In a seven-week period (September 27 – November 12) 8 and 9-year-old students from classrooms in Singapore, Great Britain, and the United States will explore the cultural significance of Fairy Tales popular in their own country and then collaborate to construct a unique Intercultural Fairy Tale. The process of writing the Intercultural Fairy Tale will involve classes writing successive chapters (mini-stories) that are inspired by reading the proceeding chapter(s) in the book. This project will start by having the classes in each country invent characters that can be used throughout the book. Each country will invent two human characters, two animal characters, and two fantasy characters. This will establish a total of 18 characters to cast into the book. Classes will create Character Profiles for each character they invent. These profiles will be constructed into the Active Worlds environment being set up for this project. Along with creating Character Profiles, a Student Profile will be created for each student participating in the project. Student Profiles will also be built into Active Worlds environment to provide students with a way to “get to know” the students outside their class.

**Note: This online project environment will be secure from access by people except those involved with this project (i.e. students, their parents, and school staff). If the project space is opened for public viewing at the completion of the project, all student personal information will be removed prior to public display.

     Students in Singapore will craft the first chapter of the book. Each chapter will consist of four (4) text pages and four (4) illustration pages. Illustrations will help visually accompany the storyline laid out on each text page. The text and illustrations for Chapter One will be complete and submitted by October 1, 2004 .  We will add them into the Active Worlds environment the same day they are submitted so that other classes can read submitted portions and the next class can begin to work on the following chapter. This same process will repeat itself; Singapore - Chapter 1, USA/Morristown – Chapter 2, UK – Chapter 3, Singapore – Chapter 4, USA/Stowe – Chapter 5, UK – Chapter 6. The lead teacher from Singapore will translate the writings into Chinese and both language versions of the story will be included in the Virtual Book.

    The final chapter of the book will be a chance for each individual student to craft a unique ending to the book (Chapter 7). Once Chapter 6 has been submitted, the book will be read as a class and then each student will then work on crafting their own unique ending to the story. They should also create illustrations to accompany their writing. Students will present their individual ending of the book to their class (around November 3-4) and each school will select their one-favorite story ending to submit as Chapter 7 of the book. This will result in alternative endings to the book. The endings from each school will be constructed into the Virtual Fairy Tale Book in Active Worlds. We will also include all student's endings as part of their Student Profile area in Active Worlds.

     At the end of the project all students will come together for a very special unveiling of the finished book and to celebrate the achievement of this special project between countries from around the world. The event will bring all students into the Active Worlds environment to interact with each other and to read the complete book with alternative endings. Students will also be able to talk with their new friends and author colleagues.

Explore: Project Website

    Active Worlds software permits users to enter, move about and interact with others in a computer generated, three-dimensional virtual environment using the Internet. Unlike a two-dimensional environment, which permits movement on a computer screen only along flat horizontal and vertical axis (up, down, left and right), a three-dimensional virtual environment enables users to move in three dimensions by allowing them the added capability of moving forward and backward. In the virtual worlds created in the three-dimensional environment, users are also able to create objects and structures which other users can see and move in real time. People connected are represented by Avatars.

    Since the inception of the Active Worlds technology, it has been a hit with teachers around the world. From architecture departments to science labs to ThinkQuest projects; Active Worlds has been adding new dimensions to learning for over seven years. The Active Worlds Educational Universe (AWEDU) exists to encourage the educational applications of 3D Collaborative Technology. AWEDU is a software that allows educators to engage collaborative and constructivist learning practices with their students.  It also can enable connections with people (e.g. professionals, mentors, peers) and places (e.g. explore a pyramid in Ancient Egypt, work in the International Space Station with students from other countries, step inside a VanGogh painting) outside the classroom walls. 

      AWEDU allows teachers and students to interact - synchronously and asynchronously -  in a protected three-dimensional learning environment and communicate with other schools and students all over the world. AWEDU is a complete instrument of communication. It can be integrated with other tools such as Forum, web pages, sounds and films. Students can build an environment where they can interact collaboratively by discussing items, exchanging experiences, solving problems together.

    These social learning environments offer a glimpse of the Internet we are likely to know in the near future and the foundation of how our students will grow into adulthood with tools that break down the barriers of space and time to work with others.  This is not technology for students only; environments are beginning to develop tofacilitate professional development and training in the school and business setting.  As a way to more actively engage people online; the possibilities of constructed 3-dimensional spaces that users can enter into and collaboratively work seems almost limitless.

Download the Active Worlds Educational Universe Browser (click here)....explore for free as a "tourist".

Samples:

International Space Station PowerPoint

Space Station Learning Module (Video Trailer) .wmv