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Webheads Tour: Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi
The Webheads meetings continued this last Monday, when we visited another real life location in Second Life – this time the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi. The Second Life model can be found on the San Francesco Assisi island and more information on its own website: SecundaVita.com. It is an amazing place that has extraordinary detail both inside and out.
However, there are two qualities that stand out and could be useful for language or other learning. The site is staffed by avatar-monks, who will answer questions and help you with the HUD. And the HUD is the other interesting aspect: there is an audio tour (that can be worn), not so dissimilar to the ones most large museums offer now. It is offered in 3 languages: Italian, English and Spanish. There are also pictures of the real life basilica that accompany the tour through the Second Life site.
Second Life Assisi would make an excellent location for a SurReal Quest. Although it would be a different experience than using the European cities that Webheads has toured before, it would be possible to have discussions with the avatar-monks and talk (perhaps interview) the fellow visitors. The HUD audio tour also could be integrated into a language class, as it provides another source of information. It is interesting that this depth of information is now available in Second Life, bringing it to a level not so dissimilar to what is available on the web.
We found a secluded place in the friary’s courtyard and chatted about the possibilities for this place. Two main ideas came out: acting (suggested by Dennis) and touring through games (suggested by Seth). The location (like others in Second Life, such as ancient Roman island) would serve as an interesting backdrop for historic plays to be acted out. Students could script the short pieces themselves and then perform. In real life Italy there is a group offering tours of historic monuments where participants are actively involved in games to explore the history of a place. Perhaps this is a real life version of virtual gaming concept. In which case, Second Life offers the possibility to bring it back into a virtual environment again.
