebie store for newbies) and ran away quickly when objects and avatars started trying to give me things. I think being with others in virtual worlds is a short but steep learning curve; the second time I was in Second Life I felt a lot more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty cool that you found people in Jokaydia! I've yet to meet someone who's not form our class.
francisco, flying would really make things easier. I am getting used to using the mini-map while flying, which is helping.
ReplyDeletehypergridtravels - LOL! That's exactly how I felt - overstimulated and wanting to run away. It helps to know I'm not the only one.
Diane - the group meeting was really helpful. I'm hoping to spend some time in world on Saturday night (where else would I want to be?).