How does your organization use Second Life?

I've been a Second Life resident for only two months, since just before TechSoup's Mixed Reality event on July 18, 2006. With the help of Techsoup and Second Life Library, I've created a kiosk for the Lower Eastside Girls Club (an extracurricular program providing a variety of services to girls age 8 to 18 and their families) that introduces our programs and future building plans. We've begun the process of finding a place for the girls, many of whom are between 13 and 17 years old, on the Teen Grid in Second Life. We recruited interns from New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program to help with our future Second Life projects.

Why did your organization decide to create a presence in Second Life?

As often happens, one person begins exploring Second Life and sees the potential there for immersive, interactive learning and building. I was intrigued by the 3D building tools and saw a way to integrate them with our science and technology programs, including teaching basic geometry and exploring science destinations in Second Life.

How was the project planned? What sort of expertise did you need?

As with other programs in the past, such as animation and podcasting, the idea sounded intriguing and we made steps toward setting up a class for interested girls as a pilot. The new programs for this year will start one month from now and this will give us an opportunity to figure out if we'll move forward with a larger presence in Second Life. If we decide to have a major presence in Second Life, we will have to plan carefully, and evaluate our own building skills to see if we have to hire a designer or builder to assist us.

Expertise is always an issue. We have found some potential interns with an interest, but no real experience in Second Life. I find that I will have to teach the class myself (though we would prefer a female teacher), at least in the early stages as I train the interns along with the girls.

How did the project unfold? What were some of the challenges? What worked well?

It's still unfolding. I am the scout, out on the frontier, happily spending some of my time learning the tools and finding interesting places. Fortunately, I have that time at the moment. But as I have talked to other organizations who have begun working in Second Life, I see that we all tend to underestimate how much time it requires, first to learn and then to build.

One of the biggest challenges is explaining to people (including my wife, who is executive director of the Lower Eastside Girls Club) what it is that I find so compelling about the virtual world. I have never been a gamer and I never wanted to wander around in someone else's fantasy. So why does this seem to offer so much potential? Creating your own space to communicate your interests is part of it. An even larger part is the personal networking. There are issues around "Who's really behind that avatar?" but I find the level of interaction with the people I've met to be surprisingly high. They have a true generosity of spirit and time. After years of solitary computer work, the possibility of collaboration in a shared online enterprise is very appealing.

How much time and money have you invested?

Enormous amounts of time, to start, although not everyone might get as obsessed as I did. Since it has been just me learning the tools and gathering information, the actual money outlay has been low. People have been generous with donations of land for the project, and most tools, scripts, and display items are free. That could change as the organization gets more involved. The desire to have an island of one's own pops up pretty early in the process, but I don't think that is in the cards for us. We will have to see how the classes go: whether we find enough girls really interested, enough projects that are worthwhile, and enough time amid all the other programs that we offer. Right now, we're very content to be on Information Island. (The island in Second Life where TechSoup's virtual space, Second Life Library, and other library-affiliated organizations are located.)

How did you explain the project to organizational leaders or constituents?

I have started by pitching the 3D tools as a geometry learning lesson. The club has also had a fashion design and sewing program, so the ability to design clothes for avatars has sparked some interest. There is a strong ethos of face-to-face organizing in our group, so the potential for in-world collaboration is not as attractive. That may change as people try it out and start meeting folks in Second Life.

What are the benefits to your organization?

We rely on fresh ideas and not doing the same thing over and over, though many programs have been successful for years. We usually try something on a small scale and give it our own twist, then have a "proof of concept" for fundraising. Second Life may be something that contributes to our mission. We won't know until we try.

What advice would you give to other nonprofits who might be interested?

Send a scout to explore. Or send two so you can compare notes. Do as I did - come in with the help of an organization that is already working in Second Life, like TechSoup. Ask a lot of questions, explore all the educational and nonprofit projects and sites in Second Life. (TechSoup's Virtual Office has a directory of nonprofits with links to their sites.) Find a comfortable base, like Information Island or the TechSoup Virtual Office.

Then you can decide to pay the $9.95 a month just so you can have "first land" to start building your own things and learning skills. Watch that area change around you, as people buy and sell, neighbors come and go. You see the good and the bad, and learn a lot about the typical Second-Life experience. If your organization establishes a presence there, you will have many residents come by, curious, interested, possibly able to help. I think you need to understand the culture of the place, not just set up an office or a classroom and invite funders.

Go to the Web sites that support and comment on Second Life. I have a note card that you can get at the Girls Club kiosk that contains links I have found useful.

If you have a particular interest and want to pursue it and share it, you could be surprisingly successful. In my own case, I have had a longtime fascination with the Maya culture, so I am now finding myself building an archaeological museum there called Xibalba, on Info Island II. If you can get a foothold and find it, there is something for everyone in Second Life - whether you are altruistic, artistic, acquisitive, or just plain geeky. The challenge for nonprofits is to develop the conscience and soul of the place, and use it to make a change in real life.

Copyright: CompuMentor

Source: http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page5902.cfm?cg=searchterms&sg=second%20life