Virtual Worlds CE Series

Continuing education (CE)non-credit courses presented by the Illinois Alliance Library System and GSLIS for librarians and others interested in virtual worlds

Technical skills for the Virtual World Second Life

Week One: Camera controls - Hands-on session using the camera controls and shortcuts. Activities include taking snapshots, exploring the snapshot menus and taking high resolution images, and capturing colors, depth and object mattes. The camera controls are used for building and viewing objects close-up or off in the distance, for taking more creative snapshots and also for basic camera movement for filming machinima.
Snapshot Activity: Take a series of snapshots using camera controls, shortcuts and options in the snapshot window. Post snapshots to the class Flickr group (optional).

Week Two: Basics of Building session - Students will learn about SL primitives (building "blocks"), the build-edit window, manipulating & positioning prims, texturing, linking and setting permissions on their objects. Students will create an object that they will make interactive in the week 4 scripting session. A selection of "DYI kits" will be available to students to choose from for this activity.

Week Three: Basics of Scripting session - Students will learn the basic elements of the LSL scripting language (no coding experience required!) and will focus on using freely available scripting tools, customizing/modifying open source scripts, using the LSL code editor and adding scripts to objects. Troubleshooting script issues will be covered. In-world and web resources will be provided, as well as a open source script package for beginners as a take-away.

Week Four: Machinima Workflow - What do you need to film in SL? A look at workflow for creating machinima (filming, additional third-party software); displaying machinima on the web (YouTube, Blip.tv or other host sites); streaming video or machinima into SL). No software required for this portion of the class.

Machinima Activity: (optional) using camera controls and shortcuts when capturing machinima in SL. (Third-party software required for macs and windows vista; Second Life built-in movie capture can be used on some computers running Windows XP).
Slideshow Activity: Alternatively, students can use camera controls to capture a variety of artistic snapshots for creating photo slideshows online or on their computers.

Instructors: Bernadette Swanson (HVX Silverstar) and Denise Cote (Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks)

Audience: Open to anyone interested in improving their SL technical skills. Students should feel comfortable navigating in Second life or have taken Second Life 101.

Dates and times: Tuesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM SL (US Pacific) time
Location: Second Life
Cost: $150

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Course Technology

The two-hour synchronous sessions will meet online in Second Life.

Participants will need a reliable Internet connection via DSL or cable in addition to the following hardware and software SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. IMPORTANT: Please ensure you can meet these requirements before registering for a course. Check your system against the requirements carefully especially your graphics/video card.

If you have questions, contact Marianne Steadley, 217.244.2751 or steadley@illinois.edu.

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