A Return to Virtual Native Lands

Please join us as we return to Nany Kayo's groundbreaking Virtual Native Lands Sim. 

Date:  May 23rd

Time:  5pm SL time, 8pm Eastern

Fighting to Keep Up!

Hi everyone!

It has been awhile since I have updated this blog. So I thought it was high time to do that. The Virtual Pioneers group has been expanding by leaps and bounds, and it is really exciting to see. There was a time where I had to hunt and beg people to come and present for us. No longer. The contacts that we are making have provided great guest speakers that are dying to come and chat with us.

I can't tell you how gratifying this is. Also, members have really begun stepping up and chipping in by, creating, presenting, and recruiting new members. It certainly has made my life easy and so much fun!

NECC 2009- Washington DC

Union Station-Washington DC

Well, NECC 09 is over and I thought I would just give a quick blurb about it as it relates to the Virtual Pioneers. For those not familiar NECC is the one of the biggest technology in education conferences. (Is it the biggest?) Well, anyway, I was able to attend because I submitted a proposal to discuss our efforts with the Virtual Pioneers. My proposal was accepted as a poster presentation which, for the first time presenting was perfect. Poster sessions, are made up of a variety of presenters inhabiting a large hall and discussing their ideas, lessons, projects, etc. It is more informal so that attendees can walk around freely and stop and chat, grab some materials, or listen to you give a presentation. You were provided with a table, presentation screen and a poster display.

I really had my hands full with this as many people stopped up and were very curious about our endevours. I brought with me 150 newsletters, and they were all gone by the end of the 2 hour presentation slot. Carrilin Heliosense, helped me in out by being the "Meet the Director" person. We had a laptop set up just so she could demonstrate Second Life and how history Museums can effectively use SL for educational purposes. Special thanks to Carri for taking the time out of her day and helping a geek in need!

My presentation in general, highlighted the genesis of the Virtual Pioneers and then talked about our goals and especially the great things our members have done. Such as:

• Serena's Building class
• Rhino, Shay, and Reg's Role play
• Our costume frolic
• Guest speakers: Fannie Starr and Kimmer
• Landmark tours and tourguides: The list is so long!

Overall, I think people were tremendously interested and impressed. I would really like to thank all of the Virtual Pioneer members for making this a successful presentation. It is your efforts and creativity that made me look good, and I am so appreciative. I am hoping to push the envelope a little further next year and try for a more formal presentation.

Lastly, I want to tell you about meeting some SL Virtual Pioneers in RL. Wow! As I expected, the people I met were as lively, fun, and engaging, as I assumed you would be. The VSTE gang of Thunder, Mandie, Al, and Jazmemo, were so kind, and boy did they give a great presentation about using SL for professional development. Peggy Sheehy of course was amazing and gave such an inspiring presentation about using the Teen grid and overall, just using technology effectively to benefit our children. DrM Magic, Massimino Ragu, Julie Sugarplum, and Jupiter Martian, were my after hours buddies. They invited me out to a few late night dinners and um... beverages, out on the DC town. I found myself incredibly boring, quiet, and was content to just sit and listen to the great conversation going on around me. Too bad Massimino can't bring his magic show into SL! Then again maybe he can. I toast all of you.

Well that should about do it. It was a memorable conference, and oh so tiring.

Whitield...... out.

Kimmer Jameson-PBS Ei8ht

Well, we had another first rate presentation on Lighthouse Learning Island. Kimmer Jameson came to the island to talk about the work she did for the PBS Documentary, We Shall Remain. If you haven't seen the episodes yet, its certainly not too late. You can go to : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/ and view each episode online. What a great resource! This series documents the history and struggles of the Native American Indians. Kimmer and the staff at PBS Ei8ht created some fantastic resources that are free to teachers of all grade levels.



Using the program, Simplybox, Kimmer showed us how you can post streaming video, then have a comment segment right next to it. http://simplybox.com/public/?id=51939
This would be a great resource for teachers to keep students attention on mulitmedia by allowing them to comment, and take notes on the same web page. Kimmer also introduced us to the PBS teachers Connect pages that allow teachers to hand pick their own content, as well as collaborate and share. Awesome resource!

