IMVU

My friend Genevieve, who's also doing an Instructional Tech grad program, introduced me to IMVU (3-D online immersive chat.) I explored it with the intention of figuring out its capabilities for the academic environment. I believe it has great potential as a tool, particularly as a replacement for traditional chat where used in online/distance learning. The customization capabilities and dynamic and immersive nature, as well as the ease-of-use and full-screen capabilities, make this a medium which seems much more likely to keep the attention of online learners, and keep them more engaged in synchronous discussions, than traditional chat in online portals.