NMC Campus Observer

NMC’s Orientation Island Honors The Home of Linden Lab

CDB Barkley (aka Alan Levine) : Oct 10, 2007 10:45pm

After collecting a long list of suggestions from our communities for what to include in an Orientation Island experience, we are ready to have some early birds test out NMC Orientation, our new entry in Second Life designed specifically for students and educators. Our use of the Second Life Registration API allows us to have our own web site for creating new accounts and when these new users first log in to Second Life, they will find themselves at the NMC Orientation Island, rather than the public one most of us experienced (and hopefully survived).

Our NMC Virtual Worlds builders went creatively way over the top in creating a build that ought to be talked about for a long time:

Photo by Torley note the WindLight sky

There are actually several orientation experiences, each one in a different themed neighborhood modeled after the City. The Orientation was developed by the wonderful Minxeh Volos, the fabulous Ravenelle Zugzwang, and the talented artist Stella Costello. There is a scripted trolley by multi-talented CJ Carnot and additional content by the piratesque Solivar Scarborough. This really was a team project.

Our talented builders, left to right: Solivar Scarborough, Stella Costello, CJ Carnot, Ravenelle Zugzwang, Amalthea Blanc, Minxeh Volos

We’ve even got lamps created by the amazing Amalthea Blanc! And do not miss the sculpty water by Vlad Bjornson.

According to Stella Costello:

We decided on the this theme to pay homage to our birth place as SL residents - San Fransisco, home of Linden Lab. We wanted to create a space that would be open and accessible for new folks coming in to Second Life, but was at the same time beautiful. Although nearly any avatar that visits the Orientation will find something to enjoy, we created this space with the special needs of NMC Members, Educators, and Students in mind.

In my own opinion, highlights include the Pier of Culture, with content that immerses new residents in the often taken for granted SL references that the community often uses; such as Ruth and Grey Goo.

And do not miss the walk across Stella’s creation, the Golden Gate Bridge, which leads from Orientation Island to the art on Ars Simulacra:

The educational district is another highlight with architecture based upon some of California’s educational institutions including the Lone Mountain walk from the University of San Francisco campus, a recreation of Sather Gate from Berkeley, and arches from the halls of Stanford.

So if you wish to try this out with some new SL users, send them to our new account form at:
http://sl.nmc.org/join

However unlike the original Orientation Island, ours is one we are intending as a place people will want to return to. The new account form lands an avatar at a basic walk through Orientation, with illustrated signs that explain the basics. At the end of this trail, there are options to explore more in depth orientations (or you can return to them) including:

• In Depth Orientation- the Mission District
• The Pier Of Culture - where you can learn about the “culture” of SL, that can help you learn the lingo and customs
• Educators Experience - which eventually will have exhibits, videos, etc geared towards teachers.

Check it out now at http://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Orientation/69/107/32/

At this time we are still rounding out the portions of these extra orientations, so we welcome your suggestions. We own much to the generous educational community!

See more photos…

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See all stories by CDB Barkley (aka Alan Levine)