Joining Second Life

1. Click this link to begin setting up an account on Second Life www.secondlife.com.
2. This is the main screen to the Second Life website. Click the Join Now/Sign up ORANGE button in the upper left-hand side of the screen to begin. The button should look similar to the one shown below and outlined in RED.



3. Click the “Skip This Step” button to move to the next step. Similar to the button outlined in the image below.



4. Begin the registration process by typing a first name. You should use the first portion of your Kaplan University email address. For example if your email is sgilmore@kaplan.edu , this student would use sgilmore for the “First name:” in Second Life. Your screen should be similar to the one shown below.

5. Choose a last name from the drop-down list for the “Last name:" Kaplan University is in the process of purchasing an exclusive "Last Name" for Kaplan users, but for now simply choose on of the available last names. Make sure to write this information down for later use.

6. Fill in the information requested for your birthdate.
7. Enter your valid Kaplan email address. Use your Kaplan University email address.
8. It's time to choose an "AVATAR". Choose one of the available avatars by clicking on radio button beside the avatar. This will be your character in Second Life. Males choose an avatar on the right side and females choose an avatar from the left side. When you are satisfied with your choice, click the "Choose this avatar" button. Your screen should look similar to the one shown below.

9. Once you have chosen your avatar, the next screen will look similar to the one shown below. Fill in all fields required. Use correct information.

10. Once you have completed the form, you will then be asked to choose a type of account. For our purposes, you will choose the "Skip this step" option which is the free account. Your screen should look similar to the one below.

11. The next screen is the "Welcome" screen. The message states that you have successfully created a Second Life account. You have also been sent a confirmation email. Your screen should look similar to the one below.

12. Very Important Step - Email jmcdermott@kaplan.edu with your Second Life "First and Last Name" so that your username can be added to the Kaplan Island access list. Allow 24 hours before accessing the Kaplan island, but in the mean time continue the following steps.

13. In order to complete the sign up process, you must now access your email account and click on the link provided. Your email message should look similar to the one shown below. Click the Activation Link to complete the sign up process.

14. After you have clicked the "Activation" click from your email message, it's time to download the Second Life software. There are two links in this email message. The first one activates your account. The second one provides an easy access method for downloading the Second Life interface. To begin the download, simply click the "Download" link shown in the above image. Your browser window will open the screen for downloading and you should chose your operating system from the available buttons. Your screen should look similar to the one shown below.

15. After downloading the software, make sure you following the steps for installing the software. Remember, this software may take up to an hour to download depending on your computer and Internet connection. Once you have successfully downloaded and installed the software, a new icon will appear on your computer's desktop. Double-click the desktop icon for Second Life. Your screen will look similar to the one shown below.

16. This is the Second Life interface. You will need to enter your new Second Life First name, the Last name that you chose from the available list of last names when you were signing up for an accout, and the password that you chose.
17. Click the “Connect” button to start Second Life.
18. Read the important User's Agreement and then press the "Continue" button.
19. After you click the user agreement, you will be taken to Orientation Island. Feel free to use the lessons in Orientation Island to become familiar with this new 3D environment.

20. Congratulations! You have made it to Orientation Island on Second Life.

21. If you have signed up for one of our Kaplan Island tours do the following final steps
(1) login to Second Life 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour
(2) telephone in using the conference call number given in the invitation email
(3) after completing steps 1 and 2, we will help you arrive on Kaplan's Art and Sciences Island safely