Second Life and Elluminate
I chose to compare Second Life (2nd Life) and Elluminate. I have used 2nd Life for entertainment before. To be quite honest, I got lost, couldn’t make any friends, and felt very rejected! Upon revisiting the site after our class discussion, I do see that it could possibly be used for educational purposes (such as Tom’s example of the classroom in 2nd Life) but I still see it as more apt for personal education.
Elluminate seems to be more educationally targeted to me. I did, in fact, receive an invitation from Classmate 2.0 to attend an Elluminate webinar. With the webinars, teleconferencing, video, audio, and social-networking options, it strikes me as a more suitable resource for professional use.
I also feel that sites such as these provide both students and teachers with the opportunity to share material in an accessible manor other than a classroom, worksheet, or textbook reference.
A disadvantage to using these sites is the time it would take to ensure that it is being used correctly and appropriately within its use. Although students learn technology very quickly, they can also be quickly distracted from the actual assignment they are supposed to be doing. In addition, one must keep in mind that, if posting information on a site with the expectation of comments and feedback, one also must be prepared for things to be permanently posted that may not reflect upon them, the site, or the application positively.
In summary, I do see that using a site such as Elluminate could be an asset to instruction within the classroom. I will research it more deeply to find a way to use it in my classes to see how it works.
Class Assignments, Posts, and Homework | Michelle Gelrud | 
July 12, 2010 11:41 pm
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