Virtual Pioneers

Spiff Whitfiled (SL), from the WNYRIC organization located on Lighthouse Learning Island, did a presentation for the DEN group last evening. The reviews are raving!

Metanomics Show

A few weeks ago, Metanomics did a show on the K-12 presence in Second Life. You can read about it, listen to it, or watch it here.


The speakers and guests were Jennifer Ragen-Fore from ISTE, Peg Sheehy from Ramapo Central (Maggie Marat SL), yours truly (Kathy Dryburgh SL), and John Lester (Pathfinder Linden SL) from Linden Labs.

Enjoy!

Welcome to WNYRIC CSLO Model Schools!

The newest addition to Lighthouse Learning Island is the Western New York Regional Information Center CSLO Model Schools building. A group of educators, headed by Andrew Wheelock (RL)/Spiff Whitfield (SL), is working on a project called Virtual Pioneers.

Virtual Pioneers is "a site is dedicated to teachers exploring the potential of using MUVEs for teaching and learning about social studies." They use Ning for their collaboration, so, if this interests you, take a look at their page, and come visit them on Lighthouse Learning Island!

Kathy

New tenants and DEN Gala

Things have been busy for my avatar in the past week. I presented and took teachers from the Westport (CT) Public Schools on a tour of my favorite spots in Second Life while they were attending a summer institute. Soon thereafter, they joined Lighthouse Learning Island, and their new building is all set and ready to go!

There may be another group joining this week, too, but more to follow if when that becomes a reality.

Tonight I attended the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Gala in Second Life. Everyone was dressed to the nines, and there was dancing, arcade games, and much more. A purely social event, which was perfect right before many of us go back to school! Here is a shot of Pia Klaar (a teacher from my district) and myself as we enjoyed the party!

AEL submissions for Adobe SL Island

This form includes support material for the AEL08 Second Life session.

Two published articles about Second Life

I recently had two articles published, on Hotchalk.com, about Second Life and professional development and one dealing with our Lighthouse Learning Island initiative. Take a look if you get a chance!

Skoolaborate...here we come!

We have decided to become partner members of the Skoolaborate Project on the Teen Grid! There are some details to work out, but, after listening to the PacRimX Team last evening at ISTE, I realize that a private island, with the chance to work with international schools (when the time zones allow!), takes away some of the concerns of hosting our own place on the Teen Grid.

The Skoolaborate Project is well-established and, since we will be bringing in mostly middle school students, the added bonus of having them limited to the island and the non-ability of "strangers" to just drop in, will be a comfortable way to start this process.

We are going to have to think of some creative ways to get items over to the Teen Grid since we will not be moving avatars over, but we can deal with that. I can forsee our group coming up very interesting ways to get our tools onto the Teen Grid (as well as quickly learning how to design good hair!)

Thanks to Westley and the other partners for letting us take part in the project!