The Story of My “Second Life”

Drug Endangered Child Training Network in SL

Originally uploaded by kjarrett

Last night’s ISTE Speaker Series presentation by Mark Schneider, University of Kentucky (SL: Mannifest Destiny) was one of our most powerful to date, despite the fact it was not necessarily K-20 education related.

Mark’s talk, titled “Drug Endangered Children in Second Life,” started at ISTE Island with a brief introduction before we as a group (almost 30 of us) teleported to his sim at the University of Kentucky Island. It was a simple yet effective visualization of a working meth lab (in a double-wide trailer) and a medical facility. He explained how the sim is an effective training environment for law enforcement officers, social workers, emergency medical technicians and others to see and experience conditions they are likely to encounter when they know they are entering a meth facility – and how to spot one. He also jhas a model medical facility where medical professionals can learn about and experience what it will be like to treat meth victims, particularly children.

The photos in the set (click here) tell only half the story; he shared fact after sobering fact with us that really drove home the dangers of these drug factories for all that are involved with them.

Again, despite the fact that this was not ‘traditional’ K-20 educational content, I personally found it one of the most powerful presentations we’ve ever had at ISTE. The descriptions he provided of the victims involved in this drug trade, particularly the children, made my heart sink. However, knowing that people like Mark and our medical / law enforcement professionals are working hard to save people’s lives … and that Second Life is playing a part in that.

For more about Mark’s organization, visit: http://www.drugendangeredchild.org/.

-kj-