A Trip to Second Life and Whyville

This is a photo of myself and Autumn on our "blind date" in Second Life. It was a bit of an adventure, but we found each other in TC! We couldn't figure out how to take the picture from the front, so this was our best attempt... Fortunately, after playing around for a bit, I've found some ways to rotate the screen, but the graphics seem to be a bit slow on my computer. Thank goodness for the TC computer labs!


So here are some of my thoughts about people who have disabilities using these programs. I guess because I am so uncomfortable using them myself that I find it a little bit difficult to imagine others, with or without disabilities using it as well. However, I totally see that there are some benefits which could make people feel really good. On Second Life especially, you can be whoever you want to be. You can make friends and have social interactions with others which might not be very common. Additionally, this might be a space where you can feel empowered because you are alike, or not like, others. You can fully participate and be a part of any group you want to be and no one can shut you out. In a sense, the idea of Second Life is very much like inclusion. In Whyville, there are some components that I think are really great especially for people with disabilities. For example, there is a place on Whyville called the animal hospital:


Here, you have an opportunity to do just what you would suspect: take care of animals. I think this is a great opportunity for those who maybe can't in their own real lives, maybe because of motor issues, etc.

While I don't foresee myself becoming an ongoing member of either of these communities, I can definitely understand the social justice which these kinds of social networking sites provide people, especially those with disabilities. It gives everyone an opportunity to feel like they belong.

As far as introducing these sites to my students? I think I need a little more convincing...