The virtual and immersive world Second Life provides its "residents" with a visually rich, interactive, social networking environment, and the spaces and tools to explore the possibilities for communications, collaboration, learning and global interaction. This presentation introducces the audience to Second Life communities and educational sites, while providing strategies for building successful virtual communities and meeting the challenges of multilingual, synchronous communications in immersive environments. The author includes a case study on the Isle of Wyrms, a Second Life immersive world with an international, multilingual virtual citizenry. Presented at the Technical Communication Summit, June 2, 2008

4. Profile Communicates Avatar Details

5. Follow the Green Dots Each green dot = one avatar. Follow the dots to find the people.

6. Reuters Island Reuters Island

7. Reuters Hud Reuters News HUD SL News, Real Life Feeds Linden Exchange Rate

8. IBM Recruitment Center IBM Recruitment Center

9. Research Park Trauma Center

10. NMC Orientation

11. NMC Orientation

12. Isle of Wyrms

15. PG SIM No nudity No obscenity No violence No weapons No harassment No begging Citizens Only Build Rules Posted

17. Virtual Communities Live Music Concert

19. Virtuality and Immersion Cathedral: The Immersive Experience Community in Action Dragons assisting Dragons

21. Charity Auction Fundraising for Real Life Charities – Converting Lindens to Real Money

25. Contact Information Nicola Martinez Director of Curriculum and Instructional Design SUNY Empire State College Center for Distance Learning 111 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-2100, ext. 2276 [email_address] Ragitake Takakura in Second Life [email_address]