| 15:00 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Okay. It is 3 PM, SL Time, and it is time to start! |
| 15:00 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Hi Sandie |
| 15:00 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Welcome to this Sunday's Oxbridge General Q&A. Andrea (maybe) and I are here to answer any of your questions about Second Life, Caledon, Oxbridge, Steampunk, Linden Lab, Virtual Worlds, and anything vaguely related to any of the above. I'm also good at trivia questions. |
| 15:00 |
Eros (redsparkyrose) |
The bells! Does that mean Covid awareness? |
| 15:00 |
Sandie Harbour |
Hi Ian |
| 15:00 |
Carl Metropolitan |
If we don't know the answer, we can Google it. In other words, we know where to look, or at least can probably put you in touch with someone who does know the answer. |
| 15:01 |
Carl Metropolitan |
So let's move right into questions, as Andrea is not here yet. |
| 15:01 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Ask away. |
| 15:02 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I don't know everything, but I can fake most of it. |
| 15:02 |
Carl Metropolitan |
The exterminators must have been in recently, as I don't even hear crickets. |
| 15:03 |
Gronk Seriman |
A trivia question. Do you know where most countries keep their armies? |
| 15:03 |
lovejoy2199 |
ohhhhhhh |
| 15:03 |
Carl Metropolitan |
In other countries? |
| 15:03 |
Sandie Harbour |
In their sleevies? |
| 15:03 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
(get ready to groan) |
| 15:03 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Or is that just the US? |
| 15:04 |
Gronk Seriman |
Up their sleevies! |
| 15:04 |
|
Carl Metropolitan plays a rimshot. |
| 15:04 |
Agatha Macbeth |
Army surplus stores? |
| 15:04 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
Awwww—that's VERY funny. |
| 15:04 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
Gronk is simply the best—and so original, too. |
| 15:04 |
|
Sandy Burgess tries to not laugh out loud... manages quite well. |
| 15:05 |
Gronk Seriman |
Sorry. Just breaking into the crickets. |
| 15:05 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Let me ask you a few questions. 1) I have noticed that attendance and questions at the weekly Q&A has been declining. Should I be doing anything differently? Do I need to cut these back? Promote differently? |
| 15:06 |
Agatha Macbeth |
Maybe we ran out of questions? |
| 15:06 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
Have Gronk telling more jokes, maybe? |
| 15:06 |
Carl Metropolitan |
It just seems that with a few exceptions I get a core group of people here every week who can answer the questions as well as I can! |
| 15:06 |
lovejoy2199 |
Actually, I learn from these meetings. I do not ask questions, because I don't know enough to asks. |
| 15:07 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Thank you Lovejoy. So I just need to get more people asking. |
| 15:07 |
lovejoy2199 |
Yes |
| 15:07 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Perhaps have a topic about SL that came up during the week? And I'm like Lovejoy. I don't know what to ask about |
| 15:07 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I've noticed that the monthly Q&A With the Deans seems to have evolved into a Dean's Report on Oxbridge with less questions. |
| 15:07 |
Gronk Seriman |
I just think if you had an interesting SL topic to start the discussion during a drought of questions, it might start things rolling. |
| 15:07 |
Sandie Harbour |
raises hand. |
| 15:07 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Okay. I will work on that idea Ian, Gronk. |
| 15:07 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Sandie? |
| 15:08 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Yeah...What Gronk said :) |
| 15:08 |
Sandie Harbour |
How is the search for more professors going? |
| 15:08 |
Carl Metropolitan |
No clue at all. Next week ask Wordsmith at Q&A With the Deans. I'm completely out of that loop now. |
| 15:08 |
Sandy Burgess |
How do you become a professor? |
| 15:09 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Talk to Wordsmith. It is best to have a class you want to teach, but right now I believe we need volunteers to teach classes that Lindal used to teach, too. |
| 15:09 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Wordsmith is both Chancellor and Dean of Education. |
| 15:10 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
I think there's just generally less energy most places I go recently. Say in the last couple of years. |
| 15:10 |
Carl Metropolitan |
If he is never on when you are on, or if you feel sort of intimidated talking to him, I'm sure we can find someone to work as an intermediate. |
| 15:11 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Hmm. I wonder if there is anything that might have happened in RL over the past few years to make people feel less energy. |
| 15:11 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
I can do that. Word is often around in the evenings, but he usually doesn't hang out at Oxbridge. |
| 15:12 |
Carl Metropolitan |
So talk to Larky for now :) |
| 15:12 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Question answered. |
| 15:12 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
as to joining the staff, I can give people applications for tutor and information on becoming professors. |
