Meet the resident

Prash Mavendorf is the latest victim, I mean subject, of the LOL! interrogation.

Avatar name: Prash Mavendorf

Rezzday: 9th June 2008

Are you a student, tutor or both? Just a mere student.

How long have you been with the OU? Since Feb 2001.

Which degree are you aiming for? I completed my Undergraduate degree with Honours with the Open University in 2005, took a few years off (by doing some odd courses here and there) and am now working towards my Masters.

Favourite course so far: Hard to say really as I have so many. MT262 and M361 stand out the most because the course Chair was fantastic.

What brought you to Second Life? I can't remember the exact reason. I think I was introduced to Second Life by someone in OUSA. I love the idea of being able to interact with people in real time in a relaxed environment. I explored Second Life and got myself a bit lost and ended up in a few Country & Western / Rock Clubs to start off with.

Favourite part of the Open Life islands: The Circle outside the nOUbie Centre. It's a great place to meet people on an nightly basis. Great place to meet new students and visitors wanting to find out what we do as students and a University.

Best memory from your time on Open Life: Meeting the regulars and having a laugh (sometimes at my expense!). Making new friends (Squiddlenuts and PDunstan in particular) and meeting new people.

Favourite SL place away from Open Life: It use to be Oasis Outlaws and Utopia / Ravens Court. It use to be a great club when it was active, but now I hang around the nOUbie Centre on most evenings. I have a place in the Jaeger Region (run by Linden Labs). It's my home away from the OU! If you are able to find The Dog House, feel free to have a look at it from the outside and zoom into the building.

One piece of advice for newbies: There's quite of few I can think of. Learn how to use the Basics of Second Life, fly around, navigate, etc. Don't be scared to ask questions, we were all new once and we are always learning new things. No question is too stupid to ask. Treat people on Second Life as you would expect people to treat you in Real Life. If you show no respect, people won't respect you. Make plenty of friends on Second Life. You never know when you will rely on them later on.

Meet the resident

Each issue we will grab a resident and subject them to the LOL! interrogation.

Step forward our fourth victim, I mean resident......

Avatar name: Jonno Stromfield

Rezzday: 3rd March 2009

Are you a student, tutor or both? Student, but I've applied to be a tutor for S207 this October and I'm told it depends on student numbers. Keeping fingers crossed.

How long have you been with the OU? Since 1989.

Which degree are you aiming for? I have an Open degree and one in Physical Science. Technically I'm about half way through a Maths degree too, but only because I took extra courses in Physics that can be used that way.

Favourite course so far: S357 - Space, Time and Cosmology. The SXR208 astronomy residential school in Mallorca runs it a close second. Shame its going.

What brought you to Second Life? First to see what the OU was doing, but I didn't spend long here. I then came back in June when I found I needed Second Life for work. I work in IT and the current project for Imperial College involves simulating virtual patients in Second Life for doctors to diagnose. The project team is situated in various parts of London so we also hold our planning meetings and message each other in SL.

Favourite part of the Open Life islands: I like the undersea cave, and I love the sunsets from the west shore of the village, but during the day, Jonno can often be found lazing in the recliner at home in OLiVe Green, listening to Megarock Radio, just in case there are urgent instant messages from any of the other team members, while in RL I program away on a separate laptop. Ten years ago they said we would be sitting comfortably at home while our avatars worked in a virtual office. I commute to a real office while my avatar lounges at home. I sometimes wonder who is working whom.

Best memory from your time on Open Life: There have been quite a few; from quiet chats sitting in the allotments to charging round the SIM on the August gem hunt. One that sticks out was when first I jumped off the side of the giant sandbox and parachuted down to the village two SIMs away. That was the day I saw the sign that said that we could apply for a house here.

Favourite SL place away from Open Life: I spend a lot of time in front of the computer at work, so I don't spend as much time relaxing in Second Life as I might; I've hardly scratched the surface of the tens of thousands of SIMs available. I have played a few of the Mad Pea games which are nice to wind down on sometimes. (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Orange%20Island%202/228/176/27 - but they are moving soon, so you might need to search )

One piece of advice for newbies: Learn how to switch the music on.

Meet the resident

Each issue we will grab a resident and subject them to the LOL! interrogation.

Step forward our third victim, I mean resident......

Avatar name: Aseret Quintessa

Rezzday: 3rd June 2008

Are you a student, tutor or both? Student

How long have you been with the OU? I started studying with OU in 2007

Which degree are you aiming for? I am working towards an English Literature Honours Degree
Favourite course so far: A103 An Introduction to Humanities

What brought you to Second Life? Curiosity! My youngest son has been in world for a year longer than me. He had asked me to try it but I wasn't keen. Then the mail came around from OU. I ventured in world on 3rd June 08 and according to my family I live here. I blame OU!
Favourite part of the Open Life islands: Under the sea, I love the submarine and all the interesting stuff down there.

Best memory from your time on Open Life: Meeting a lot of people I really like and DeeDee Bookmite in particular; we never stop laughing inworld and she is the best friend anyone could have.

Favourite SL place away from Open Life: I have two - Avilion - being a romantic at heart it really appeals to that side of me. Gianfar (Dragons of Pern sim) - where I spend the majority of my time. There is nowhere else like it in SL.

One piece of advice for newbies: Don't fall in love! Easily done, total disaster, don't go there ;-)

Open Life Ocean: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Open%20Life%20Ocean/107/171/22

Avilion: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Avilion/128/128/2

Gianfar: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gianfar/128/128/2

Meet the resident

Each issue we will grab a resident and subject them to the LOL! interrogation.

Meet the resident

Each issue we will grab a resident and subject them to the LOL! interrogation.

Step forward our first victim resident...

Avatar name: Lilac Lupindo

Rezzday: 8th June 2008

Are you a student, tutor or both? A student

How long have you been with the OU? 4 years

Which degree are you aiming for? An open one so I can do subjects that I like. :-)

Favourite course so far: A103 – An Introduction to the Humanities. It introduced me to so many different subjects that I would never have previously considered.

What brought you to Second Life? Curiosity and reading about it on the OU website.

Favourite part of the Open Life islands: My new home. Well the whole of the new village really. We waited for such a long time to get it so this has been an exciting time. :-)

Best memory from your time on Open Life: It would be the get-togethers (whether parties or just hanging out) with my OU/SL friends. I don't have a single best memory though.

Favourite SL place away from Open Life: Bubbly nightclub

One piece of advice for newbies: Don't be scared to experiment, and don't be nervous of asking for help. We were all in your boat once.