Overall, Kimmer's presentation was fantastic. She was able to create a nice balance of information, multimedia, and lecture in a unique and educationally stimulating way. Thanks Kimmer!!

Also, before I forget, we had another first rate, Historical Building 101 Class with Serena Offcourse. Serena is perfectly suited for these classes. She offers just the right amount of content with an above equal measure of patience, which allows all comers to learn and create in a fun and relaxing way. Serena you are a pro!!

A Night at Olana

What a wonderful extravagant evening!. It began with Serena Offcourse's awesome building 101 session, made all the more interesting with the participants in their Olana costume finery. Serena guided our members into the world of chair making with poses! Genuinely, fun but took some patience to get your pose ball in just the right spot to make a comfy chair.

Then it was off to Olana, where we were greeted by Carrillin Heliosense, RL/ SL Education Director of Olana State Historic Site. Carrilin gave us a wonderful presentation about Olana's founding, and even more fascinating, its founder, Frederick Church's powerful paintings. Safe to say that everyone was captivated by Carri's smooth delivery, adept command of the subject, and slide show displaying Church's phenomenal works.

Aftward, everyone was able to relax, have a Second Life beverage, and tour the magnificent recreation with Carrie as a kind host.

Finally, we got the results of the costume contest in which there was a tie between Julie Sugarplum and Oronoque Westland. Congratulations! Great costumes and great fun had by all.

Thank you Carri and everyone for participating!

Fannie Starr Presentation

Fanny Starr Holocaust Survivor Lecture IV from GeoMeek on Vimeo.

Wow, what a powerful experience! It was truly an honor to have Fannie come and answer questions from our group.

Fannie's early life was filled with the human horror of the Holocaust, yet through it all, she has endured, and was able to share her story with us in Second Life. Despite the miles and this unique medium, we could see Fannie's kindness and commitment shine through.

Rather than blather on about it, please watch the video that was created by GeoMeek.

Let me just add some special thanks

Thanks first and foremost to Fannie for sharing her story with us

Thanks to:

Explorer Dastardly, (Helen) Fannie's Daughter, for helping and doing all the difficult set up work

Orchid Jameson: The narrator with such a smooth, calm delivery.

Kathy Dryburgh: For everything she does, but in particular for helping us create a comfortable outdoor auditorium at Lighthouse Learning Island.

And all the Virtual Pioneers members that came and helped people find the auditorium get situated with mics and even to take notes! ( You know who you are!!)

And of course, for GeoMeek, our videographer, who I think has the answer to pretty much EVERYTHING!!
What a resource.

VSTE/ Jamestown Settlement Tour

Wow, what a nicely organized tour by our friends at VSTE.

We had a very nice overview of VSTE's new island with Alfredo Bedrosian, Jazmemo Zimminy, Thunder Insippo, and Mandie Mimulus.

We began with a presentation by the gang. Each telling us a bit about the island's origins and what the future will hold. What a bright future indeed!!

This group has gone from a virtual space to a full blown teacher hot-spot and history island.

After the overview of VSTE we were given some free-roaming time with our hosts available at each location around the island. Most of us being history buffs (myself included) gravitated to Virginias seminal landmark recreation- The Jamestown Settlement.

I began my exploration by looking at the recreations of the 3 ships that brought the early settlers, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery. Here there were various interesting views instructional icons to learn, and places nooks and crannnies to explore. I think toured the recreation of the Jamestown fort that was built to protect these early settlers. Much to see here, including a firing cannon and an interesting recreation of a early church.



Just beyond the fort recreation was a replica Powhatan Village. Here there was a longhouse, a place for an animated dance, and informational tidbits to help understand this fascinating Native Nation and their traditional history.

Lastly, I toured some of the islands teacher center. There is a teacher resource center that hopes to have tons of resources for teachers to expand and collaborate their teaching repertoire.

Wonderful time had by all and a big thanks to our hosts. Please visit VSTE island to see for yourself.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/VSTE%20Island/125/139/24