| 15:13 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I believe that teaching a class has a different set of requirements than being a tutor. Am I correct, Larky? |
| 15:13 |
Sandie Harbour |
I am not a good tutor. |
| 15:13 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Yes. Any staff member can give you info on becoming a tutor, and an application. I've been sending out search info looking for professors, so I can give you that. |
| 15:14 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
You're a most excellent teacher, Sandie. Not everyone is good at both. |
| 15:14 |
Gronk Seriman |
Being a tutor first is a path to Professorship, but not the only path. If you can demonstrate skills for the class you want to teach, and commit to it, becoming a Professor should be easy. |
| 15:14 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
And I don't know that I've seen you be incompetent at helping in the plaza. |
| 15:15 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I will say that is is a lot harder to become a teacher/tutor than when I first started in SL back in the Prim Ages. |
| 15:15 |
Carl Metropolitan |
We tended to look for a pulse and a raised hand :) |
| 15:15 |
|
Gronk Seriman smiles. |
| 15:16 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
Which institutions are competing with "us" for teachers, and how do we compare with their reputation? |
| 15:16 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
We can also provide some help in developing a class, and technical help in terms of notecard readers, slide projectors, etc. |
| 15:17 |
Carl Metropolitan |
We have a good reputation, but are not as focused around classes as some of the others. |
| 15:17 |
Carl Metropolitan |
We try to do everything. |
| 15:18 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
So does "Builders Brewery"—and "Blender Benders" is dominating the Blender sector. |
| 15:18 |
Carl Metropolitan |
The two best places for classes right now are Blender Benders and Builders Brewery |
| 15:18 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Hello Yuuu |
| 15:18 |
|
Agatha Macbeth waves to Andrea |
| 15:18 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Hello Andrea |
| 15:19 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Hey Yuuu |
| 15:19 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
So how would we attract great teachers, from them? |
| 15:19 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Hi Andrea. |
| 15:19 |
Yuuu (mmmmyuuu) |
hello everyone :) |
| 15:19 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
Hi all. |
| 15:19 |
lovejoy2199 |
Hello Yuuu. |
| 15:19 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
I found it quite helpful just to get pointed to the best Groups for what I wanted to learn about... |
| 15:19 |
lovejoy2199 |
Hello Andrea |
| 15:19 |
Carl Metropolitan |
We are better off trying to get great teachers from the people we know and not poach other places I would think. |
| 15:19 |
Gronk Seriman |
Well, those two places have a specific focus. We try to be a little of everything to a bewildered new person. |
| 15:20 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Yes Gronk… and that "primes the pump" nicely... |
| 15:20 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
We don't go off feeling stupid. |
| 15:21 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
If I was a great teacher (and I'm not, believe me) why would I teach here, rather than at the Brewery? |
| 15:21 |
Sandy Burgess |
I would agree with Carl. Enmity would arise from stealing people... nobody would win. Competition though forces all competitors to do better... all win. |
| 15:22 |
Gronk Seriman |
SB, your skill set. If you know Blender or Building, go there. If you are patient and know SL pretty well, go here. |
| 15:22 |
Carl Metropolitan |
That's a good question. I don't know. One of the reasons we should develop our own classes and teachers. |
| 15:23 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
Yeah... It's content that will make us competitive. |
| 15:23 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Some of it has to do with culture. I very much enjoy helping new folks, and have tested the waters at a few other help areas as well as here. Probably partly because I know and am known here, but this is my first choice. |
| 15:23 |
Sandy Burgess |
And perhaps specialize in things they can't offer. |
| 15:23 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
Sandy got it again—beat them with better content. |
| 15:24 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Also, we have a very limited staff—a few people trying to do way too much. So some of our orientation is becoming out of date, etc. We need to fill those gaps. |
| 15:24 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Those other places focus on a specific skill. They know a lot about one thing How many other places know quite a bit about everything? |
| 15:24 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Or can find out? |
| 15:24 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
And very quickly I might add. |
| 15:25 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Carl, could you speak to the decision a few years ago not to become a LL lab gateway, and how that has affected COU in terms of traffic, etc? |
