Transcript of the July 27, 2010 Meeting of the Virtual Worlds Roundtable

Topic: Grassroots Volunteering in SL

Photos by Hobbs Constantine. Join our VWER group at Flickr and add your own pictures!

Olivia Hotshot: Hi everyone, and welcome to our weekly Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable meeting.

Olivia Hotshot: If you are sitting in the amphitheater seats, we ask you to come down and join us around the roundtable. There is always an empty seat closest to the ramp.

Olivia Hotshot: Our meetings are made possible by the Office of Information Technology at Montclair State University. We meet here each week at 230 pm SLT for an hour.

Olivia Hotshot: The Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable is a forum to educate and inform the community about issues that are important and relevant to education.

Olivia Hotshot: Today’s meeting, Grassroots Volunteering in Second Life, will be in TEXT CHAT only.

Olivia Hotshot: The views and opinions of any of our special guests or visitors do not necessarily represent those who volunteer or organize these meetings, or of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Office of Information Technology , or Montclair State University

Olivia Hotshot: This is a public meeting, so we do keep a transcript of what is said in local chat. For a copy of transcripts, please visit http//www.vwer.org

Olivia Hotshot: Some of our transcripts are now available transcribed into a sound file. You can find them in iTunes Podcasts by searching for VWER.

Olivia Hotshot: The Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable meeting happens each week and we are looking to develop a community of educators from around the world with a variety of thoughts, needs, and ideas.

Olivia Hotshot: Please join the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable group here in SL. You can also find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Flicker, and KoinUp, as well as on Twitter as VWER.

Olivia Hotshot: Also, next week we will be interviewing the winners of the the Linden Prize from The Tech Virtual Museum. Don’t miss this one!

Olivia Hotshot: Finally, if you have Mystitool on, or other similar tool, please put it to sleep or detach it for now. -) It tends to lag things.

Kali Pizzaro: woop

Olivia Hotshot: I’m Olivia, today’s moderator for this group, and hosting today for AJ Brooks. If you’ve not seen the transcripts Iggy runs, you should check them out – they are a great information asset.

Olivia Hotshot: Why don’t we get started they way we usually do, by introducing ourselves.  No need to wait, go ahead and type who you are, where you are, and your ties to education into local chat.

Olivia Hotshot: I am Ann Steckel, an educational technology consultant and educator from California State University, Chico.

Jimmie Veeper: James Fullerton, Southern Lehigh School District, PA

Grinn Pidgeon: Dr. Barbara Pittman, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio. Faculty Development/Instructional technology/English teacher

Kathryn Pleides: Kathryn Frech, h.s. librarian, NY state

Ignatius Onomatopoeia is Joe Essid, U Richmond Dept. of Rhetoric & Communication Studies

Profdan Netizen: I’m Dan Holt, Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI. I teach writing, both fy comp and creative writing.

Josain Zsun: Josain Zsun: Middle School Science, Technology & Environmental design Facilitator in Tucson.

JeanClaude Vollmar: I’m Jeff Le Blanc from the University of Northwestern Ohio. I’m their VP for IT there and support SL.

Kali Pizzaro: Eve;yn McElhinney Nurse Lecturer Glasgow Caledonian University

Kali Pizzaro: oops Evelyn

hobbs Constantine: is Heather Dodds, Course Mentor, Natural Sciences, Western Governors University, also Capella University doctoral student for Instructional Design for online learning

Olivia Hotshot: 17 people for the transcript

Lim Portal: Lim Portal is John Walsh, Educator in BC

Ewan Bonham: Dr. Scott Anstadt, Division of Social work- Florida Gulf Coast University

Doctor Bumblefoot: Mike Wheeler, West Middle School Applied Engineering/Technology Teacher, Colorado Springs.

Zotarah Shepherd: I am a MA in Education (technology & psychology) student at Sonoma State University in northern California working on a Thesis curriculum project: Teaching and Learning Life Foundation Skills in Second Life.

Olivia Hotshot: come on down folks, empty seats here

Olivia Hotshot spies Birdie hustling to the table

hobbs Constantine: (come on Zo and graduate– you can do it!)

Olivia Hotshot: Last call?

