At the DZX222 weekend, Martin LeVoi gave a very interesting talk on how the virtual res school had originated (1994: 12 students, 14 staff, all the students had to have computers and mobile phones shipped to them). Now that it’s been running annually since 2002 and is attracting 700 students in one year, Martin is still thinking of ways to be at the cutting edge. One is obviously Moodle – everything at the OU is going to have to adjust to the VLE in the next few years. 

Martin also raised the issue of Second Life http://secondlife.com/ which is a virtual world where you go and live a second life in avatar form. I’m torn between thinking this is pointless and thinking it might be good fun. It’s obviously very lucrative – the onscreen currency can be converted into hard cash and there are people who make their living in this virtual environment. I read in the New Scientist about one who earns his living as a hitman. Anyway, that’s off the point. Universities are starting to appear there. The OU could construct a virtual campus and students could meet and discuss in avatar form. At the moment it’s rather clunky, partly because there’s no lip-synching on the avatars, but this could be where the Jennie Lee building goes next time it is demolished and reconstructed.

Oh, and they like you to note that their pics are copyright: