Suffern Middle School in Second Life

The meeting was last Friday- the answer was yes!  Once again the vision of my Superintendent, Dr. Robert MacNaughton and  and the  prudent support of my mentor,  James Yap paid off in another leap  into  21st century learning for Ramapo Central Schools.  We are now ready to open our islands to collaborative teamwork with other schools on the Teen Grid.  This is huge!

As with all of our prior advancements, we will be taking “baby steps” and plan to begin with the concept of a “virtual draw bridge” that will open and close to other schools.  Now comes the technical inquiry to determine the best method to pull this off.  I will be contacting Linden and Skoolaborate for starters, Eloise Pasteur is always helpful for coming up with creative solutions!!  Anyone with any suggestions or ideas as to the best method for this transformation please do advise!

One of the more pressing needs in the back-end management of the Ramapo Project this year was to try to begin to become more independent in terms of cost and time sensitive needs. Very often when a new student entered our system it would be days or weeks turn around to get their Second Life account registered.  After a great deal of cross the globe communication and collaboration, the folks at Skoolaborate worked with Ramapo to develop a super elegant Reg API sytem  that is now in place for us.  We now have total control over our own account creation – and more importantly  it involves nothing more then logging in to a website (password protected) and entering information into a form!  For those of you who have investigated the rather daunting instructions for setting up a regAPI system – this is nothing short of a miracle answered.  Even better, they are now making the system available to other educators!!!

Skoolaborate:  http://www.skoolaborate.com

To find out more about setting up your Reg API email Westley:

Last night, Suffern Middle School teachers presented for the first time on ISTE Island at the Tuesday night speaker series.  Since some of them had actually never used voice before, we decided to meet in the library here at school at 8PM for the 9 o’clock presentation.  (Talk about dedication!!)  Two of our teachers actually presented from home (Julie Bujtas and Michelle McKiernan) and in the library Teresa Ivey, Liza Medina, Diane Whiting were stationed and ready to roll!  Media Specialist, Eleanor Schuster, came just for support!  This is the kind of “beyond the call of duty” that sets these teachers apart from the crowd!

I’ll admit, I had  a bit of trepidation that things would go smoothly (technology and SL being what they are…) but I experienced a slight sense of panic and when I heard Liza say “I just have to get my underwear on”  with her mic open!  Ahh, the perils of dressing one’s avatar!    We all had a good laugh about that one, the ice was broken, nervousness was replaced by giddy excitement and as the presentation began my teachers lit up and shared their experiences eloquently, with professionalism, and with typical humor and candor.

They spoke of the remarkable extent of engagement they’ve observed in their classses, and they warned listeners of some of the pitfalls they anticipated and some they did not.    As my teachers glided over to the podium to present, I realized, on a whole new level, that Ramapo Islands is truly a remarkable phenomena- and that it never would have come into existance without these pioneering educators.  Last night was just another example of their willingness to try new things, to make mistakes, and to share their experiences with the world.  I’ve said it before  and will again… I LOVE MY TEACHERS!

Please go to: http://tinyurl.com/6ynu68 and listen to the podcast!  This is incredibly important work and there is room for everyone to contribute.  It’s really about how we make a difference for our students.   It’s time to gather our stories and leave our legacies!

I am engaged now in NECC debriefing and filtering and reflecting but in the mean time here is the SLURL for the StoryKeeper’s Garden as presented at NECC!  WHAT A ROCKIN CONFERENCE! All slides will be posted to Slideshare.com too!

Teleport to StoryKeeper’s Garden in Second Life:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lehigh%20Carbon%20Island/11/103/31

NOT:  When you arrive at the teleport there is a signpost that says “Ramapo” You need to click on that sign to teleport directly to the StoryKeeper’s Garden.  Please take your time and explore the garden with sound.   At one juncture you will be invited to teleport again directly to the StoryWorld build .  In essence, thre are three different mediums being showcased in the garden.  Movies, machinima and the third, the StoryWorld, whic is a multi-sensory story experience.  Enjoy!

Here is a sample transcript of the trial:

Lennie Small Trial – 6/20/08

Nicole, Kara and Emma
Robelmonte is Ryan
Fantasia is Brianna
Lucidor is Dante
Pelagia is Eli
Sakuntala is Kevin

[7:56]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer (Dante): Would the D.A like to call up anymore witnesses?
[7:56]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer(Brianna): I would like to call upon Slim.
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): Slim please come up to the chair.
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): Do you swear to tell the truth…
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): The whole truth…
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): And nothing but the truth…
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): So help you God?
[7:57]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer(Eli): Yes.
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): Please sit.
[7:57]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer(Dante): Proceed Fantasia.

