Task 6

Task 6
Posted for Group C by Anna Hesselberg
May 6, 2008
COM370

After vigorous research, we the Synergizing Quakers are proposing that Carroll College Student Organizations implement the virtual world technology of Second Life into their programs by the year 2010. We have found that regardless of your choice of theory behind media adaption, there are many reasons for the Student Organizations to take part in Second Life technology.

First of all, there are the media characteristics. Second Life offers a rich assortment of communication media, whether it be its built in instant messaging system, audio communication, and even visual cues through individuals' avatars. This allows the user to overcome the primary barriers of computer mediated communication as these visual cues and expressions are available to dispel any unintended connotations/interpretations. Because it is so rich, Second Life is often used synchronously, engrossing the users' complete attention which also leads to a better sense of immediacy as multitasking is not occurring. Participants are immersed in a 3-D virtual world where they can travel about, form their own societies, participate in discussions or activities, etc.
The posted media capabilities also allow information sharing via rich video and/or interactive pieces whether an actual person is available to share it or not.

Next, there is the social information model. College students are well known for being strong technological adaptors, a fact recently proven by the incredible integration of Facebook in the college community. Second life is looked upon by college students as "hip" and new, and most would be willing to at least give it a try –if only to see what the fuss is about.

Lastly, there is what has been termed the "Dual-Capacity" model by Miller (2006). This theory proposes that organizations adopt media not only for their "data carrying" capacity, but for their "symbol carrying" capacity as well. By implementing Second Life, Carroll College would be giving the image of a technically advanced campus that is able to train its students on the technology of the future. Students too would benefit by being able to list their Second Life experience on their resume, showing their employers that they are open to using virtual communication –something that is only going to get more and more popular as we progress further into the age of a global economy.

The first step of implementation would be to make sure all campus computers not only have the Second Life software downloaded, but also meet its technical requirements. Having easy access to Second Life throughout the campus is necessary in order for students to get involved, and it also needs to run smoothly and efficiently. The next step to would be to overcome any learning curves as while the technology does provide its own training sessions –it is still always helpful to have a real, live person to cry to when it comes to computers. The most efficient means of doing this would be to include an introduction to Second Life within the First Year Seminar course that is required of all students and is used to teach not only reading and writing material, but also how to make the most of Carroll's technological capabilities. By including Second Life as a staple of this course's curriculum, students can get set up and acclimated to the virtual world with more guidance and assistance rather than trying it out on their own –helping them have a better experience so that they will be willing to use the technology throughout college and into their professional careers.

Once these steps have been completed, Second Life would have the potential of being a great benefit to Carroll's student organizations. “The popularity of virtual communities reflects the fact that individuals are using new technologies, such as the internet, to fulfill both social and economic goals.” (Porter, 2004). With over fifty different student clubs on campus, having a virtual meeting spots for organization members would make holding meeting and events efficient and easy for those involved, and would be an encouragement for the large percentage of the student population that lives off campus. In addition, student organizations could use Second Life to host lectures, panel discussions or even concerts with professionals from all over the world without having to pay for travel costs. Also, by having a presence in second life, student organizations would be able to better recommend themselves to potential Carroll Students and/or employers, marketing themselves people outside of Carroll's small campus. It would also provide members the ability to discuss shared interests, develop social relations, and allow themselves to explore new identities in a virtual world.

Works Cited:
Miller, K. (2006). Organizational communication: Approached and process (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Porter, C. E., (2004). A typology of virtual communities: A multi-disciplinary foundation for future research. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10(1), Article 3.