Birdie Newcomb: always lag when I come…

Olivia Hotshot: welcome Meredith

Meredith Winslet: Howdy all

Kali Pizzaro: have a seat

Olivia Hotshot: OK then will assume all have spoke up and introduced themself.

Zotarah Shepherd: Thanks Hobbs

Mimi Muircastle: mimi muircastle – uber volunteer – grassroots for sure

Kali Pizzaro: 21on the sim for the transcript

Olivia Hotshot: Today’s topic is Grassroots volunteering in SL. Personally, i got started with volunteering here in SL by joining the SLER group and now today i am here moderating a session. It has been one of the most rewarding things i have done in SL. Anyone else able to chime in about something they have done in SL or other VW to volunteer? To make a difference ?

Kali Pizzaro: Vwer and Clive Safari

Olivia Hotshot: Just jump right in

Ewan Bonham: CLIVE

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: If appearing as a pundit w/o pay on Treet TV counts, I’ve done that three times.

hobbs Constantine: vwer and helping/visiting friends and their builds

Grinn Pidgeon: I volunteered as a greeter at what’s the name of that conference?

Josain Zsun: Anyone else getting ” *** parent estate: 0″ in initial IMs today? Happening with ~1/2 I receive.

etd003 Ixito: Chuan Leong, educational technologies officer, Singapore, hi

Olivia Hotshot: hello etd

Kali Pizzaro: Hi Phoenixfire have a seat

Lorraine Charron: what viewer are you on Josain, emerald?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: chaired a panel at VWBPE two years ago, and not very different from a RL conf. panel

Birdie Newcomb: I ventured onto thte Teen Grid for a few months — an educational experience.

Lorraine Charron: sorry emerald

Birdie Newcomb: Teens like to do things themselves mostly.

Birdie Newcomb: And the librarians.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Any former Linden Lab mentors here aside from me? That was really fun and helpful to new residents.

Zotarah Shepherd: I have volunteered to teach SL skills at ELVEN and ISTE and mentor new teachers to SL.

Jimmie Veeper: Most of my volunteering takes place in TSL.

Kathryn Pleides: my alt volunteers with Virtual Ability as a greeter

Jimmie Veeper: As a teacher.

Birdie Newcomb: One teen was active as a greeter, and may still be doing that on Main Grid: Daniel Voyager.

Olivia Hotshot: Hey Phoenix, come join us at the table

Jimmie Veeper: I’m aware of him, yes.

Olivia Hotshot: i think everyone knows Daniel =)

Zotarah Shepherd: Greeter and Guardian on RP sims where I learned to deal with griefers and give classes.

Birdie Newcomb: I briefly tried the Mentor program but didn’t keep up with it.

Jimmie Veeper: Data guy

Kali Pizzaro: transcribed for Sheila Yoshikawa last minute sound problems for some folk

Mimi Muircastle: welcome phoenix – he is brand new and wants to get to know us!

Kali Pizzaro: Welcome

Kathryn Pleides: Heya Phoenix!

Birdie Newcomb: Also the group that was putting together a certification program for SL builders

Olivia Hotshot: Lots of volunteering

Kathryn Pleides: Come join us at the table!

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Birdie, they didn’t toss you out for not going to meetings, I hope (of course that never happened to me

Birdie Newcomb: Oh, they kept me on the list — every posting upped my liberal guilt factor…

Olivia Hotshot: Unfortunately for educators, we tend to volunteer when we see a situation that needs help – but no chance of pay.

Jimmie Veeper: What is the group associated with SL builders?

Zotarah Shepherd: Oh and on the Teen grid too.

Kathryn Pleides: Is there _one group of builders?

Birdie Newcomb: I think that’s where I met you, Zo

Kathryn Pleides: I know of Builder’s Brewery, which is a fantastic group, but there are others.

Profdan Netizen: I’ve done Center for Teaching Excellence sessions for faculty at our college about SL.

Kali Pizzaro: hi folks come have a seat at the table

Kali Pizzaro: Delenn

Olivia Hotshot: There are many many groups that build.

Delenn Daines: Hi Kali!