Fantasia SMSJourneyer(Brianna): Do you believe that Lennie should be placed in jail for rape and murder?
[7:57]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer(Eli): no i don’t.
[7:58]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer(Eli): He has some type of mental problem.
[7:58]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer(Eli): He can’t help it.
[7:58]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer(Brianna): With you moral judgement, knowing Lennie, do you believe he meant to harm anybody at all?
[7:58]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer(Eli): He just likes to touch “nice things.”
[7:58]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer(Eli): I don’t think he meant to hurt anyone.
[7:58] Sakuntala SMSJourneyer(Kevin: Objection. If he is kept out he will continue his madness.
[7:58]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Do you have any other statements/comments to add about Lennie?
[7:59]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: But not if he has some sort of “watch.”
[7:59]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer: He doesn’t mean to be any trouble and I try to control him.
[7:59]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: He does NOT need to be charged with rape and murder!
[7:59]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Objection overruled.
[7:59]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer: Sometimes it gets a little out of hand.
[8:00]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Let her make her case.
[8:00]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Slim, do you have any additional comments?
[8:00]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer: No, ma’am.
[8:00]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Then you may return to your seat, thank you.
[8:01]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: If that is all slim, you may take your seat.
[8:01]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Yes
[8:01]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: I have no additional witnesses.
[8:01]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: That’s all.
[8:02]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Does the prosecution have any more witnesses to call up?
[8:02]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Maybe Crooks?
[8:02]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: May I call up George?
[8:03]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Yes, you may.
[8:03]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: George, please come up.
[8:03]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?
[8:03]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: I will.
[8:03]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Proceed.
[8:04]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: George, is it true that you agreed to take care of Lennie?
[8:04]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: And to stay by his side?
[8:05]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: Well, at first I said I would but I lied… But when he almost drowned in a lake I knew I had to take care of him.
[8:06]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Then, were you with him when the murder happened?
[8:06]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Or near him at anytime?
[8:06]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: No, I was playing horseshoes with the other workers.
[8:07]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: We were having a tournament.
[8:07]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: So that means Lennie was alone in the barn with Curley’s wife?
[8:07]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: Yes.
8:07]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: And that is where the body was found.
[8:07]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: Correct
[8:08]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Objection! He knew he had to take care of Lennie, but Lennie is not FULLY unaware. He just needs help making decisions and he doesn’t need to be watched at ALL times. He is a grown man!
[8:08]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: he should have been with george the whole time
[8:08]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Order, order!
[8:08]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Not alone.
[8:08]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Let Sakuntala make his case
[8:09]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Thank you.
[8:09]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: And you may add on when it is your turn.
[8:09]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: He said he would help take care of him but that doesn’t mean he needs to be baby sat, how do you learn without trying things by yourself?
8:09]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: She has a point.
[8:09]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Not that he was trying to harm anybody…But he did not unknowingly.
[8:10]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Now with that you may continue.
[8:10]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: But if he is not hung, things like this will keep happening.
[8:10]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: but if he is not hung, things like this will keep happning
[8:10]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: Good point.
[8:10]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: And george told Lennie not to even look at her.
[8:11]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: There are many things at this time that can be done without sentencing him to death!
[8:11]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: Yes, I did.
[8:11]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: With our advances something can be done!
[8:11]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: This is true.
[8:11]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Being hung is a very cruel thing.
[8:11]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: for two mistakes his life has to end?
[8:11]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer: He could just get help.
[8:11]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Many people have probably said that and look what happened!
[8:11]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: DEATH!
[8:11]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: If Lennie has done this unknowingly, and if very forgetful, these things may happen.
[8:12]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: ORDER, ORDER!
[8:12]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: One more thing.
[8:13]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: At the time when the body was found where was Lennie
[8:13]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: He was no where to been seen.
[8:13]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Well, usually when people are threatening to SHOOT YOU, you run!
[8:13]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Very good point.
[8:13]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: THAT’S TRUE BUT YOU CAN”T PUT HIM TO DEATH!! HE DID’T MEAN NO HARM!
[8:13]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: ORDER!
[8:13]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Being hung is obviously not the appropriate thing to do in this case.
[8:14]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: But at the time Lennie did not know people wanted to shoot him.
[8:14]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: ORDER OR I WILL HOLD YOU BOTH IN CONTEMPT!
[8:14]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Then jail for life.
[8:14]  Pelagia SMSJourneyer: Why can’t we at least put him in a “Happy Hut” or get him some help?
[8:15]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: I think he should get some help, not jail.
[8:15]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: He can get some help, but help and hanging are two different things.
[8:15]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Would any of you attorneys like to explain your evidence?
[8:15]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: May I go back to my seat your Honor?
[8:15]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: ?
[8:15]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: excuse me he strangled a human being
[8:15]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Yes. You may
[8:16]  Robelmonte SMSJourneyer: Thank you.
[8:16]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: HE DIDN’T MEAN IT!
[8:16]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: ORDER!
[8:16]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: How do you know?
[8:16]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: For God’s sake he is mentally handicapped, he didn’t know!
[8:16]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: maybe he was mad!
[8:16]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: From getting beat up from Curley.
[8:16]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: When you don’t know the difference between right and wrong you need assistance.
[8:17]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: maybe he wanted revenge.
[8:17]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Will somebody explain the evidence before the jury starts to deliberate.
[8:17]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Thats not the case at all.
8:17]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: He needs someone to help him thats all, he needs help!
[8:17]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: This is all I have to say.
[8:18]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Well I have something to say….
[8:18]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: THE EVIDENCE!
[8:18]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: EXPLAIN THE EVIDENCE!
[8:18]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: the evidence is the body your honor.
[8:18]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Then what is this gun?
[8:19]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Lennie Small is should be innocent, and kept away from jail and being hung. He did not know that he was hurting anybody when he strangled her he did not know. All he needs is some help and assistance he does not need to be hung as a punishment. He needs help.
[8:19]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Final statements?
[8:20]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Prosecutors?
[8:20]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: HE SOULD HAVE NOT BEEM ALONE IN THE 1ST PLACE!
[8:20]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: okay, will the jurors please deliberate.
[8:20]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Please, your Honor, listen when I tell you he should not be hung or placed in jail he didn’t mean to harm anybody he really didn’t.
[8:20]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Ladies and gentlemen.
[8:20]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: I have heard many things today…
[8:21]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: If Lennie is not hung he should be put in a jail not a “happy house.”
[8:21]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Okay.
[8:21]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: That is enough.
[8:21]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Jurors…
[8:21]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Deliberate.
[8:21]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Thank you your Honor.
[8:21]  Helina SMSJourneyer: I believe Lennie is guilty but does not deserve jail time and should be put into a mental home.
8:23]  Gaussia SMSJourneyer: But because of his mental state, he should have a different punishment.
[8:23]  Helina SMSJourneyer: As stated in the case, Goerge shouldn’t have to watch Lennie all the time but Lennie doesn’t know right from wrong without him. So letting him stay on the streets isn’t fair to the human society and this will prevent this from ever happening again.
[8:24]  Helina SMSJourneyer: He should have a punishment but not a cruel one.
[8:24]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Then, put him in a jail with a therapist.
[8:24]  Gaussia SMSJourneyer: Lennie is definately guilty, but he should not serve he same punishment as someone without a mental illness.
[8:25]  Gaussia SMSJourneyer: he should be put in a mental home because it wasn’t his fault, he didn’t know what he was doing.
[8:25]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?
[8:25]  Gaussia SMSJourneyer: If he’s put in a mental home, it will prevent him from hurting anyone else.
[8:25]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Do you know that for sure?
[8:25]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: same with a jail!
[8:25]  Helina SMSJourneyer: He should stay in a mental home until he is able to know right from wrong and to not depend on George all the time.
8:26]  Fantasia SMSJourneyer: Yes I agree, being mentally handicapped does NOT excuse the fact that he killed someone…but death? No, he needs help.
[8:26]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: You are not allowed to persuade the jurors.
[8:26]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: I will hold you in contempt.
[8:26]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: EITHER ONE OF YOU!

