Intellagirl Media: Paparazzi strikes my Second Life class
Tonight in my face to face class there will be no fewer than three video cameras from media sources. Our local news station, a campus news show, and MSNBC will be here filming the class. I’ve got a CD of machinima footage shot by Susi Spicoli to give away as well.
It’s certainly strange for me (and my students as well, I’m sure) to have all this media attention but it’s also exciting. It’s great to see that folks approve of using SL in the course and that they’re enthused and want to know more about it. I’m concerned, of course, about how the attention will impact the class. However, they can’t say they weren’t warned before they registered for the class. They also seem to really learn from the experience. Knowing that folks outside our class are reading their blogs, observing our SL and face to face classes, and that I’m being interviewed weekly about the class seems to encourage the students to write better. There’s more at stake.
Last week I asked them if they felt that they worked harder in my class because it was experimental. Some said that they didn’t but that it was more fun. Others said they felt their work in the class was more important because “people are watching” or that they really liked the class and wanted it to be offered again so they felt they should do their best to ensure the success of the class.
I’m not completely convinced that the pressure is all for the best but it’s had a very positive effect on a few of the students and the overall quality of work generated by the class so far has been great. Discussions are animated, engagement is high, and the writing is of good quality in both idea and execution.
Personally, I’m not too excited about the cameras. I’ve never liked having my picture taken and video is infinitely worse but I’m not going to let my own insecurities put a damper on the class.
I’m ready for my close up.
October 3rd, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Sending you vibes of good will and admiration! :-p It’s still all about asynchronous interactions, dammit!
October 4th, 2006 at 7:25 am
I’ve heard your name tossed about in various education forums, and SL Podcasts. Finally discovered your blog. Now, you have my total curiosity.
Hope the class went well!
-Ipenda Keynes
October 5th, 2006 at 2:08 am
See, this… THIS is when you need to do the Jell-O wrestling.
October 5th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
I will have to find you in SL. If you can, add me as “Kevin SuiSei”.
It’s always exciting to be able to teach something trendy, as I always believe that a huge part academia that missing is marketing. Marketing is about creating relevance to the common folk, which is something we sometimes forget to engage with. As you mentioned, students would find more realistic rewards in working with something meaningful to many, rather than to do something so abstract, no one can understand or appreciate what they do.
October 9th, 2006 at 6:41 am
Go Intellagirl, GO!
And I’d have to borrow on Akela’s post; if your class is the academic equivalent of Jello wrestling, then it seems the world likes to watch such things.