The University of Texas project Transforming Undergraduate Education Program is building a statewide virtual learning community of students, faculty, researchers and administrators.  The project has 50 sims in Second Life to support that effort.  (These may still be in construction and not yet open to the public.)  

A friend of mine is involved in that project, so I asked him to write a summary as Guest Bogger.

The community gateway by Rezzable & the Hobos opened last week.   The hobos are hanging around the welcome plaza to help newcomers and get them what they need to start enjoying SL.  I have been at the gateway quite a bit myself.  Partly to help people coming in at the gateway.   Partly to find out what people need so I can develop ways to provide the help efficiently at the gateway. 

Here are some of the things I found out.

First, most people do not have problems figuring out how to move.  The do have problems learning to move the way they want to.  They tend to overshoot.   Movement is a perceptual-motor skill, like riding a bicycle. No amount of written instruction will help it.  People will learn it by practice.   The only coaching suggestion I have been giving is "Tap the arrow keys as you do in typing text.   Give a quick tap and wait to see what happens.  SL is often slow to respond, so don't get impatient."