After last semester was wrapping-up, I vowed not to take another class in the Spring. I enjoy taking random classes. I think it keeps the brain-rot at bay. But I wanted to take a semester to relax, without any pressures of assigned readings and weekly papers.

When I saw we were hosting a class on the “Possibilities of Virtual Worlds”, I started to rethink that decision. The class will take place almost entirely within the virtual world of Second Life, exploring the potential for education and the theoretical issues surrounding identity and socialization within such worlds. From the course description:

This course will explore possibilities of virtual worlds for games and education. Through readings and theoretical discussions of identity construction, positioning and social aspects of virtual and traditional communities, participants will explore how virtual environments may function to support teaching and learning as well as how virtual communities are affecting people’s lives inside and outside the virtual. Hands-on work in the Second Life community as well as guest lecturers in and out of Second Life will be used to explore virtual space and provide expertise in basic scripting and building with the Second Life World.

In a group email that Matthew kicked-off, the professor for this course mentions that in February of this year Second Life will support in-game web/video viewers, viewable by all participants in the immediate virtual space. A group of people separated by physical distance can come together in this virtual world, discuss already existing educational material, and work on group-based learning assignments.

It looks like Second Life already supports this type of interaction. Lawrence Lessig has been speaking to a live crowd at Second Life in a multi-part, multi-day interview. His avatar stands in front of three enormous (well, virtually enormous) screens, and on those screens are the real-him at his desk, presumably via webcam. The avatars of the live audience are welcome to ask questions.

When asked about the changes to the internet and media worlds since Free Culture was published, Lessig answers with what I think is the best definition of “Web 2.0″ yet:

The explosion of what I call (but would love a better word for) the “read write Internet”. The key thing we’re seeing now is the Internet used to create and remix culture. The focus two years ago was peer to peer filesharing. But the focus today is the stuff that happens here [in Second Life]. Or in mashups. Or with remixed music. Or anime music videos. This capacity and this creativity is extraordinary. And yet the “war” that that the copyright industry is waging against “piracy” will kill it. At least as a legitimate part of culture.

Unfortunately, add/drop period for the “Possibilities of Virtual Worlds” course has already ended, so I had the decision made for me (by my own procrastination). But I might just get a sleuthy avatar and watch from afar, when I’m not sitting-in on Lessig’s interview.