As Ball State University continues to boast of technological endeavors, the Alumni Association has added to the school's list of cutting-edge efforts.
Using Second Life, a virtual world, Ball State is inviting alumni to tour the campus on "Ball State Island," a complete regeneration of the school online including Shafer Tower, Music Instruction Building and Bracken Library.
The island's original intent was to hold classes for Ball State students. Steve Fulton, director of new media for the Alumni Association, emphasized the reality of the classroom atmosphere.
"You can go out there and push around a camera, pan up and down using virtual replicas of the real equipment," he said. "There are a couple of real expensive pieces of equipment on campus that Second Life allows students to really understand how they work."
Not only can you take virtual classes on Ball State Island, you can attend events as well.
"The first event we hosted was a campus tour," Fulton said. This tour entailed alumni coming back to the actual Ball State campus and sitting down for a "walk-through" of the virtual island.
"We had an overview of how to interact within the Second Life community," he said. "We have also had a showing of the HBO special 'Baghdad Hospital,' which features a Ball State alumni."
The Alumni Association is planning to host more events in the months to come.
The association's work has not gone unnoticed. Its Second Life activities are featured in the October 2008 issue of Current magazine. Current is the leading publication for educational advancement, Fulton said.
For freshman Haley Kotnik the idea of a virtual campus is exciting.
"It is nice that the Alumni Association is doing something to bring alumni back to campus, whether physically or virtually," she said.
Although some like the idea of having a virtual campus, others say they do not see a reason for the programs.
"I don't really see myself using this application," freshman Annimarie Locker said. "If I want to come back to campus I will make the trip."
Ball State on Second LifeONLINEFor more about the alumni events in Second Life, go to bsu.edu/alumni/socialmedia
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