What makes an authentic assessment?

In Second Life, I was invited to an ice-skating party. There were a dozen or so attendees. At one point, I thought a particular avatar was addressing conversation to me, and so I responded when appropriate. It quickly became evident to me, though, that he was conversing with someone else. I may have failed the assessment at that moment, but I won't make the same mistake next time!

How did I learn on the first day (of the New Year)?

I was surprised to find so many avatars (40-some) gathered in Second Life to hear National Public Radio's broadcast of Science Friday! I thought I would be alone with crickets chirping, but no! There was an active chat going, which didn't impress me by its tone or content, but because of it I made a brief connection with someone after reading they have a degree in my field. What are the odds of that?

As a side note, today I caught a glimpse of my SL snapshot posted on this blog. I have learned SO MUCH since I did that! It seems to me that my learning has been at a very quick pace that I have set myself.
If instead I had been in the classroom and had been forced to wait for slower learners, I:
a) would not be nearly so far along; or
b) would have sped ahead in class and risked being called out for it; or
c) would have lost interest.
None of those options are acceptable to me for my own learning (when it is something truly important to me). Should they be acceptable in our classrooms?

Why am I motivated to learn?

Another experience in Second Life has caused me to think about my motivation for learning. In my first encounter with other live beings, I was praised for having the ability to use voice chat. Of course I could do that. I had been working on it, in fact. Why was I motivated to do it?

• Voice chat is a necessary skill for participation in a Paideia seminar in Second Life; I want to participate in the next Paideia seminar held in Second Life
• I had previously tried, and failed to master voice chat, and so it had become a personal challenge
• I was able to seek information to help myself learn how to use voice chat

Now, if I can teach myself to sit in a more ladylike fashion, I'll be just about ready!

Are we aware of the reality?

The future of the planet is becoming less about being efficient, producing more stuff and protecting our turf and more about working together, embracing change and being creative.
~Neoteny, by Joi Ito
http://joi.ito.com/weblog/2009/12/15/neoteny.html

Are we doing this?

“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” – Plato.

How Did I Learn Today? (Suite - Yesterday, actually)

Yesterday, I tried a learning experiment.
I created an avatar and entered Second Life (SL) for the first time.
Above is my first snapshot in SL.

The day before I had watched a video from the K12 Online Conference, explaining how new users are oriented to Second Life. Orientation in Second Life. (I don't think I finished watching the vid, because I had to go out for parking lot duty, and once I returned it was Friday after school, so I wanted to depart.) The last part of the presentation was about a graduate student's project trying to create a better orientation system for new users. From his part of the presentation alone, I learned how to move my avatar once I was in SL.

Once I had my avatar created, I ended up rejecting the idea that I had to go to orientation at all, and went to the destination I sought. It was an educational island, so on the weekend no one was there except myself. How did I learn?

• I used trial and error. 
• I explored anything that looked interesting to me. 
• I went wherever I wanted to go. 
• I took my time. 
• I tried whatever I wanted to try.

I can report that my learning experience was a good one. I was able to play 2 videos (both human and avatar characters explaining various features of the island), change my clothes when freebies were offered (just after my accidental plunge in the ocean, I suspect), explore 4 different areas on this island, experience both rain and snow, take several snapshots of my avatar, walk, sit, talk (still learning about this aspect), teleport, and fly!

I have more to learn on my next visit, but I feel properly oriented, and ready, now, to interact with others when I encounter them.

What technologies should I investigate?

Internet Public Library's 15 Things - what I would call a tutorial on basic technologies