Zotarah Shepherd: Yes Birdie. I also did some building for your sim. : )

Profdan Netizen: Plan to do one this fall–getting a good number so get started.

Kali Pizzaro: Hey Silhshoot have a wee seat at the table if you can

Olivia Hotshot: Grab a seat at the table folks, always room for more

Birdie Newcomb: Oh, I gathered some Germans to volunteer for me,

Birdie Newcomb: for several months, very helpful.

Mimi Muircastle: hey Sil, welcome fellow safari – er …!

Zotarah Shepherd: Oh and building a bit for here too.

Jimmie Veeper: Certified builders though?

Jimmie Veeper: who

Birdie Newcomb: Yes, thanks Zo.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Volunteerism can lead to pay. The Treet TV gigs landed me a job for Prim Perfect as their OpenSim columnist.

Olivia Hotshot: So tell me folks, if you were giving advice to someone new in SL who wanted to get involved – what sorts of roles would be a good place to start ?

Zotarah Shepherd: I suppose I could become certified. lol

Kali Pizzaro: helping folk new at education area

Mimi Muircastle: TechSoup is a great place if you like nonprofits

Olivia Hotshot: Roles please

Kali Pizzaro: new folk

Ewan Bonham: yes, many folks do that

Mimi Muircastle: roles for Tech Soup?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I’d find one of the non-official mentor groups that help new residents

Olivia Hotshot: i heard greeter before – what would that entail ?

Ewan Bonham: Helping in the Library

Doctor Bumblefoot: Greeters of some sort, especially in education related areas.

Olivia Hotshot: and what skills would a greeter need?

Delenn Daines: like a docent at ISTE?

Delenn Daines: like a docent at ISTE?

Mimi Muircastle: also greeters for Linden events like the SL7B

Zotarah Shepherd: No one has ever paid me for the work I have done in SL but I did it for the joy and experience.

Birdie Newcomb: A greeter for newbies.

Kali Pizzaro: friendly and be able to troubleshoot viewer 2.0

Mimi Muircastle: so, I must be rich with joy:)

Grinn Pidgeon: trying to get people seated so a conference speaker can get started, just being friendly to answer questions, ask people to turn off mics, etc

Silhshoot Seelowe: Community Virtual Library has a fairly large volunteer group.

Olivia Hotshot: ability to text communicate in public and private?

Kali Pizzaro: yep Grinn

Birdie Newcomb: I understand SL used to have one for the aged-out teens coming to the main Grid, but abandoned it later.

Silhshoot Seelowe: And you do not have to be a librarian ㋡

Jimmie Veeper: OK, why would one volunteer time? What the purpose?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: one area where SL search does work is for mentor groups. I put “new resident” into search and got many hits.

Birdie Newcomb: So I helped start a SLTeen Grid Survivor group

Olivia Hotshot: Good question Jimmie.

Mimi Muircastle: TechSoup needs mentors for new tenants, clerical stuff like posting profiles to a wiki etc

Doctor Bumblefoot: A greeter would need a basic knowledge of their immediate area, as well as the ability to assist new inworlds with basic skills.

Kali Pizzaro: i had a great tour of a hospital from a young man with cystic fibrosis who is housebound

Olivia Hotshot listens closely

Mimi Muircastle: that is cool, Kali

Grinn Pidgeon: people should look for groups in their discipline or interest and could find things to do through the group

Zotarah Shepherd: People do so much volunteering in SL for charities. I did an ice show to raise Lindems for some a couple of years ago.

Mimi Muircastle: agreee @grinn

Jimmie Veeper: Isn’t it LL’s job to promote retention?

Silhshoot Seelowe: new volunteers are mentored by the experienced members.

Kali Pizzaro: nice to be nice

Olivia Hotshot: Greeter seems to be an easy skill choice, but requires a good personality and skilled conversation

Kali Pizzaro: ;-0

Kali Pizzaro: yep

Kali Pizzaro: agree

Ewan Bonham: Are people paid on sl to teach classes?

Doctor Bumblefoot: I’d be interested in greeting at ISTE since it’s my launch point, but I’m hardly qualified to be a docent at this time.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Helping with retention was simply fun for me.

Olivia Hotshot: Some are Ewan.

