2.+Learning+Experiences

=**__Virtual Worlds Project__**=

The time frame for this pilot project is 6 weeks plus 1 week training period before hand for the students involved. The teachers are already experienced in the use of web 2 tools; blogs, wikis and nings but are unfamiliar with Second Life. They are aware of and in favour of the nature of the project. They have asked to take part in the project after initial canvassing of regional schools be DET project officers.

Training
Children will be trained in their schools by CAP (Country areas program) tutors In Parkes and in Sydney. They will be instructed in the use of blogs nings and wikis and set these up with the guidance of the instructors. They already have email address through DET. Initial learning about the nature of Teen Second Life: how to navigate and communicate as well as how to manipulate and construct objects, will be a focus of the training. An Interactive trainer program will also be available to students
 * Students** There will be an initial one week training period for the children in their own schools before launching into Teen Second Life.

T**eachers** will be jointly in-serviced in Sydney during the weekend before the children begin initial training.This is in addition to training they will undertake in their own schools prior to the joint meeting. Meeting of all teaching personnel along with the tutors/instructors who will be taking the children through the pre-project training. Briefing and discussion on -
 * Goals of the project (educational / social)
 * Technical details including basic training in Teen Second Life
 * Wiki creation set up nings and teachers' blogs.

The initial six weeks learning experiences are to be determined ( Outlined below is a possible sample). Details will be stored in the wiki along with all collected resources.

=__Learning experiences__.= __**Students**__ to work on these tasks during two double periods of Geography per week and during home room each morning**. Synchronus**- Teen Second Life will be used on Tuesday and Thursday to fit with timetable requirements. Ning- This will be used for general discussion. It will be monitored but with no set timetable for use. Students will be asked to join at least one ning discussion with teachers from the other school during the six week period to discuss reactions to other school pupils work and what they think about what they are learning.
 * Asynchronus**- Blog entries will be made each day in the morning. The pupils will post one comment on a blog from the partner school and one from their own school. (This would be on a rostered basis to ensure equity-sociability.)

__**Teachers**__ Teachers from each school will be in regular contact with each other through the wiki, Ning and by phone. Wiki discussion and task development from initial activities will be monitored daily.

__**Concluding activity**__ As a culmination to the online collaboration between the two schools it is planned that the students from the Western Sydney school will travel to Parkes for a three day visit to meet their on-line collaborators. The visit will include spending time at the school and sightseeing in the local area. The students and teachers involved will also reflect upon the online experience and begin planning the second phase of activities. This will include a reciprocal visit by the Parkes students.

A few points about each others school || sequence of events. N –Discuss initial task to be completed. This will be predetermined by teaching staff and documented in the wiki || Discussion In class of first experience with ‘new friends’. Review of tasks proposed. || Ning discussion/phone. Update wiki. Review, assessment tasks-how are the students interacting? || Eg: trying navigation skills. Games Give instructions to a hidden object. Email directions? Describe a place in the designated space- other avatars move to it. || B-Record sequence of events. N –Discuss initial task to be completed. This will be predetermined by teaching staff and documented in the wiki || Discussion In class of first experience with ‘new friends’. Review of tasks proposed. || Ning discussion/phone. Update wiki. Review, assessment tasks-how are the students interacting? || Tutoring as needed || Review ,assessment tasks-how are the students interacting? || Update wiki. Review, assessment tasks-how are the students interacting? || Update wiki. Review, assessment tasks-how are the students interacting? || Update wiki. Review, assessment tasks-how are the students interacting? ||
 * Week || Activity in Teen 2nd Life || Ning/Blog || Offline Activity || Teacher Activity. ||
 * 1 || Meet in designated virtual world space. Introductions and some background for each.
 * 2 || Engage in project
 * 3 || 2nd life discussion about a current issue of interest in the news || Reflection on discussion. || Discussion of social interaction Review of skills needed.
 * 4 || Make a painting of local area landscape/landforms and upload to an artspace in 2ndL. Other students view and comment . || Comment on art work on display. Describe what own artwork is representing. || Discussion of reactions to artwork. || Ning discussion/phone.
 * 5 || Collect ambient sounds related to the landscapes/landforms. Upload sound files for other students to listen to and describe what thy are hearing. || Pupils discuss the process of collecting the sounds and describe the places from which they were collected. || Discussion of terms related to landscape. || Ning discussion/phone.
 * 6 || Build landscape/landform in 2nd L incorporating elements from art/sound exercise.Describe features to other students while moving around the landscape/landform.Western Sydney-riverine environment. Parkes farmland. || Students commenting on what they've learned about the landforms/environments described. || Development of further questions to ask about the environments described. || Ning discussion/phone.