| 15:25 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
It's the content, stupid! |
| 15:26 |
StormBlaster (masterblaster) |
(advertising claim) |
| 15:26 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Stormblaster, I assume you're joking, but please watch the name calling. |
| 15:26 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I don't know how it affected us. I think that we were in a position where we could not accept LL's offer (not to mention their offer and requirements kept changing and none of the staff trusted them). |
| 15:27 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
I like the independence of Caledon Oxbridge. |
| 15:27 |
Carl Metropolitan |
As for being a Community Gateway, I believe we are one, and have been one even before LL coined the term. The only thing we don't have is a new user API on the web. |
| 15:28 |
Agatha Macbeth |
Agreed. |
| 15:29 |
Carl Metropolitan |
When I say "none of the staff trusted them", I don't mean that we did not trust the individuals working for LL. We did not trust that LL as a company would not change the rules of the deal on us, and the people we were talking with would be laid off, reassigned, etc. |
| 15:29 |
Carl Metropolitan |
We did not even trust that LL would REMEMBER there was an agreement, much less what it was. |
| 15:29 |
Agatha Macbeth |
You were probably right. |
| 15:30 |
lovejoy2199 |
Given LL over the last few years, sounds like a wise choice. |
| 15:30 |
Carl Metropolitan |
When Desmond Shang is next online in ISC chat and in a mood to talk, ask him why Oxbridge has had a bit of a thorny relationship with LL in the past :) |
| 15:31 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
:^) I don't disagree with the decision, but I have wondered if our falling traffic has to do with that. I don't know the answer to that question, obviously. |
| 15:31 |
Gronk Seriman |
When SL started, the Lindens would be quite visible all around the place. Lately, you hardly see them at all. They just have jobs at this funky company in California, and are looking for the next better job. |
| 15:32 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Okay. Another question for the group. What classes would you like to see here that are not currently taught? Assume that the classes that Lindal used to teach are in the process of being brought back. |
| 15:33 |
Sandie Harbour |
Lindal gave me the materials for the Avatar Safety class but I am totally intimidated at trying to teach it. |
| 15:34 |
Sandie Harbour |
But that is a valuable class. |
| 15:34 |
Gronk Seriman |
I still have hope for my Avatar Show & Tell class. Nor really a class per se, but a meeting where we show off our favorite avatars, explain them, help people with problems collectively, and have fun. |
| 15:35 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Both of those are good ideas. |
| 15:35 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Sandie, I think you would be great at Avatar Safety |
| 15:36 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Gronk, that could be a really good class. I know that Vanessa Hammer used to teach an avatar makeover class. She might be a good person to speak to about advice. |
| 15:37 |
Gronk Seriman |
Oh, nice! Good to know. |
| 15:37 |
Sandie Harbour |
The class has lots of props but not really anything written out |
| 15:37 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Wait. I am sure I have a recent transcript. Let me look after class. |
| 15:38 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Yeah.. An avatar skills class at any level would be most welcome. |
| 15:38 |
Sandy Burgess |
How do you get that idea... didn't even know what Avatar Safety is till a moment ago |
| 15:38 |
lovejoy2199 |
Hummmm...Since a lot of people taking classes are 'newbie', it might help to have a shopping at freebie class. And, then helping them to work on their avatar. |
| 15:38 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Yup |
| 15:38 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Lindal Kidd taught a class on Avatar Safety for many years. It was originally based on a class I developed a long time ago. |
| 15:39 |
lovejoy2199 |
Gronk and your show and tell. |
| 15:39 |
Carl Metropolitan |
She also taught as Smart Shopping class. |
| 15:39 |
lovejoy2199 |
Yes. I know I took them. |
| 15:39 |
Agatha Macbeth |
They were very good. |
| 15:40 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Sandie, the FK has notecards based on Lindal's lectures and materials. I believe Word has all her materials. |
| 15:40 |
lovejoy2199 |
Just thinking of expanding them over more then one class. A workshop. |
| 15:40 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Who is the FK? |
| 15:40 |
lovejoy2199 |
Something like Photo class. |
| 15:41 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
I'm hoping to expand my Inventory class to two further classes, on the Appearance tool and then on a workshop for Avatar customization. But I would not mind at all if someone wanted to take on either or both. |
| 15:41 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Faculty Kit—a collection of notecards for staff including handouts, internal info, landmarks, etc. We are hoping to get the 2021 version out in the next month or two. |
| 15:42 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Thank you Larky. |