Profdan Netizen: Well, it’s not LL’s job to build our communities.

Mimi Muircastle: ISTE has a training program if you volunteer

Birdie Newcomb: pay – by tip jar, perhaps

Olivia Hotshot: So other than greeter – what else can people do? what other roles are out there?

Mimi Muircastle: I mentioned TechSoup

Ewan Bonham: Well, I say you learn what you teach

Birdie Newcomb: There’s a group for helping disabled — with a seeing eye dog!

phoenixfire Tempest: what is techsoup?

Olivia Hotshot: Yes, Max the dog.

Ewan Bonham: What of volunteering to teach an sl subject?

Mimi Muircastle: Virtual Ability Island also needs volunteers

Olivia Hotshot: What about building? Has anyone volunteered to build?

Zotarah Shepherd: If I can get inworld in time the meetings at Nonprofit Commons are interesting Friday morning.

Mimi Muircastle: TechSoup needs builders

Zotarah Shepherd: I have

Marc Rexen: Usually for friends.

Jimmie Veeper: So, it’s beyond assisting LL. It about helping out another organization or enterprise?

Profdan Netizen: TLE Educational Network is always looking for people to teach classes.

Zotarah Shepherd: I built my own sim

Doctor Bumblefoot: I like NCI’s model of posting a weekly schedule of traning classes and events. Each volunteer there has their own area of expertise, and they are paid.

Mimi Muircastle: yes, Jimmie – helping a group that is important to you

Ewan Bonham: hmmm

phoenixfire Tempest: what’s your sim zotarah?

Kali Pizzaro: mmm are they a volunteer if they are paid?

Mimi Muircastle: which ones, Kali?

Olivia Hotshot: ok, greeter, builder, what else is out there? Has anyone volunteered to curate a museum, act as a facility librarian?

Marc Rexen: Usually, because the pay is often not great.

Kali Pizzaro: right a token

Marc Rexen: Friend built clothes for one period sim…lots of work compared to the result.

Mimi Muircastle: I am vol. to post the Tech Soup profiles of tenants of TechSoup

Doctor Bumblefoot: I don’t know all the particulars Kali, but they run a tight ship, maybe it’s in L$.

Kali Pizzaro: ok

Kali Pizzaro: need to be careful in the UK in case folk are on welfare benefits

phoenixfire Tempest: I would like to build, but need to learn more yet. working on it

Ewan Bonham: Is there such a thing as Advisory Boards?

Olivia Hotshot: Ewan, yes there are.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: same here, Kali. In VA any work for pay can negate unemployment benefits

Lorraine Charron: Helping collect freebies for new users and making a freebie area for them

Olivia Hotshot: ooooh good one Lorraine!

Profdan Netizen: Though I wonder if it would count, Iggy, if kept in world?

Lorraine Charron: that is something I have put together for several sims

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Dan, probably not–as long as you didn’t “cash out”

hobbs Constantine: you go Lorraine!

Lorraine Charron: I have a huge supply if anyone needs

Kali Pizzaro: would you like to take the chane Dan?

Marc Rexen: and meets the IRS defn. of “hobby.”

Meredith Winslet: @ Lorraine — helpful for newbies like me.

Kali Pizzaro: they new avatars are better dressed than me

Grinn Pidgeon: I think some people have volunteered in political election work in SL

Profdan Netizen: ? Kali?

Jimmie Veeper: Is there a resource for potential volunteers to go though to either list their abilities, or check on volunteer demand?

Marc Rexen: Yes, let’s me focus on the community and search aspects.

Olivia Hotshot: Grinn, i think youre right. During the last US election lots of volunteers were inworld for Obama.

Kali Pizzaro: sorry dan that maybe was not for you

Lorraine Charron: just IM me if you want me to send you a bunch – professional clothes, skins, hairs, scripts, textures

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: Jokay Wollengong had lots of vols for her Unconference in May. I’m guessing that she will need them again both in SL, Reaction Grid, and her own grid.

Kali Pizzaro: yeah

Kali Pizzaro: would think so

Olivia Hotshot: Interesting how this is growing to outside the educator realm and into other sectors – political, private, etc

phoenixfire Tempest: I hope there is a group specific to science and math

Profdan Netizen: Lorraine, do you have a LM for somewhere you’ve set freebies for newbies? I’d like to see how you do it.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: has anyone asked students to volunteer?

