Major Accounting Firm Donates Half-Million to NC State University's Second Life Efforts--Call for Suggestions!

As reported on the Carolina Newswire yesterday, "The Ernst & Young Foundation recently awarded $400,000 to the NC State College of Management to support development of a Second Life presence for the college’s Department of Accounting." An additional $100,000 was added to the grant to bring it to a cool half-million. Further, according to the article, the "combined gift of $500,000 represents the largest single gift to date to the accounting department at NC State University."

Now, this is news! I'm not alone! Others see the potential!

While that last set of comments is perhaps a bit over the top, considering the robust global community of educators in Second Life, it can feel pretty lonely for an educator who believes. Those of you who know that loneliness (weep with me here!) may also be heartened by the recent announcement of my own one hour presentation on February 20 to the faculty and staff of the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach and the Vanderbilt School for Science and Math on the topic, "Second Life."

That's pretty open, for a topic, isn't it?

I have some pretty good notions about how I will use the hour, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had the experience of standing in front of intelligent colleagues to share the potentials of virtual environments for teaching and learning. If so, how'd it go? What do you wish you shared that you didn't? What did you share that you wish you had not? What brief engaging illustrations did you offer? How can I knock this outta the ballpark? If it were you, how would you proceed?

Please comment here or visit the presentation's wiki to provide your input! Thanks!!!