[8:26]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Have you reached a verdict?
[8:26]  Helina SMSJourneyer: Yes, we have your honor.
[8:26]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: What is the verdict?
[8:26]  Gaussia SMSJourneyer: I think he’s guilty.
[8:27]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Is that true?
[8:27]  Sakuntala SMSJourneyer: Just put him away.
[8:27]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: What is the punishment?
[8:28]  Gaussia SMSJourneyer: the punishment is that he’ll have to stay in a mental institution for the rest of his life.
[8:28]  Lucidor SMSJourneyer: Okay.

Court was adjourned.

Here is a sample of student’s responses to Mrs. McKiernan’s final evaluative survey:

I LOVED socializing in world, it was a lot of fun and it made it fun to do math!- Sylvanna

I liked the project very much & with a little tweeking here and there it could be perfect. I didn’t like how when you did the math it was rounded from what you actually solved. I did like however the preparation this oppratunity gives you to be put into a real life situation. I wish we had a choice on the items we buy, but you give us the number of items we need. It gives us more freedom to explore real life.

I made a few decions that I would not make again. I was not able to buy a bathing suit because I used too many Lindens buying a cooler. I just started comparing prices today. I actually spent more on the sufboard because I liked the way it looked more than others. I have really gotten the hang of socalizing in-world.