Olivia Hotshot: Iggy, i have some here on campus who do.

Lorraine Charron: yes will send

Ewan Bonham: iggy, and Olivia, i would like to discuss the student prospect more

Profdan Netizen: ty, Lorraine.

Kali Pizzaro: so what do you think folk get out of it. or are we all based on altruism?

Kali Pizzaro: or is it all based on altruism

Grinn Pidgeon: being a greeter helped me get out of my first world shyness

Olivia Hotshot: OK ewan…. next on the list then.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Ewan, I would think that students in a class could volunteer for an event as greeters, then write about the experience of virtual community

Mimi Muircastle: for me volunteering is the only way I am involved in SL and have met great people as a result!

Ewan Bonham: thanks, Iggy

Kali Pizzaro: yep agreed Mimi

Kali Pizzaro: great way to meet folk

Lim Portal: @Iggy, Students reflection on their volunteer work could be guided by an assignment to study verbal communication, written communication, etc

Olivia Hotshot: So lets move this to why we volunteer…. does it have to do with the community-based world? or the type of people who come to SL? What do you think?

Profdan Netizen: Being part of a community is crucial to make SL or any VW worthwhile, seems to me–volunteering helps with that.

Lim Portal: Or perhaps a social aspect, such as collaboration.

Grinn Pidgeon: I found it interesting to see how people worked to get an SL conference to run smoothly

Zotarah Shepherd: Speaking of volunteering I just got this message and all are welcome. Tomorrow at 7pm SLT at the Nonprofit Commons amphitheater, we have our monthly Online Community MeetUp that we stream live.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: If you want to build, btw, I am pretty sure they have collaborative work ongoing in Third Rock Grid. I just visited it and Margaret mentioned that.

Doctor Bumblefoot: I like that Iggy, but I keep thinking about how SL could be used to affect collaboration with teachers, even in one department.

Kali Pizzaro: i think there is more altruism than we think. Most folk are good folk aahhhh

Kali Pizzaro:

Lim Portal: Interdepartmental collaboration is challenging enough in RL…

Kali Pizzaro: but possible

Olivia Hotshot: @Kali i would like to think so.

Kali Pizzaro: it is also a great way to learn new skills

Profdan Netizen: Esp. if you have a large adjunct faculty, Lim.

Kali Pizzaro: from some very talented people

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Doctor Bumblefoot (love your name) in the UT system’s project the collaborations linked faculty from very different departments. But it wasn’t volunteering, per se, unless you mean how faculty pick a project and run with it.

etd003 Ixito: gtg folks, nice meeting all of u

Doctor Bumblefoot: I’ve just been thinking recently how little time I get to collaborate daily/weekly with teachers in other rooms just down the hall in the same building.

Kali Pizzaro: yeah i talk to folk in Sl more than some folk on my floor

Profdan Netizen: lol, Kali, very true!

Kali Pizzaro: haha

Jimmie Veeper: @Bumblefoot…K-12?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: all of us on faculty at UR are expected to do service. So when I do volunteer work here, I list it in my annual.

Kali Pizzaro: oh iggy

Doctor Bumblefoot: Yes, K-12, 6th-8th grades.

Profdan Netizen: Good idea, Iggy.

Ewan Bonham: IGGy, really?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: take care, etd003

Kali Pizzaro: yeah i can list this too

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Ewan, sure. Why is it different from community service?

Kali Pizzaro: as ling as it sounds as if it is contributing to my teaching

Kali Pizzaro: long

Ewan Bonham: Well, how can it be documented?

Olivia Hotshot: transcripts @Ewan?

Ewan Bonham: Anyway, intriguing idea

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I do a free class for the Unitarian-Universalist church here. Documented? My dean trusts us. We’re a small school.

Marc Rexen: We do it via participation in the Educause VWER group.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: but in my appendix to the annual I print a schedule or other documentation.

Kali Pizzaro: this is a great way to learn

Ewan Bonham: i was wondering about how to prove what my services have been by someone who verifies it.

