[DIDI] Mixed abilities and maturity groups are good
Constance Steinkuehler's blog post for MacArthur's Spotlight in regards to "mixed abilities and maturity groups are good" for the affordances of virtual worlds really rang true for me today at the D.I.D.I. workshop.
We watched the introduction of theGK video in the D.I.D.I. theatre today. I had tears in my eyes that we were sharing this space and this moment with watching great examples of teen leadership with teens from the juvenile detention center. It was a powerful moment for me (and I know it's more powerful to hear what their own experiences are which we will be blogging about soon :)) to be sharing this virtual space, virtual popcorn! and in what Constance said, ". . . there is immense value in commingling experts and novices, learners and teachers, grown-ups and kids - especially in third places for informal sociability where one’s rank in terms of age or credentialing does not matter."
Sometimes I read articles or blog posts from people that ask, why do you need Second Life, won't a video conference suffice for the same thing? For me sometimes it's the visualization of seeing yourself (as avatar) in this shared space/moment/time and carrying that image with you that you are expert and novice, learner, teacher, and kid-all at the same time or shifting- that can be a powerful transference into the real world and reminds me of the recent article by Time that talks about how SL affects real life.
