More MUVEnation homework…

Considering avatar appearance in educational settings.

• Do you think avatar appearance is an important aspect of educational activities that are being undertaken in Second Life?

Of course, Second Life is a very visual medium for many users and as such for many people avatar appearance becomes a significant factor.   Angela Thomas (SL: Anya Ixchel) has written a lot about avatar play;  The SLED community have been discussing this issue for years and I’m not convinced that anyone has a definitive answer.  I have been in classes in SL conducted by dragons, dogs, fairies, warriors, abstract shapes, business folk, and many others – in none of them did I feel there was any reduction in the professionalism of the teacher.  I daresay, there may be inappropriate choices in some educational settings but I don’t think there is a uniform.

• What does appearance say about us in a teaching situation in Second Life – to what degree is it the same as real-life?
  
• What is a appropriate professional avatar appearance for education?
• Does your avatar have a professional appearance for educational contexts? Yes, no? Why?
  
• Is there any appearance you would never use to teach in Second Life and why?
  
• The ability to change avatar appearance could be described as an affordance of Second Life. How can the ability to alter avatar appearance be used as a teaching tool?

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