Kali Pizzaro: i have got a lot out of being at these meetings

Grinn Pidgeon: I put attending these mtgs in my annual review as part of the section of using monies wisely for professional development

Zotarah Shepherd: I have done a lot of volunteering in first life. SL is much easier.

Olivia Hotshot: OK Folks, we talked about what people can do to volunteer & why we do it. Now lets list places where we can volunteer.

Meredith Winslet: @ Kali — Me, too.

Ewan Bonham: Wow..

Kali Pizzaro: remember that some of us are not in office hours

Marc Rexen: Have someone from your local EdTech group do some searches on SLED and the VWER archives (eye-opener sometimes).

Kali Pizzaro: 11.05 here

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: This year, one of the two chairs to whom I report got a letter from Firery Broome of this group, about a tour that a colleague and I arranged of Usher for her and her colleagues. My chair was impressed. I guess that verified my work volunteering.

Olivia Hotshot: simply Google your avatar name for an eye opener

Profdan Netizen: During my sabbatical, went to meetings, conferences and such in SL for a 45 day period, and figured it would have cost the college 22K to send me to similar functions in RL.

Kali Pizzaro: VWER, infolit school

Zotarah Shepherd: Ask the Tech Soup members they have many projects going on

Kali Pizzaro: ISTE

Olivia Hotshot: OK, many have mentioned Tech Soup and ISTE, what are some others?

Kali Pizzaro: Jokays place

Profdan Netizen: TLE Educational Network

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Olivia…I googled me and got “bald-headed freak and fake hillbilly!”

Zotarah Shepherd: There are many educational and non-profits in SL.

Kali Pizzaro: CLIVER

Olivia Hotshot: omg Iggy.

Kali Pizzaro: Clive

Kali Pizzaro:

Zotarah Shepherd: hehe

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: j/k….I wrote that of course

Kali Pizzaro: ha

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: but a search engine does show involvement here

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I suspect evaluators can even use them

Kali Pizzaro: yeah me too

Kali Pizzaro: google is scary

Silhshoot Seelowe: forth entry down it shows where I volunteered fo the ALA The Future is Now Conference.

Zotarah Shepherd: The VW Grad Unsymposium will need volunteers for October

Lorraine Charron: if there is a posted schedule of events online (whatever the event is) it is helpful to employers

Marc Rexen: We’ll have to add a “forgetfullness” gene to Google pretty soon.

Kali Pizzaro: timezones can sometimes prohibit volunteering

Olivia Hotshot: I would also look for conferences to volunteer at – they need all sorts of skilled help

Lorraine Charron: and sometimes people give professional development certificates in here

Olivia Hotshot: @Lorraine – we do that for the VWER group.

Lorraine Charron: some department chairs will not accept a faculty members word they attended or participated

Olivia Hotshot: the schedule that is

Lorraine Charron: we do too with the UNC TLT

Ignatius Onomatopoeia wonders if Philip Rosedale will re-constitute some sort of mentors group. And don’t forget that Burn 2.0 (formerly Burning Life) will need helpers now that it’s private

Kali Pizzaro: ha as if they know you are on the city bus tour at a real life conf

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: helping at arts events, to me, supports some of the best work done in-world

Kali Pizzaro: oops

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Kali, or drunk at the pub

Kali Pizzaro: terrible

Lorraine Charron: true true

Ignatius Onomatopoeia would never do that

Olivia Hotshot: OK, lets shift gears – and hopefully this gets a bit rowdy – BUT, when do educators STOP volunteering hours and hours and demand pay for their work? Is it possible to get out of the work for no pay rut? I know we all want to be helpful, but when is enough, enough?

Olivia Hotshot: <BL always depended on helpers- not just now>

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: RL or SL: If I get no credit in my annual, I think twice before volunteering. It’s getting brutal in our workplaces, as I need not remind all of you.

Mimi Muircastle: perfect question Olivia!

Olivia Hotshot starts making protest signs that say Enough is Enough

Kali Pizzaro: yeah maybe it depends on hte amount of time expected from the project

Kali Pizzaro: or if ther is no get out clause

Kali Pizzaro:

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: This is not a new problem. We face fatigue from being helpful IRL constantly.

