Tutorials in Orientation to Second Life (SL)
Despite the couple of negative aspects to SL that I mentioned last time, I do think have a few positive points about what I have experienced so far.
Firstly, the prompt box in the top left corner is helpful (even though it takes awhile for the image to download through my connection). I really like it when the prompt disappears after you have completed the action because it is a smoother interaction. Instead of me having to stop, find my mouse, move to the next slide and then continue again, i can just keep walking while I read the new slide.
Secondly, I think that it is very good that I have to move around on the islands to complete the tasks in the tutorials. This means that I have practice at working the controls and understanding how my avatar moves on the island, which I desperately need – I think I’m used to the joystick on my brother’s xbox and the arrows on my computer do not provide the same flexibility of movement.
Third, I think that the Communication island has been set up in an interesting way. The learning isn’t merely a ’do this, do that’ manual to communicating, but actually has a plot line (fulfil the prophecy by stopping the island from erupting). Also, the learning is done through practical activities, where you have to demonstrate use of the skill before you complete the task, which is great because you know that you know how to do the tasks.
