Archive for the 'Students' Category

An Interview with Ellie: Scratch 4 OpenSim

Published on May 26, 2011 in Begonia Island, building, robotics, Scratch and Students. 3 Comments Tags: , .

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This year, our Year 9 Robotics elective has undergone some significant changes.  For the first time, we are using OpenSim plus Scratch 4 OpenSim.  Students create their own 3D virtual object then create scripts to apply actions, movement, etc… You can learn more about this project from our previous post with Captain Rob Otics :) as well as our post featuring a tutorial about using Scratch 4 OpenSim.

We’ve invited one of our students, Ellie, to be interviewed about her participation in our Robotics Project.  Here’s what Ellie had to say…

Ellie, you’ve created an amazing spiral staircase design!  Where did you get the inspiration for your design?

I thought about LEGO and the Harry Potter Castle. The spiral staircase is an amazing design, and I added my own twist to it, putting it in a transparent cylinder so that avatars don’t fall out and other avatars can see through.

How did you use Scratch 4 OpenSim in your design?

I used the Scratch 4 OpenSim software to change the colours of the stairs.  When an avatar stepped on a step, it would change colour.

This has been your first experience using OpenSim, what have you learnt?

I have learnt so much from this first experience!  There is only a little to learn before you are creating complicated designs and attaching scripts from Scratch 4 OpenSim.  I feel confident enough with the program now to create just about anything.  The only thing that I need is time to do it!

Ellie, thank you for participating in our Robotics Project and congratulations on your fabulous work!

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Robotics Research Laboratory with Captain Rob

Published on February 27, 2011 in Begonia Island, building, robotics, Scratch and Students. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Welcome to our Year 9 Students who have been recruited to work in the Robotics Research Laboratory.
Watch the Voki message below from Captain Rob Otics, who will explain your mission to you.

A Great Way to Finish 2010!

Published on December 20, 2010 in Begonia Gardens, building, Project Team, ReactionGrid, Students and Teachers. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

After six weeks of preparations, The Ed Tech Crew delivered a fabulous inworld event on Friday 17th December!  Students from our Virtual Worlds Project Team had been working hard to complete their favourite OpenSim 3D objects as well as assisting with building the set for the event.  Our good friends at The Hewitt School (New York), MacICT (Sydney) and Northern Beaches Christian School (Sydney) sent us screen shots for our inworld display, showing just some of the wonderful virtual worlds student work from their schools.

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Although we had some technical difficulties just prior to the event, our “Plan B” was put into action and this, together with the incredible professionalism of The Ed Tech Crew hosts, Tony Richards and Darrel Branson, resulted in a great inworld event!

The event was recorded and streamed live by John Wilson from onlinevents.  We would like to extend our sincere thanks to John for doing such an incredible job.  When we first discussed ways to record and stream the event, we felt that this was something that was best left to the professionals and onlinevents certainly delivered!

Thank you to everyone who was involved:
The Ed Tech Crew – Tony Richards and Darrel Branson
John Wilson from onlinevents
Our Virtual Worlds Project Team
The students from The Hewitt School (New York), MacICT (Sydney) and Northern Beaches Christian School (Sydney)
Special Guests – Steve Collis (Northern Beaches Christian School) and Dean Groom (Macquarie University)

You can visit The Ed Tech Crew site to download the audio and view the show notes.  For the next few months, you can view the video of the inworld event on the onlinevents site.  If you would like to visit The Ed Tech Crew set, join us on Begonia Gardens on ReactionGrid.  The movie below will show you how to access our public OpenSim space and also take you on a tour of the set.

Thanks again to everyone involved and a very Merry Christmas to you!

Begonia Gardens Welcomes The Ed Tech Crew!

Published on December 16, 2010 in Begonia Gardens, ReactionGrid and Students. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

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Well, we’re almost there!  On Friday 17th December, we will be welcoming The Ed Tech Crew to Begonia Gardens, our public OpenSim space hosted by the team at ReactionGrid.

Tony and Darrel will host a “Christmas Special” that will be broadcast live by the wonderful John Wilson from Onlinevents.

Apart from their “Christmas Wrap Up”,  Tony and Darrel will also chat to one of our students who is a member of our school’s Virtual Worlds Project Team.

A special Ed Tech Crew set has been built on Begonia Gardens and will feature work from students around the world.
We have everything from Christmas angels to the Parthenon to a Virtual Worlds Carnival!  Very special thanks to the wonderful educators who have contributed to the display.

How can you be part of  The Ed Tech Crew Christmas Special?

The event will take place on Friday 17th December from 9:00 – 10:00am (Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time). Please click here for information regarding other time zones.
Click here to view the live stream.  Viewers will also have the ability to participate in the event via the chat facility on the live stream page.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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The Ed Tech Crew Goes In-World!

Published on November 15, 2010 in Begonia Gardens, building, Project Team, ReactionGrid, Students and Teachers. 2 Comments Tags: .

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I was fortunate enough to be interviewed recently by The Ed Tech Crew regarding our school’s Virtual Worlds Project. It was a nerve racking and exciting experience but one that was so much fun thanks to the wonderful Ed Tech Crew hosts, Tony Richards and Darrel Branson.  Click here to listen to the Episode 141, Welcome to My Virtual World.

During the episode, we joked about an “Ed Tech Crew In-world Podcast”.  I should have guessed that Tony and Darrel would be up for the challenge and so we are now planning an “Ed Tech Crew Christmas Special”. :)

There is a lot to organise in a short space of time so we are hoping that you will be able to assist us. Our Virtual Worlds Project Team are creating items for an Ed Tech Crew set for the event and we would love to include screen shots of your school’s work in Virtual Worlds.  Whether it be OpenSim, Quest Atlantis, Teen Second Life or another platform, we would love to feature it on the set!

Please email your favourite screenshot to <begoniaisland at gmail dot com> together with your school name and any other information you would like to share about your school’s work and we will include it in the display.

Stay tuned for more news regarding The Ed Tech Crew In-World Podcast! :)