Olivia Hotshot: are we afraid if we don’t volunteer nothing will get done?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: yep

Kali Pizzaro: mm good point Olivia

Lorraine Charron: educators are the most “volunteeringest” people I know

Kali Pizzaro: new word there Mimi

Kali Pizzaro: ?

Jimmie Veeper: Educators ARE TERMINAL idealist.

Zotarah Shepherd: You have to balance your life to avoid burn-out.

Mimi Muircastle: anything goes here, Kali – right:)

Kali Pizzaro: indeed

Profdan Netizen: My problem is that during the semester, I teach four writing classes–along with f2f meeting requirements, not much time!!!!

Marc Rexen: …the altruism thing too…a good builder can take a project to completion in hours/days rather than weeks/months.

Doctor Bumblefoot: I could document my time spent here at this roundtable as research against a grant my school has for 21st Century Learning, but probably won’t.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Dan, then you do what you can. And say “no” a lot. I do now and always ask “who is asking me? And who writes my annual eval?”

Profdan Netizen: Exactly, Iggy.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: it’s mercenary but it will save your butt

Marc Rexen: I consider it idle learning, better than TV, but less than focussed research…ideas some along, get connect, and boom, an insight…no real work involved…just idle time.

Kali Pizzaro: if it is a massive project then may be you need to ask if it is right to volunteer. could you be writing a paper?

Kali Pizzaro: also depends if you do it in work time

Kali Pizzaro: haha

Marc Rexen: Then it’s work…if done at work…:)

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I would not have done Usher had I known that it would have taken 200 hours, and the faculty member who used it after my beta-test only used it for two one-hour sessions.

Kali Pizzaro: indeed

Doctor Bumblefoot: Jeez, now you’ve got me thinking about reviewing my prof eval rubric during my vacation, thanks a lot!

Meredith Winslet: That’s why I love my job!

Lim Portal: In education in BC, volunteering in the school community can not be required, but it is expected. One key is choosing a voli position that’s meaningful.

Olivia Hotshot: chuckles at @Doctor’s comment

Marc Rexen: This place still depends on adventitious work, by educators, musicians, or “proper business-focused creators.”

Profdan Netizen: Ouch, Iggy!

Olivia Hotshot: @Marc, not to mention the guinea pigs who suffer through some of it

Marc Rexen: I believe there is still a belief it’s in the early stages with “farmville-like expansion” still in the wings.

Kali Pizzaro: if the person asking you to volunteer treats you right you may volunteer again

Kali Pizzaro:

Kali Pizzaro: hint hint

Lorraine Charron: its true, we DO get some personal meaning from the volunteering and it “feels good” – yes when its appreciated, especially.

Mimi Muircastle: so true, Kali

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: heh. I learned a bunch by making builder-mistakes.

hobbs Constantine: amen Kali

Kali Pizzaro: bows

Kali Pizzaro: at Olivia Clive

Kali Pizzaro: nudge

Kali Pizzaro: hehe

Olivia Hotshot: too funny Kali.

Mimi Muircastle: he he Kali

Kali Pizzaro: ok seriously, has anyone not volunteered

Mimi Muircastle: but we like helping CLIVE!

Kali Pizzaro: but will now

Kali Pizzaro: hehe

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Lorraine, you have to pick the right job. I help on Habitat builds and I used to refurb old computers for poor families. I loved doing that.

Lorraine Charron: yes I agree

Lim Portal: @Iggy Your Usher build is terrific. It serves as a calling card. I believe your involvement in that project is a wise investment.

Mimi Muircastle: true Iggy – I vol. at a Wildlife Refuge in RL and love it

Lorraine Charron: self-rewarding when you love it

Olivia Hotshot: for me, doing service is a part of my personality and a way of living and paying it forward. I almost like the fact that i don’t get paid cause i can quit any time i like and not be chained to the cash.

hobbs Constantine: @Lim, I second that! You never can tell where your ripples will go.

Kali Pizzaro: agree Olivia

Mimi Muircastle: same reasons and feelings, Olivia

Profdan Netizen: Paying it forward, good point, Olivia.

