[curr] The Teens Are In Second Life!
Yesterday we finally jumped all of the tech hurdles and got the McKinley students right into both Second Life and TIGed right away. The students gathered in our clubhouse so we can start from the beginning.
The process worked surprisingly well, considering it was our third meeting together. The students agreed to the Global Kids guidelines, which immediately improved the language they used with one another, we played a game, and then they began using the curriculum. It was exciting getting the program off the ground, in the sense that now it can be self-guided and we adults can play the role of facilitators in the use of the curriculum.
We established communication through a group - so they can move around but still be in contact through the group IM window - and started in the clubhouse and ended with the intention of watching the volcano erupt.
Oh, one last thing. The majority of these students are part of the U.S. Holocaust Museum's Ambassador program, in which they learn how to become guides for the exhibits. Before we watched the volcano I realized we were standing next to our virtual version, that shows photos on the side from Darfur. I asked the students if they knew what the building was. "Holocaust Museum," they said.
I thought that was cool. How many people can indentify the U.S. Holocaust Museum, let alone a 3D facsimile?
