Virtual Pioneers History Conference

I was fortunate to be one of the presenters at this cutting edge conference. I was able to present student work to other educators interested in integrating virtual worlds with the study of Social Studies. Here are a few highlights from the two day event which took place in Second Life and the Reaction Grid.

My Computer History

My Computer History on Prezi

Remembering the Holocaust

Students at Lowell School worked on Social Studies projects during the first trimester this year. Most of them were not completed but there was enough of the Main Gate at Auschwitz to bring over to the Reaction Grid. Please feel free to leave small candles or flowers as a memorial if you bring students. There are candles and flowers at the Lowell Depot. There is an information card in the step up to the railway car which has main directories to Holocaust websites. There is a slide show inside the car. Set your environment to sunset for a more emotional view.

Lincoln Memorial on the RG

I decided to bring one of my student projects over to the Reaction Grid. This was not the easiest thing since it was done by two students from the Advanced Computer Elective at Lowell School.

Teachers Meeting on the RG

Most of the teachers at this meeting are working at the college level but the interest in the Reaction Grid is essentially the same for all educators; just what can I do with students in a virtual world? The answers are as varied as the content areas being taught and we are seeing more innovative thinkers coming onto this grid from Second Life. It's not that people are abandoning SL, but prices for land on the RG and the level of support from the admins are a huge draw in these difficult times with all the deep budget cuts.