Second Life Bog #7

I have learned a lot in Second Life since the first time that I created an avatar. In the beginning it was very difficult to get around and even more difficult to find people that were willing to help. Once I found a few friends who showed me around some of the free sites I was able to acquire new clothes, animation and body parts that set me apart from the original avatar. I began to teleport to other locations that people invited me to where I learned more about the world around me. Mostly, I found Second Life to be a social event, where people chatted about life in general and gathered to share information. Now I have visited some sites that are more educational and provide insightlful conversations. I joined a group called Education in Second Life where avatars get together and discuss various topics. The topic I joined was Dare to Dream. We sat around on couches and opened up the discussion to anyone. People talked about their hopes and dreams and how it relates to the current world events around them. People coming from various backgrounds and cultures talked openly about their dreams for the world.
I also spent some time in ISTE. I went to an event where they shared inventory and had toys such as cars to play with. The most interesting site was the Discovery Educators Network. In there I played with various games that teach cognition and occupational therapy. There were brain teasers and memory games as well. Sights like this one do offer some education value, however, I find that most places in Second Life are not really all that educational. They are in the sense that you are educating yourself about the site and how to move around it but mostly it is just for socializing.
The Ballet Pixelle Theatre turned out to be a disappointment. The movements were slow and the music was average. The story behind the ballet was interesting to read but the ballet was sub par.
All in all I would not find Second Life to be valuable for elementary, middle or high school educators. I think Second Life is an adult community for socializing and entertainment only.