MERIT would like to salute several amazing student staff members who were recently honored with a WOW! (What Outstanding Work!) Awards. This award recognizes staff members who have gone above and beyond our already high expectations for service. Award winners include: Emily Bouwkamp (library), Nicole Mennen (library), Michelle Russo (library and media design), Peggy Cruse (library), Ben Saffran (IT), Megan Marvel (library), and Zena Hirsch (media design). A huge thank you to all of them for helping MERIT provide excellent service to our users!!

Catherine Stephens recently was a panelist at the ComETS Emerging Trends discussion in February. Catherine addressed teaching and learning on the UW-Madison Island in Second Life. For more information and copies of materials, visit http://cometset.pbwiki.com/

Brenda Spychalla and Anna Lewis presented with representatives from Carroll University at the Midwest Regional EDUCAUSE Conference in Chicago in March. The presentation entitled, "The Urge to Merge: Rethinking Library and IT Services" focuses on the recent merger of the CIMC, IMDC and SoE IT and the creation of MERIT. To view the presentation, visit https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/aklewis/web/UrgeToMerge.

We are pleased to announce a pilot initiative designed to support current and new UW-Madison instructors using Second Life. With support from the CIO office, UW-Madison has purchased a NMC (New Media Consortium) island in Second Life - a place we can call home. Visitors to the virtual island will find the Memorial Union, Union Terrace, Library Mall, and Bascom Hall.

Second Life allows educators a 3-D web environment for teaching in a virtual world space. Class scenarios include role-playing, art reviews and exhibitions, and learning community spaces. For more information, see the current Educause Review "Back to Virtual School".

The Pilot Support group has scheduled Orientation sessions to help bring participants in world, tour the UW-Wisconsin island space, and other Second Life spaces for teaching and learning. Session participants will be invited to share course objectives for using Second Life and share examples of in world class activities.

Please feel to contact the pilot support group at virtualworlds@lists.wisc.edu with questions. Members of the support group are also available for faculty consulting around using Second Life for teaching and learning.


UW-Madison island in Second Life.