Ok! I’ve just gotten word that the below has been cleared for public release by the Ramapo Central School District. It was shot on April 12th, 2007 during my second visit at Suffern Middle School. It runs just under 4 minutes (I wish I had a 2gb memory card!) but captures honest student impressions regarding Second Life. (It also highlights my atrocious interviewing and camera skills.) Spend a few minutes and visit with these kids as they describe what Second Life means to them! If the video below does not load, click here.
In their own words: Suffern Middle School students discuss Second Life
18 Apr 2007 @ 05:17 pm · 4 Comments ·
Tags: Ramapo
4 responses so far ↓
1 Diane Main // Apr 22, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Kevin,
These kids (and you) brought up some very good points, including one to which there is a very important “flip side.” On the one hand, people who may not be comfortable talking face-to-face would be more open to communicating via an online medium such as Second Life. On the other hand, however, I am seeing an increased inability in some kids to communicate and get along with others in real life, and the more we use the alternative methods, the more we excuse their lack of social skills. I, of course, am thinking of particular students I have had, and I know that the huge amount of time they are spending online is having a major effect on their lack of real-life social skills. Where do we find the balance?
For my own son, age 3, I am eagerly looking forward to his going to preschool and kindergarten so he can learn how to get along with children his own age. At present, he does not get to spend much time with other children and he is a little intimidated when in a group of kids. We have to remember that a big part of school is live interaction, where kids learn how to be the future adults they need to be. Yes, it is great that they are learning to take advantage of tools that will enable them to communicate effectively online to people in other locations. This is certainly a job skill many of them will need. Let’s just not forget about the time they need to be spending being kids: talking, disagreeing, figuring out how to handle that.
You know I am a complete and utter geek, so I am by no means dissing SL. But I also know I have a lot of students (mostly middle school here) who spend a lot of time online (MySpace, IM, online games) and then can’t get their work handed in on time for school.
2 Kevin Jarrett // Apr 22, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Diane,
Thanks for commenting because you put a fine point on something I think needs clarification.
The only way these virtual connections are TRULY meaningful is if they end up IMPACTING KIDS POSITIVELY IN REAL LIFE. In other words, kids are comfortable in the virtual medium (SL, MySpace, IM, etc.) and they “get to know each other” that way. Then, in RL, they perceive each other differently – and this leads to better relationships in class and elsewhere. That’s the ideal, as far as I’m concerned. Virtual has its place supplementing the real, not supplanting!
-kj-
3 Beth Knittle // Apr 25, 2007 at 10:50 am
I’d like to speak to what Diane writes. “On the one hand, people who may not be comfortable talking face-to-face would be more open to communicating via an online medium such as Second Life.” I am closely involved with a child with asperger’s and other children with various levels of Autism. The virtual world has been a Godsend. There are no facial clues or body language to interfere with communication. These children who could not function well in a regular classroom are running Guilds in World of War Craft, conducting and managing role plays in online communities such ad Gaia. They are learning skills that were beyond them in the real world. They are developing them in the virtual world, and with guidance and some role play I have seen this carry over into the real world. It has made a world of difference to them and their parents.
On homework – no child in my household can get their computer till I see the homework is done. It is about priorities, duty and responsibilities. Work gets done first – then you can have worry free afternoon for play, social, communication and out of school learning. In the old days it was not the virtual worlds that drew them in put the old fashion telephone. Most kids will find any excuse to avoid homework (I taught MS almost 20 years). I do not believe it is the technology that causes this but good old human nature.
4 Diane Main // Nov 27, 2007 at 4:09 am
Beth, I am with you 100% on the homework issue. Too many of the kids I see struggling with it have parents who are working a lot of hours and then just letting their kids have computers with high-speed Internet access behind closed doors in their own bedrooms. Most of the kids I know personally are just using their time poorly — not engaging in anything immoral or illegal online. But I don’t see why these computers need to be out of the parents’ line of vision.
As for the use of online worlds to facilitate communication with students on the autistic spectrum, I am all for that, especially if the students find a way to transfer that newfound confidence to interpersonal interaction in the real world. I have encouraged some of my students (and their parents) to contact me via e-mail or instant messenger if they feel to uncomfortable seeking me out face-to-face. For some kids, that’s just a terribly frightening thing. (Not that I am so horrible . . . it would be difficult for them to approach any authority figure, especially in front of their peers.)
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