User Scenario #1: Jeff
This past summer eleven year old Jeff moved with his parents from Portland, Oregon to New York City. He is normally quiet and quite shy which has made starting the 6th grade in a new environment a little hard on him. He has not made many friends since the move and after finishing his homework spends most of his nights playing World of Warcraft and talking to his friends back in Portland on MySpace.
About a month into the school year the students are given access to the school’s new social web site “Being Me.” On “Being Me” Jeff is able to create an avatar, design a personal space and portfolio, and explore a 3D simulation of his school and its neighborhood.
Jeff starts fiddling around with some of the applications available on the site and soon is designing and building custom items for his virtual space. He notices that students are allowed to upload items they created to the virtual school store and decides to post a few of the things he made for others to use. Within a few days, news of Jeff’s talent spreads. Lots of students stop by his personal space to praise him for what he made. Two other students–Mark and Tom–ask Jeff if they could come over one day and have Jeff help them design custom items for their spaces.
During their visit Mark, Tom and Jeff learn that they have a lot in common. They start eating lunch and playing together during recess. Jeff’s confidence builds. He initiates IM conversations with other classmates in Being Me’s virtual space. These virtual interactions allow Jeff to emerge from his shell gradually, breaking the wall between himself and his new schoolmates at his own pace.
