jokaydia’s EduMeet @ Story Quest this week!!

After a great first session over at jokaydia@ReactionGrid last week, we’re continuing the fun with our second EduMeet and a visit to Story Quest this Sunday 18th October in Second Life! I hope you can join us!

To kick off the event, we’ll get together for a quick meetup at  jokaydia Beach (SLurl) to catchup on events of the week, and discuss project ideas and plans.  Please feel free to add any topics for discussion to the comments here, and we’ll follow up during the session!

After our catchup and chat, we’re off for an exciting adventure – a visit to the Virtual Worlds Story Project (TVWSP) space to explore their latest Story Quest project – The Life and Times of Uncle D.  Some of you may have attended Marty and Jenaia’s great session about their Story Quest project at the jokaydia Unconference… but now that Uncle D’s Quest has been launched we have an opportunity to actually visit the Story Quest space and take part in the experience!

So what is a Story Quest, I hear you ask?

Check out ‘The Life and Times of Uncle D’ film below and you’ll get the idea!

Jenaia has also provided a great description and overview which i’ve posted in full below:

The Virtual Worlds Story Project (TVWSP) was born of a vision shared by Jenaia Morane (Jena Ball) and Marty Snowpaw (Marty Keltz) to demonstrate – even show off – Second Life’s ability to be more than a tool/technology platform.  The real beauty and magic of Second Life is that it allows us to build our stories and share them with others.  TVWSP’s goal is to envision those stories and invite others to experience, actively participate in, and co-create them.  The larger vision, of course, is to enable each person to personalize his/her learning experience, and become part of a larger community defined by diversity and individual creativity.

Why Stories and Story Quests?

Stories and storytelling – that remarkable ability we all share to suspend disbelief and step into a world of our own or another’s creation – is what TVWSP is all about.  We dream them, write them, collect them, preserve them, and for the first time here in Second Life, have had the chance to build and invite others into them to see, hear, touch, feel, and co-create them with us.  We call these experiences “Story Quests.”

Story Quests and Experiential Learning

Story Quests utilize multi-media and are non-linear. Each individual discovers elements and participates at his/her own speed and in his/her own way (writing, listening, visualizing, photographing, etc).  Each individual’s learning styles and preferred modality are easily accommodated. Second Life levels the playing field and encourages each individual to explore and express his/her creativity in a unique way.

What about Assessment?

Story Quests embody the concept of project-based assessment.  Proof of the individual’s learning is his/her ability to creatively and organically participate in and contribute content to the story.  This approach has the added advantage of personalizing content so that each individual is able to digest and integrate what he/she has learned.

Beyond Traditional Education

Stories are by definition interdisciplinary. They cross the borders of race, culture, religion, and national identity. They are in fact universal and timeless, allowing us to make sense of our lives and celebrate our similarities rather than focus on our differences.

Sounds exciting huh! ;) Having experienced the project I can say its well worth a visit, and I think will prove inspirational for many of us! You can find out more by reading the TVWSP Blog and there’s even a Stories without Borders Ning where you can share your thoughts and responses to the Quest.

Explorer’s Challenge!

For this special visit, we are inviting all participants of the Story Quest visit to dress your avatar as an explorer as part of participating in the event!  This will add to the immersive experience and show be lots of fun! Bring your hat, hiking boots, water bottle and virtual backpack!

Walking Sticks will be provided at the Story Quest sim… or you can grab one early at the jokaydia Landing Point (SLurl) right now! There’s also a sign there to click for further information.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday 18 October 2009
• Location: Meet at jokaydia Beach (SLurl)
• Time: 9pm AEST / 10am GMT /3am  SLT
• Check your local time here!

How to Take Part:

To take part in the Story Quest part of the event you will need to register your interest in attending so that your avatar can be added to the Story Quest access list. To do so, simply go to the Story  Quest website and enter your email address and complete the form that is provided.

NOTE: You must provide your avatar name and check the ‘Quest Sign-up’ box so that your name is added and you can access the Questing space!

Need More Info?

Please feel free to email jokay Wollongong for further details and any of our events and proejcts, and keep your eye out for the 3rd EduMeet which will be on jokaydia@ReactionGrid on 25 October!