Dear Mrs.McKiernan,

    I really enjoyed the flea market. It was a lot of fun and I LOVE to shop! Yes I would have made different choices and I would have bought cheaper stuff so I had enough money left to buy everything. No I wasnt able to stay within my budget. I did compare prices only sometimes though I just bought stuff that was a good price to me and clearly it didnt work. Some items were important to me and others I  kind of didnt want to have. I didnt spend any extra on special items. I enjoyed socializing in world but I did like having private conversations in im instead of local chat. I think that this was a really really awesome project. it was fun but it still required some work. Thanks so  much. THANKS SOOO MUCH!!!

Today was an exceptional day for learning in Second Life!   Mrs. McKiernan’s classes were all given their stipend of100L$. They joined the group, “Beach Bash” and a whole group notice was sent that read :

Hello everyone…
By now you should have received your lindens.  You are going to have to make sure that you budget wisely.  In order to attend the beach party, you MUST have:

Good luck and I’ll see you at the beach party!
Mrs. McKiernan

The 45 minutes flew each class, as the kid were feverishly doing their math, calculating discounts, recommending certain items over others (in IM!) and helping each other manage their budgets!  There was a lot of laughter,some complaints about prices (LOL) and comments were heard that truly attested to the learning going on:

“Don’t buy that one- the blue one is a better deal”

“But I want the red one to match my surfboard!”

“If I get this I won’t have enough L$ left fotr the ticket to get into the party!”

and the inevitable….”Can anyone lend me 4L$???”

Teacher’s comments: I think this is incredibly fun.The kids are engaged, they’re doing math and they aremaking choices they would encounter in real life situations!”

Once again, I give my teachers high praise for their creativity! Two of them came to me and said they were having a conversation about how to address some math concepts surrounding money and budgeting with their classes. One said, “I wish I could give them each $100 and put them on a bus and take them to the mall where they could shop and dine and figure out sale prices and calculate tips and manage their money.” Fast forward to our latest project!

The kids were indeed each give 100(L)$ and were sent to a new Flea Market in Ramapo Islands where they were given a list of items they needed to purchase while staying within their budget, and being careful to retain at least 6L$ for entrance into the culminating Beach Bash where they would have a party with food, drinks, dancing, windsurfing, para-sailing, tubing, jet-skiing and many more activities.

THe students needed to purchase all of the supplies on a list before they could go to the party. Things like, suntan lotion, bathing suits, coolers, hats, sandals, beach towels, umbrellas, surfboards, and water bottles were all set up for sale in the market. At least 4 versions of each item were for sale at various prices and discounts that reflected the percentage off. And so the math began because although they may have wanted the surfboard WITH the particle effects AND the suntan lotion that actually sprayed, they had to be careful not to exceed their budget and to leave enough funds for admission to the party and for possible spending for the optional “high end” items that were only available at the Beach Bash.

As fate would have it, the day of the Beach Bash, I had to be at a conference (NYSCATE Metro) and had no idea if I would be able to login and support the teachers that day. About half- way through the class time, I managed to find a bench out in the hallway and dropped in to Ramapo for a quick look! The party was in FULL SWING – everyone had made it in and the kids were rocking away on the dance floor or flipping around on their surfboards. Mission accomplished! Monday Thursday they were furiously calculating percentages, working their math in a hard copy “checkbook” and going back to check their math when the price they came up with didn’t match the actual price of the item for sale. I had told them that there “may be errors in the prices when they went to pay-just like in the real world” so they were very careful with their pennies (L$s). Below are some photos of the week’s work:

Crazy busy as always – yet reveling in what sometimes appears to be a chaotic stream of creativity that is Ramapo Islands, more and more of the work being done has been managed by the teachers and students, without me. What do you mean you didn’t need me????? Oh -yeah, well, I guess that was the whole idea … Oh.. OK.

Enter Marc Jaffee, music teacher extraordinaire…

A little bit about Marc.

MArc graduated from Suffern Middle School. Many of his colleagues were his teachers. He is an accomplished musician. Since graduating from Ithaca College with a B.M. in Composition, Marc Jaffee has given over 1000 performances, written and performed nine albums, and composed four musicals. He has also taught over 1500 students and developed a Digital Music program for public schools .
Most recently, Marc was seen in La MaMa Experimental Theater’s Production of Sam Shepard’s “The Tooth of Crime” which received top reviews from the New York Times and The Village Voice.

March has been working with cutting edge technology and has brought his students into the digital music arena with a rigorous curriculum that has resulted in students projects that boggle the mind! When I approached him about the possibilities of using Second Life, he needed all of about 6 minutes of convincing. The minute he learned that his students could stream their compositions into a virtual performance venue he was signed up and on board. the project has now extended itself to an island of shops where the students are learning to market and promote their own music, as well as establish sound business skils. Their shops each house a juke box type vendor where visitors can listen to clips of the compositions and our next step is to link these vendors to an online distribution site. Also planned is an inworld concert which will stream live performances as a culminating event to the school year.