| 15:43 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Sandie left before you could say what you did, so I will tell her when I contact her with what I have after class. |
| 15:43 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Who is in charge of the Faculty Kit? |
| 15:43 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Ember. |
| 15:44 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Thank you. |
| 15:44 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Who's in charge of the puns? |
| 15:45 |
lovejoy2199 |
Sandie! |
| 15:45 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Okay. Final question to the group? Should I get a mesh head and avatar and an AO? |
| 15:45 |
Sandy Burgess |
I thought that was Gronk. |
| 15:45 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Is it really true that they're not making yardsticks any longer? |
| 15:45 |
Agatha Macbeth |
No. |
| 15:45 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I'd have to replace my wardrobe, but that's just two suits. |
| 15:45 |
Carl Metropolitan |
And Contraption has nice steampunk suits for some of the male mesh avatars. |
| 15:46 |
Sandy Burgess |
The advantage of SL is that you can be who you want... so take advantage of that. |
| 15:46 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
There are free mesh avatars now, although I've heard the male mesh avis are not as nice as the ones for women. |
| 15:46 |
Agatha Macbeth |
You could become Carla :p |
| 15:46 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I've heard that, too. |
| 15:46 |
Carl Metropolitan |
No thank you. |
| 15:46 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
LOL. |
| 15:46 |
Agatha Macbeth |
Awww. |
| 15:46 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
Ember should be in the running for being in charge of puns. I once heard her riff for 45 minutes, pun after pun, all ON THE SAME DAMN WORD! |
| 15:47 |
Sandy Burgess |
Thats just because females are nicer than males? |
| 15:47 |
Gronk Seriman |
Carl, the question is do you like how you look? You look fine. I am still usually classic avatar here, too. |
| 15:47 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Andrea has an announcement. |
| 15:47 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
You just have to get her started.... |
| 15:47 |
lovejoy2199 |
The women anything at LL is better than the male. |
| 15:47 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
The memorial dance for Professor Red will be this coming Saturday. We will have it from 7 to 9. |
| 15:48 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
I should be placing notices this Monday at the latest |
| 15:48 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Thank you Andrea. |
| 15:48 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I think I could use an upgrade. The last time I upgraded my avatar it was because Simone Stern and Brace Coral made me. And that was back when people would have known who those two people were :) |
| 15:48 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
nods. Misses Brace. Any word on her? |
| 15:48 |
Agatha Macbeth |
I miss her too. |
| 15:48 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Do you know if anyone has stepped forward with interest about continuing his [Red's] Avatar Animation and Workshop classes? |
| 15:49 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
Not yet. |
| 15:49 |
Carl Metropolitan |
No. I have no clue. |
| 15:49 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I can't even find her [Brace's] RL blog anymore. |
| 15:49 |
Agatha Macbeth |
:( |
| 15:49 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
I still miss Brace Coral. |
| 15:49 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I assume she has completely left virtual worlds. |
| 15:49 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
nods. |
| 15:50 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Any final questions or comments? |
| 15:51 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
One more comment on the staffing, if I may? |
| 15:51 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Go Larky. |
| 15:51 |
Gronk Seriman |
Well, tonight, we didn't have many questions. But we sure had a discussion. |
| 15:51 |
Carl Metropolitan |
And Wordsmith will get to read it when he puts the transcript up, too :) |
| 15:52 |
Larky (larkylouz) |
If you'd like to help out, but don't want to teach, consider developing content in another format: web pages, tutorials, graphics, etc. And if you are fluent in a language other than English, please ping me. I can use help editing notecards after I run them through a translator. |
| 15:52 |
Carl Metropolitan |
That's a good point, Larky. Thank you. |
| 15:53 |
|
Larky (larkylouz) nods. |
| 15:53 |
Carl Metropolitan |
And thanks to everyone for coming tonight |
| 15:53 |
Ian Suruat (iansuruat) |
Thank you All! |
| 15:53 |
Carl Metropolitan |
See you next week from the audience as it will be the second sunday of the month and time for Q&A With the Deans. |
| 15:53 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
Good night all. |
| 15:53 |
Carl Metropolitan |
I'm off to do the transcript. |
| 15:53 |
Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) |
I hope you like the memorial. |
| 15:53 |
Carl Metropolitan |
Goodnight everyone. |