An avatar is a graphical representation of one's self, personality or alter-ego while engaging in online communication.  Avatars can range from simple, static 2D graphics to complex, animated 3D forms controlled by the user. First of a great series on avatars. Clear, concise.

How you appear in the virtual world could affect your behavior in real life, according to researchers at Stanford University. Andrea Seabrook speaks with Stanford's Jeremy Bailenson about his research into how people interact psychologically with their virtual-reality representations.

Knowledge Base Wiki for Second Life Skills

Profiles of 5 Second Life users with rich life experiences that contribute to the community in Second Life: Holocaust survivor, Grandson of slaves, Broadway singer, Obama's tech chief, etc. Highlights interesting demographics (age, accomplishment)

Solving Second Life performance issues - part one Includes link to "10 Ways to Make Secnd Life Run Faster On Your Low Performance Computer"

Online safety means empowering AND protecting ConnectSafely offers research driven strategies to mitigate negative digital citizenship and safety issues from both a technology and behavioral perspective

The Federal Trade Commission today issued a report that examines the incidence of sexually and violently explicit content in online virtual worlds. The congressionally mandated report, "Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks," urges operators of virtual worlds to take a number of steps to keep explicit content away from children and teens, and recommends that parents familiarize themselves with the virtual worlds their kids visit.

YouTube video (3:35 minutes) featuring examples of Reaction Grid K12 projects.

Kate Farrell interviewed regarding using virtual worlds in K12 education - highlighting Science in Second Life (Global Kids) Good explanation Sottish publication

Google Site of Second Life Resources compiled by Brenda Boyd (and others). Geared towards education and training uses of Second Life.

Satirical video promoting real life meetings over virtual meetings. Good video to use to introduce discussion of affordances of virtual meetings.

Ocean science museum in SL: the educational sim includes a "Journey into the Deep" 2,000 meter underwater elevator, virtual replicas of the NOAA's research vessel "Okeanos Explorer" and submersible "Cleria", an undersea manned habitat, and lots of other scientific experiences to discover International Japanese/other collaboration

Rezzable created an on-line virtual questing environment to support Ytouring 's Starfish production where students learn through questing in a 3D environment about Scurvy and Clinical Trials. After seeing Starfish audiences are invited to enter Steamfish a specially created world. First they create their own character (avatar). In character they arrive on board the recently 'shipwrecked' Stella Maris. This is where they start their quest to learn more about scurvy and clinical trials. 

OpenSim 4th grade class island. Ongoing creative applications of MULE's (curriculum based) for elementary students.

LSL script to distribute object to list of names in a notecard. Might be useful for distributing class materials.

Good beginning of a list of ISD considerations before implementing VW instructional projects.

Immersive and embodiment tendancies. Who immerses? This article mentions research that begins to paint a picture of personalities more likely to immerse.

Information and description of Abyss Explorium in Second Life. (Oceanic museum project)

to educate those that might not otherwise have the chance about Frank Lloyd Wright and his work,

SL murder mystery game running February 2010. Example of environment context, role playing, collaboration, problem solving?, fun. How could this strategy be used with educational content?