Squid Cagney (Stephen Abram): Proud to Support Learning and Innovation through Second Life

Speaking via voice chat to an audience of over 25 SLA members and interested Second Life participants Wednesday night, outgoing SLA President Stephen Abram (aka Squid Cagney)  exhorted the audience members to continue exploring new technologies. He congratulated the group on the successful launch of a space in SL for formal and informal Association activities -- including learning, information sharing and collaboration -- that challenge assumptions about information organization and sharing. He noted that SL accommodates a variety of learning styles -- visual, aural (if voice chat is used), written word, hands-on and especially play. It's also okay for "learning" to be formal, informal or even incidental, and SL provides opportunities for all three. 

Squid Cagney, aka Stephen Abram, in Second Life

Several times during his hour-long presentation, Squid talked about how the SLA "23 Things" program had provided all SLA members the opportunity to learn many new web 2.0 tools. The program, spearheaded by Deb Hunt, surpassed its goal to have 15% of SLA members sign up and complete the multi-week program. He recommended that everyone take at least 15 minutes a day to experiment with a new technology. In addition to developing new skills that might turn out to be requirements in your next job, you might learn something new about yourself or look at something familiar to you in a new way.

In a surprise announcement, Squid named Jill Hurst-Wahl (aka Jillianna Suisei) the recipient of the SLA Presidential Citation for Leadership, in recognition of her work as Chair of the Association's Second Life Work Group. Her year-end report to the President is posted on SLA's Second Life blog at http://tinyurl.com/4ezbgx   Some of her team's accomplishments this year:

• Established SLA's space in Second Life, which includes a sandbox, areas for presentations, and space for informal gatherings: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City%20II/59/100/22  (Heather O'Daniel, Amilie Anatine spearheaded this development.)
• Developed a wiki for disseminating information: http://wiki.sla.org/display/SLASECONDLIFE/ (Mimi Calter took the initiative to set it up.)
• Created a Google Calendar that can link to other sites and in-world: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=slasecondlifecalendar%40gmail.com
• Created a blog for the group: http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/sla_in_second_life/ (Christy Confetti Higgins set it up; Pat Alderman has been a tireless contributor.)
• Held free Click U sessions on Second Life, followed by in-world training: http://tinyurl.com/3hjodj links to a free download of Part 1. (Christy Confetti Higgins, Scott Brown)
• Provided advanced skills training in-world. (Heather O'Daniel, Amilie Anatine).
• Hosted events in Second Life for SLA members and other interested avatars.

While Squid spoke, attendees were able to communicate with each other via group text chat; after his presentation he answered a few questions. One intriguing idea was floated by attendees:  Would SLA entertain the idea of creating a new association chapter for Second Life residents? Obviously this isn't a simple task, but there was enthusiasm for exploring the idea, possibly at the Leadership Summit next month. Don't be too surprised if an official Virtual Worlds Chapter appears on your membership renewal form for 2010 or 2011. You read it here first.