Hi there!
This is Librarian Craig Anderson, aka Draconius Merlin in SL.
I just wanted to say that it was so much fun being able to teach a class in Second Life this morning, and that I am so glad to see so many of you embracing this new technology. To download Second Life onto your home computer, simply go to www.secondlife.com and choose "Download Second Life" on the bottom left of the homepage. If any of you are having troubles with getting into Second Life from home, you can either comment on this post, or send me an e-mail at: cjanders@kean.edu.
I've sent you all an invite to join the Kean University group on SL, which will allow me to send you bulletins and news as a group. I have the SL names for 11 of you, so I'm missing someone. Here are the names that I have:
Nana Masatada
Princesa Liotta
Miley Mayako
MarieElizabeth Pinklady
Purplelady Oceanlane
Cool Silverspar
Actually Blessed
Feeling Timeless
Leighlani Pinazzo
Tennesee Outlander
Pink Lovenkraft
A few tips for newbies:
-- Remember that once you're on SL, you can use the "Search" button to do a search for different areas, people, and events online.
-- Your inventory contains many things that may be useful to you. Whenever someone gives you a landmark, calling card, or article of clothing, it goes into your inventory. Right-click on an inventory item to use it.
-- Right-clicking enables you to interact with many items in the work. Some vehicles will allow you to right-click on them and select "drive". If you right-click on a person (including yourself) , you can read their profile, add them as a friend, or send them an IM.
-- The "Communicate" button on the bottom will bring up your list of contacts (friends), any groups that you belong to (Like the Kean group), and let you teleport people on your contacts list. Always be careful that you're not saying anything private in the "near me" tab. That means that you're announcing your statement to the surrounding area.
-- When you feel comfortable with it, you can click "build", and start using the 3D modeling tool to build objects. Be careful with this, and be sure to always right-click on the object and select "take" when you're done building. Otherwise these objects stay in the area in which you built them. (and that's littering!) Once an object is in your inventory, you can delete it if you don't want it.
-- for those of you with headsets and/or external microphones, you can go to the Edit menu and select "preferences" to enable voice chat. This will allow you to speak with others using voice instead of typing. (it puts a little snowflake above your head so that you can tell people who have voice enabled)
-- If you really want to, feel free to get a Premium membership. This gives you 300 $L (Linden Dollars) /week, which you will surely spend quickly.
-- When you get into SL, do a search for "Hypatia Dejavu". She is a wonderful librarian, extraordinarily helpful, taught me everything I know, and most importantly, SHE LOVES TO SHOP. Speak to her, and she'll have you better dressed in no time. :)
I look forward to seeing you all online, and I hope you have fun with this. But as Professor Tomich (Prof. Amat) says: Don't get TOO addicted! :)
Sincerely,
Craig Anderson/Draconius Merlin.
PS: Check out http://secondlife.reuters.com for the SL news desk! (one of them, anyway)