Getting Started in Second Life:

How Four Nonprofits are UsingVirtual Worlds to Create Communities of Virtue

Meghan Deana, Global Kids Josh Knauer, Commonwealth IslandsJennifer Ragan-Fore, ISTE Islands Susan Tenby, Nonprofit Commons

NTC 2008, New Orleans, LAMarch 20, 2008

Housekeeping Note…

It’s all on the event wiki:

http://ntc08-sl.wikispaces.com

What we’ll cover today

Brief overview of Second Life and what you need to know to get started

How our four nonprofits areusing SL to build communityand further our missions

The opportunities/challenges of working in this medium

Second what?Your level of experience

How do we define a “virtual world?”

Wikipedia defines it as…

A better definition may be…

Online environments that have game-like immersion and social media functions without game-like goals or rules.

At the heart is a sense of presence with others at the same time and in the same place.

Getting Started: 3 Steps

√ Sign up for account √ Check Requirements √ Download client

Customizing Your Avatar

Communicating

Text Chat (public)IM (private)Voice Chat (public)Voice Call (private)Group NoticesGroup IMsIM to/from Email

Groups & Other Ways to Engage

- Friends - Groups (Public)- Groups (Private)- Search People- Events

Current SL Resident Stats

Getting Around

- Fly- Walk- Teleport- Landmarks- Slurls- Search Engine

Second Life Geography

Building

- Prims & Limits- Free to build- Textures- Tools- “Prefabs”- Permissions

Media: Audio and Video

So What Does This All Cost?The Economies of SL

$1 = 271L Average Outfit = 1000L or $3.70 Average Building = 5000L or $18 Buying an island =

onetime $900 setup + $150 /month for qualifying nonprofits (50% discount)

Planting Your Flag

Rent, Buy…or Free Mainland vs Private Island Tier Payments and Premium

Accounts

4 Case Studies

Nonprofit Commons Commonwealth Islands ISTE Islands Global Kids

Questions?

Thanks for Participating!

Remember, it’s all on the event wiki:

http://ntc08-sl.wikispaces.com