Further to my problems outlined in a previous post, I've been trying the suggestion from Iain. He suggested using box.net to store the file. Once uploaded, the files can be sent straight to your blog, with a comment, meaning there is no need to add a new post to your blog first.
This worked perfectly for me, and was very quick and easy, but unfortunately it ended up on the wrong blog! If you want to use this method, make sure that the blog you are posting to is at the top of your blogger dashboard before you send the audio file to it. You can do that by making a change on your blog first, and it will then be moved to the top of the list. I decided to write this info first, then go back and send another post.
Of course if you only have one active blog, this won't be an issue.
Once the file has been uploaded to box.net, just click on the wee arrow on the top right corner to see the option to send to your blog. Select your blogger name, add a message (appears as post content), and away you go.
This audio file, and message, were added to box.net and sent straight to this blog from there. No need to go to two different websites - brilliant! Thanks Iain.
This week's lead teacher meeting was taken by Sue Partridge from Tasman School. She introduced us all to Quest Atlantis and shared her experiences with this virtual world. As far as we know, Sue's students are currently the only kids in the South Island currently lucky enough to be part of this world.
Quest Atlantis (QA) is a learning and teaching project that uses a 3D multi-user environment to immerse students, ages 9-12, in educational tasks. It has been developed by Indiana University and could be relevant to New Zealand teachers as a model of an online project. QA builds on strategies from online role-playing games and combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research on learning and motivation. Includes unit plans for teachers.
Everything to do with Quest Atlantis is free, and of a very high standard. There is an extensive amount of background reading required - Sue uses QA as part of her reading programme - and even the story books are provided free. Before teachers can gain access to the full Quest site, they are required to complete a small amount of PD - approximately 1.5 hours a week, for three weeks. This is done online with a professional and other new users. This sets you up really well to embark on the Quest, and ongoing support is freely available.
While the amount of reading, research, comprehension, problem solving and analysis is considerable, there are also a lot of other lessons to be learnt along the way. Students choose to work in worlds such as:
Unity World
Ecology World
Culture World
Healthy World
They then choose Quests to complete from these seven arms:
healthy communities
compassionate wisdom
diversity affirmation
environmental awareness
personal agency
creative expression
social responsibility
The messages contained in the various quests sit incredibly well with the key competencies of the new curriculum. With over 500 Quests currently available (teachers may allow as few or many of these as they wish), students will never get bored. Quest Atlantis is constantly being upgraded and kept to a high standard.
I was incredibly impressed with Quest Atlantis, and believe it has tremendous potential for:
capturing the interest of reluctant readers
engaging boys
extending students
developing thinking/analytical skills
problem solving
social interaction
Users of Quest Atlantis need to download software to their computers, and then work online. While online they are able to interact with students from around the world who are online at the same time. Note that while the Quests are online, there is a considerable amount of research and drafting that can be completed without the computer.
Teachers have full access to students accounts, and can check what they have been doing at any stage. This looks to be a very safe environment for students, while still offering them the excitement of being involved with people from around the world.
