GKCx/Level 1/Getting Around: Taking A Closer Look
From SimTeach
| GKCx Second Life Curriculum Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Level 9 |
LEVEL 1 MODULE: GETTING AROUND: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK - OVERVIEW
Although you can walk up to an object to see it, there are much more efficient ways to see things in Second Life. Being able to stay in one spot and quickly view something from different angles is very important when building and creating, for example. In this module, you will learn easy ways to see something from multiple viewpoints - without moving your avatar.
| Learning Standards Addressed | |
|---|---|
| McRel Learning Standards | |
| Language Arts | Writing: Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing; Uses a variety of techniques to convey a personal style and voice (e.g., stream of consciousness, multiple viewpoints) |
| Technology | Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems; Uses a variety of input devices (e.g., keyboard, scanner, voice/sound recorders, mouse, touch screen) |
| Working with Others | Displays effective interpersonal communication skills; Knows strategies to effectively communicate in a variety of settings (e.g., selects appropriate strategy for audience and situation) |
| 21st Century Student Outcomes | |
| Information, Media and Technology Skills | ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy |
POWER-UP:
(What you will learn) By the end of this module, you will have the following power(s):
- Using the computer keyboard to focus, zoom and pan
- Using the camera control feature to focus, zoom and pan
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE:
(What you need to know to learn this power) Before learning this power, you need to have completed the following levels/modules:
- None needed
MATERIALS:
Item Location Camera Control View > Camera Controls
ACTION PLAN
Before you begin any missions, let's see if you've already developed any of these powers. If you can complete the following activity successfully, you can skip this module! If not, complete the missions and learn how to do it.
TAKE ACTION:
Find an object that interests you and inspect it closely from all angles without moving your avatar. Also pan around the environment and around yourself.
SHOWING OFF YOUR NEW POWER:
See how quickly you can play hide and seek with another friend using only camera controls to search for the other person. Blog about your experience. Tell about what object you inspected and how it felt to pan around the environment and yourself?
Contents |
Basic Camera Controls
LEVEL 1 MODULE: GETTING AROUND: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK - MISSION 1
Have interesting things around you begun to catch your eye - an erupting volcano, a huge ship, a
futuristic car with wings? Do you think of moving your avatar closer to get a better look just like you
would in real-life? That certainly is one way. It's time you begin to discover your camera-like vision
in Second Life.
See the Torley video Looking Round with Camera Controls.
Instruction
Focus, Zoom and Pan are three ways to look at things around you in Second Life. By the end of this mission you will be able to get a closer look at things without actually moving your avatar. Not only that, you can also observe them from different angles without moving an inch.
Practice
TRY THIS:
Step 1: Focusing
Hold down the Alt key to activate Focus Mode.
Did you see your cursor change to a magnifying glass while Alt was held down?
While continuing to hold down the key, click on anything - an object, the landscape or a person.
Notice how the view centers after you click? Even when the object or person moves, your camera
will stay with it until it is out of range.
Step 2: Zooming
While holding down the Alt key, press the UpArrowkey on your keyboard to zoom in and
DownArrowkey to zoom out.
Step 3: Horizontal panning
As you continue to hold down the Alt key, press the RightArrowkey or LeftArrowkey to pan right
or left. This is a great way to go around your subject.
You can also pan using your mouse. While holding down the Alt key, drag your mouse around. Did
you see that you can zoom by moving the mouse forward or back and you can pan by moving your
mouse left or right?
Action Plan
SHOWING OFF YOUR NEW POWER:
Want some extra practice? Try this:
Try focusing on objects or avatars around you. Select a moving object or person and watch your "camera" follow along. Zoom and Pan for a closer look. Make sure you get enough practice doing this because there is more to come.
Advanced Camera Controls
LEVEL 1 MODULE: GETTING AROUND: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK - MISSION 2
You have already learned how to get close to an object and go around it. But did you know you can look at the object from above and below as well?
Instruction
By the end of this mission you will be able to Pan in all directions and angles.
Practice
TRY THIS:
Step 1: Vertical panning
Hold down the Alt and Ctrl keys together then click on something. Now press the UpArrowkey or DownArrowkey to pan up or down. You can also press the E or C keys to pan up or down. This time the distance from your avatar remains constant but you can pan in all directions using the arrow keys. Try this now: Using your mouse, make sure you hold down the Alt and Ctrl keys together, then click on something and drag your mouse around.
Step 2: Pan landscape
Hold down the Alt, Ctrl and Shift keys all together and drag your mouse.
Did you notice that as you move the mouse, the camera slides across the landscape
as if you are dragging the ground around?
Step 3: 360 degrees around yourself
To get a quick look around your avatar try this:
With the Alt key pressed down, click on your avatar. While continuing to hold the Alt key down use the arrow keys to spin around your avatar. This is a great way to see what your avatar looks like from the front.
Step 4: Camera Controls
There is one more way to access your camera controls in
Second Life.
Under View menu select the option Camera Controls.
View > Camera Controls
- You will see two circles and a bar in between appear at the bottom of your screen.
- The left circle rotates the camera.
- The middle bar zooms in and out.
- The right circle moves the camera left, right, up and down.
TRY IT NOW:
Hold down Alt key and click to focus on something. Then try all the camera controls again.
Action Plan
TAKE ACTION:
Find an object that interests you and inspect it closely from all angles. Also pan around the environment and around yourself.
SHOWING OFF YOUR NEW POWER:
See how quickly you can play hide and seek with another friend using only camera controls to search for the other person. Blog about your experience. Describe the object you inspected and how it felt to pan around the environment and yourself?
