3.+Learning+Experiences

=**Virtual Worlds Project**=

The time frame for this pilot project is 8 weeks which includes a one week training period beforehand for the students, a two week orientation/training period for the teachers involved and six weeks actual project time.One week at either end of the project will leave the beginning and ending of the school term free for additional administrative and technical details to be sorted out and in recognition that both of these weeks are generally very busy in the schools. A joint school 'get together' will take place at the conclusion of the project. This will be an informal social event for the students and teachers involved. More structured meetings will also take place to establish the future direction of the project with a view to a state wide/ national implementation. The teachers involved are already experienced in the use of web2.0 tools; blogs, wikis and nings, but are unfamiliar with Second Life and Teen 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 by DET project officers.

Training
**Students** There will be an initial one week training period for the children in their own schools before launching into Teen Second Life. 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.The students will set these web2.0 tools up under the guidance of the instructors. They already have email addresses supplied through the DET as part of its computers in schools program. Initial learning about the nature of Teen Second Life, for example how to navigate and communicate as well as how to manipulate and construct objects, will be a main focus of the training. An Interactive trainer program will also be available to students within the period of the project.



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. The in-school training will be provided by CAP and Western Sydney region I.T. support officers. During this weekend in-service, there will be a meeting of all teaching personnel along with the tutors/instructors who will be guiding the students through the pre-project training. Items for discussion will include:
 * Goals of the project (educational / social)
 * Technical details including basic training in Teen Second Life
 * Wiki creation setting up nings and teachers' blogs.

The initial six weeks learning experiences are to be determined at the weekend inservice ( Outlined below is a possible sample). Details will be stored in the wiki along with all collected resources. = = = Learning experiences. = Based on learning outcomes from Stage 5 Geography Syllabus Unit- **__Investigating Australia's Physical Environments__.** __**Outcomes **__ A student: 5.1 identifies, gathers and evaluates geographical information 5.2 analyses, organises and synthesises geographical information 5.3 selects and uses appropriate written, oral and graphic forms to communicate geographical information 5.4 selects and applies appropriate geographical tools 5.5 demonstrates a sense of place about Australian environments 5.6 explains the geographical processes that form and transform Australian environments

__**Students**__ are 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 in each school. Weekly classes will also be held on-line through a[|Connected Classrooms] (AV) link to discuss progress and problems and make modifications to proposed activities.

**Asynchronus**- Blog entries will be made each day in the morning. Each week, the pupils will post at least one comment on a blog from the partner school and one from their own school as well as posting about their own learning (This would be on a rostered basis to ensure equity-sociability.) The Ning 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 a teacher(s) from the other school during the six week period to discuss reactions to other school pupils work and what they think about their own learning.



__**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.