Educational Gaming Commons - Press Start

Step 1 - Download and install the Second Life software from http://secondlife.com/community/downloads.php.

Running SL in a CLC Computer Lab? See http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/gaming/SLOnAFlashDrive

Step 2 - Get a Second Life Account at http://sl.nmc.org/join/

Step 3- Start up SL, and (automatically) proceed through the New Media Consortium Orientation Island.

Note: This is a special orientation island for educators. If you don’t get an account from the URL listed in Step 2, you will proceed to the normal Orientation Island. Many find this a non-optimal experience. If you are stuck there, look for a sign in the middle of the island that allows you to leave without completing the tutorials there.

Step 4 - Explore!

If you skip all the orientations, or need a refresher, you need to learn five basic things: How to Move, How to Zoom In, How to Manipulate Objects, How to Communicate, and How to Find Things.

How to Move

Use the arrow keys to move your avatar forward (up arrow), backwards (down arrow), turn to the left (left arrow), and turn to the right (right arrow). Use the page up key to fly (function & up arrow on keyboards without a page up key), and the page down key to land (function & down arrow on keyboards without a page up key).

How to Zoom In

Hold the alt key (option key on a Mac) down to get a magnifying glass cursor. Click and hold down the left mouse button on the object on which you want to zoom in. Slide the mouse from left to right to rotate the view and slide the mouse forwards and backwards to zoom in and out. You can combine zooming and rotating with your mouse movements. Press the escape key to stop zooming.

How to Manipulate Objects

Try clicking the left mouse button on an object. If that doesn’t work, use the right mouse button to click on the object (including yourself and other avatars). Select a choice from the pie menu that appears.

How to Communicate

Click on the Chat button on the bottom of the screen. Type your message in the text field and press enter or return. Avatars near you will receive your message.

How to Find Things

Click on the Search button at the bottom of the screen to find locations, avatars, etc. If you know the name of a location you want to teleport (go) to, click on the Map button at the bottom of the screen. Type the location name in the text field, then click on the Teleport button.

See http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/gaming/GettingStartedInSL for more information and examples.

Note: You can download a PDF of these instructions below.