Jimmie Veeper: Has anyone used a SL volunteer in their classroom instruction?

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Lim, it helped, but the time volunteering could have gotten me another short-story or article published. The Q becomes “what counts more in my career?” which is a sad thing to have to ask yourself but the times are troubled.

Olivia Hotshot: It is how i like to live my life – pay it forward

Mimi Muircastle: yes, that is a difficult choice, Iggy

Kali Pizzaro: no jimmy but one of my students tended to troubleshoot others problems

Kali Pizzaro: he enjoyed it

Jimmie Veeper: ok Kali

Olivia Hotshot: In general, many people LIKE to be helpful. It is what satisfies them.

Kali Pizzaro: yeah as i say altruism. warms your heart

Kali Pizzaro: lol

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: agreed. If you can see the help you provide and, as many have said, the volunteerism gets appreciated.

Mimi Muircastle: hearts need to be warm, kali

Doctor Bumblefoot: Getting students to work together sometimes is the greatest challenge/reward. Runs counter to what I’ve seen to be blatant self interest.

Olivia Hotshot: Has anyone thought of bringing a RL volunteering situation into SL? Maybe like how the Relay for Life Team has so successfully done?

Kali Pizzaro: yes i use people with real life health problems

Ewan Bonham: Good idea, Olivia

Olivia Hotshot: ty @Ewan

Kali Pizzaro: they volunteer to let students take their health history

Jimmie Veeper: @ Doc…It’s got to be authentic project-based learning.

Kali Pizzaro: as part of a pbl

Kali Pizzaro: they dont get paid

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: I’d have loved to have asked my students to build a replica of our campus museum’s “A Slave Ship Speaks” exhibit. I wasn’t in SL then, unfortunately.

Kali Pizzaro: it allows them to remain anon, and they can do it form the house

Kali Pizzaro: and it is truly authentic

Olivia Hotshot: might be interesting to see students do volunteering/service work for credit

Kali Pizzaro: think we have that in rl

Kali Pizzaro: at our uni

Jimmie Veeper: Students do volunteer, even during the summer months, if it matters.

Jimmie Veeper: Even MS students.

Kali Pizzaro: yeah our doctorate do

Josain Zsun: I have a RL appointment, but will stay logged in to capture this great dialog.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: one problem for me may be how MUCH our UR students volunteer. It might be hard to get them to see SL as “counting”

Olivia Hotshot: Hey gang, lets wrap this one up?

Jimmie Veeper: It’s got to make a contribution to a larger thing.

Jimmie Veeper: Larger than themselves.

Doctor Bumblefoot: I’d to just get my kids out of Facebook and texting and into building a collaborative project from prims. That would be an accomplishment!

Kali Pizzaro: 19 on the sim

Kali Pizzaro: ha Dr that would

Olivia Hotshot: A Reminder: NEXT WEEK – interview with the winners of the Linden Prize – The Tech Virtual Museum. Be here or well…not. =)

Kali Pizzaro: woop Olivia, worked her charm

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: @Doc, just be sure it “means something” when it’s done. My class loved volunteering to beta-test Usher b/c they felt it would help that next class that used it.

Doctor Bumblefoot: Thanks everyone, glad I stopped by!

Olivia Hotshot: i try kali, i try

Meredith Winslet: That place is cool!

Olivia Hotshot: Try and come Meredith and think of some questions to ask.

Kali Pizzaro: tc DR

Meredith Winslet: Yes — will do.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: very cool topic, Olivia. Looking forward to it!

Olivia Hotshot: Thanks Iggy. Those guys are Fab

Mimi Muircastle: good job as always, Olivia!

Olivia Hotshot: Thanks Mimi.

Milena McWinnie: Are the meetings always on Tuesdays?

Zotarah Shepherd: Great discussion Olivia and everyone. Have a good week.

Jimmie Veeper: Much enjoyable, thanks Olivia for hosting.

Ignatius Onomatopoeia: For now, Milena

Milena McWinnie: k

Olivia Hotshot: OK Kids, now get out there and help an elderly avatar across the street!

Milena McWinnie: thanks

Profdan Netizen: lol

hobbs Constantine: