Readings Week 8, Webcast and Jonassen

"What are kids learning in a Virtual World?" A virtual what?
I've heard of the virtual world, including references to Sim City and Second Life, but I thought it was for people who used it as an alternative to their real life. The webcast opened my eyes to how extensive students are using the virtual world for their entertainment. I was particularly intrigued by the importance of an "avatar." Apparently your entire identity can be encapsulated in a 2D picture. (Okay, it is more than just a picture, you can personalize it and turn it in to a visual depiction of your personality.) They also spent a great deal of time talking about the ethics of the virtual world. It was a consideration of questions that I hadn't even considered. From the basic question of "will you act like yourself on line or like someone else?" to "can you use media to accurately depict the lost boys of Sudan?" The panelists answered yes to both questions.
What was the difference between the podcast and the webcast? One, I really enjoyed the webcast because unlike the podcast, I could hear the participants and see their facial expressions. Two, I thought the webcast considered a whole new realm of technology that I hadn't considered. Jonassen asked if we really can learn from merely watching something, and I know I can say at least for myself, yes. Maybe it is because I see it as multitasking. I am watching for body language clues, listening to the conversation, and writing notes about what interested me.