The document provides instructions for using basic virtual skills in Second Life. It outlines 12 steps for downloading an avatar, navigating the virtual world, taking pictures, finding locations, and using features like screen capturing. The goal is to familiarize users with the interface and tools for potential science education activities.

1. Basic virtual skills, course tech
basics, & your background – see the
assignment sheet for details
-MathSci Crystal (aka Eileen O’Connor)
-Step 1: NOTE: get a public avatar when you download
Second Life (www.secondlife.com ) but (Step2: ) use the
private username & password for your first visits (its brings
you to SER/VE (the STEM Exploratory Real/Virtual Island). I
DID NOT use the avatar given by Second Life at the beginning -
here’s a 1 min animation on downloading

2. Step 1 & 2: Use the private avatar
• I have two avatars; here’s how I downloaded
– The public one I will use later to go with the class
to virtual science locations
– The private one (you will be emailed this
username & password); should be used when you
are starting
• It brings you to a private island that can also be used
with K12 student

3. Step 3: You have to start at the Science Center –
walking through the door is the 1st challenge
Walk using your
arrows or click Move
on the screen bottom
& choose other ways
to navigate
Be sure to practice
walking, flying, and
running – it is easy for
kids but harder for
adults – here’s a 1 min
animation
Move gives you access to
many ways to get around
– run, walk, or fly

4. Step 4: Sit on a chair in the Science
Center; we will have many meetings &
hear speakers in here
Right click a chair >
click Sit Here

5. Step 5: Turn the camera; zoom in on
your avatar’s face
Click Alt on your keyboard > click on
your avatar (the icon turns to a
magnifying glass) > use the arrows on
your keyboard to move around; use
your mouse scroll-wheel to zoom
in/out . Press ESC if you get stuck,
then use this over. Practice – you
will need to zoom in on other avatars
when they are speaking.
Here’s a link to a 1 min. animation on
viewing.
In the next slide, you will see me
taking a picture.

6. Step 6: Take a picture of your avatar –
turned so you can see the face
Just like before on the top of the screen, click World > Snapshot > select the way
you want the Snapshot to be saved; save it on your computer with a name /
location that you can find. The link again

7. Step 7: I wanted to find more
locations, so I clicked World > World
Map > double clicked in the Pod 9 area
(observe the approximate shape of USA – here’s the link to
World Map & teleporting)
This is your
avatar
Double click over here
location
to move directly to
the pod area

8. Step 8. I first tested my listening in
Sound Test Pod 9

9. Step 9. Test w/ me speaking
You can see the green
waves; be sure you are
zoomed out far enough
to be able to see them
we you take a picture.
And, yes, even avatars
can get caught with their
eyes closed for a picture.

10. Step 10-2. Back in the Science Center. Here I
learned that students could work well in virtual
spaces – with some direction

11. Step 10-3. I am in the Retail store.
Lots I could buy here – now how do I
get some money?

12. Step 10-4. The Delta building could be good for
small meetings – maybe we could hear from other
teachers in the MAT

13. Step 10-5. Wouldn’t it be great to have
a REAL observatory?

14. Step 10-6.
Finally, I went to
the NW corner
and found a neat
A-Frame – a good
place for a
meeting or for
relaxation

15. Pictures of the green waves – I did this
with PrintScreen & copy/pasting into
the PowerPoint – here’s the link

16. You can see the Me > Preferences > Sound &
media menu too; I can test the sound this way; I
used the PrintScreen method here

17. Step 11 - 1: Here’s one of the course screen-capture
– it’s an older course but you can get the ideas – 1.6
min animation link on taking screen captures & then
trimming & formats – from the Angel course, you
need to show: Overview of Modules

18. Step 11 - 2: Here’s another of the course screen-
capture page – here’s the other one you need to
show: Grade Distribution / Schedule/ Expectations /
Deadline & Penalties

19. Step 12c: How do I think of my
career?
Links to many aspects of working
with PowerPoint & the Microsoft
drawing and annotation features
Science
But the sizes are
always changing Family
and the colors on
the gears change
too
Life

20. The rest of the pages are about my
hope & my realities – the rest of
Step 12
Please share about yourself

21. So I figured I would tell you something about my
interest in science & then about my experience & my
family
(So, why did you choose science in the 1st place?)
- here’s how I would like to think about ME as a
scientist and a science teacher – and I show off some
useful tech features too

22. When I daydream my chemistry world .
..
• I see a laboratory, the old fashioned kind. Like Dr.
Frankenstein. I see bottles, bunsen burners,
distillation heads. I remember Dr. Jekyll & Mr.
Hyde, Van Helsing.
• Fictional thought they be, they worked to find the
language, the power, & the beauty of what was
hidden. The sought to know the patterns of the
universe. They piqued my fancy.

23. In my science world, I
have interesting and
creepy friends
Can you tell
that I like old
horror movies
too?
And that these drawing
features can let you point
our important safety
features – look at how
well this creature is
strapped down

24. There are tons of great images on the
web; be sure to include the links to avoid
copyright issues .
And where else could you get to drink great
concoctions like this?
Just a reminder, here are Links to
many aspects of working with
PowerPoint & the Microsoft drawing
and annotation features

25. But my real favorite is that I get to work from room
like this. (Can you figure where this room came from? See the next page for
the answer)

26. Look closely
It’s the room of
Sherlock Holmes
as chemist
The National Institute of Health likes
Sherlock too; see how he introduces
interesting forensic information:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproof
s/galleries/exhibition/wave_image_1
8.html (retrieved 12/07)

27. When I daydream my chemistry world .
..
• I see a laboratory, the old fashioned kind. Like Dr.
Frankenstein. I see bottles, bunsen burners,
distillation heads. I remember Dr. Jekyll & Mr.
Hyde, Van Helsing.
• Fictional thought they be, they worked to find the
language, the power, & the beauty of what was
hidden. The sought to know the patterns of the
universe. They piqued my fancy.

28. The real me
• Was a middle school & elementary school teacher – 1969 & 1970
• Worked as an environmental chemist (for Westchester Co.) & an application
chemist for Technicon in 1970’s; worked at IBM in 1980’s
• Began teaching in higher ed in 1991 (chemistry / computers 1991 - 1996); began in
teacher education in 1993
• Education:
– B.A. in biology w/ minor in chemistry (College of New Rochelle)
– MS in Civil Engineering – Environmental Health Science (Polytechnic University
of NY)
– Ph.D. in Science Education and Instructional Technology - SUNY/ University at
Albany
• Four children (25 – 41 yr old); 6 grandchildren (5 – 13 year old); a lawyer hubbie
(too old to count)

29. The people I love the most (and I am in
here too – guess which one?)

30. Looking forward to learning more ways
to teach science with you