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Whyville is Seriously Fun!

An Introduction. Whyville is Seriously Fun!. http://www.siia.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=610&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid=59. What is Whyville?. An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something. What is Whyville?.

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Whyville is Seriously Fun!

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  1. An Introduction Whyville is Seriously Fun!

  2. http://www.siia.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=610&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid=59http://www.siia.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=610&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid=59

  3. What is Whyville? An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something.

  4. What is Whyville? Browser Based (any browser in the last 11 years any computer) 56 K baud dial up modem 6.4 Million registered users An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something.

  5. Whyville: A Community 6.4 MM users • Founded in 1999 • Economy, government, math, science, journalism, art, much more

  6. Average Minutes Per Visit Whyville • 35 minutes per log in average • Engaged: 1 year average duration • 10% in 2000 still there Whyville users stay engaged longer per visit Over 70 Sponsors Including:

  7. 1985: K- 6 Kit-Based / Hands-On Science Learning PUSD Project SEED

  8. 1992: CAPSI CENTER FOR SYSTEMIC REFORM Stockton Lynwood Pasadena Tulare Baldwin Park Bakersfield Hacienda La Puente Inglewood Whittier Lennox Desert Sands South Bay El Centro

  9. 1985 - 1998 Computers in Support of Inquiry Learning

  10. 1985 - 1998 Computers in Support of Inquiry Learning REAL CHANGE TAKES TIME

  11. Innovative Real World Learning Finance • Workforce Development Nutrition Environmental Over 70 Sponsors Including:

  12. CDC in Whyville • CDC campaigns 2006, 2007, 2008, and expansion in 2009 • Virtual Flu and vaccinations in Whyville (60,000 in 2008) • Vaccination Celebration – citizens get to have their questions answered by a CDC flu expert. • Citizens learn about flu vaccination and about how hand washing can decrease spread of flu

  13. The Field Museum in Whyville WhyReef: Bringing Science to Life Virtually

  14. Data from 2 months

  15. Whyville’s Virtual Economy • Whyville has a thriving economy with 2.3 billion clams in circulation. Citizens earn clams by: • Playing educational games from designing rockets • to seeking art treasures • Creating virtual products and starting their own • businesses, from face parts to music • Writing for Whyville’s newspaper • Being guides and giving tours to newcomers to • Whyville

  16. Creativity: Face Parts for Customizing Their Avatars Scions for Cruising Around Town

  17. 3,000 “Face Parts” Created Per MonthOver 100,000 “Purchased” Per Month It’s all about tops for me this season…..

  18. Leveraging: - Self Organized Beauty Contests - On average over 6,000 “BCs” mentioned in chat every day

  19. & Game Arcade Cool! Play Games for Health.

  20. Community Management • Focus on educating citizens on safety and appropriate behavior. • Chat License Test (100% required) • Chat filter with feedback • Penalty system with explanations • Reward system tied into community Whyville Safety White Paper – available upon request “Report Decision: You are muted for 3 days due to inappropriate behavior.” Whyville’s safety orientation is best in class and also offers kids and teenagers a secure environment to socialize and play. iParenting Media Awards

  21. Academic Papers January 2010

  22. WhyCareers WHY-POWER Education and Pathways From Middle School to College for Green Energy Jobs numedeon, inc.

  23. About the Effort Curriculum CareerPathways MIDDLE SCHOOL 8th Grade Careers & Other Classrooms HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE

  24. What is WhyCareers? • Exploratory learning in 8th Grade Classrooms • Connected to standards (“TEKS”) • That connects to Career Pathways • Promoted by H.S. and College teachers, directors, recruiters • Assessed by Community Colleges • Selected by the Governor, managed by TWC

  25. What’s In WhyCareers? • Whyville, the learning-based virtual world • WHY-POWER, newgreen activities in Whyville • Curriculum supplements teaching to standards • A Career Pathway Builder for exploration of the courses needed to get to college programs and careers.

  26. Whyville: A Community • Founded in 1999 • Millions of users served • 50+ sponsors • Economy, government, math, science, journalism, art, much more

  27. Whyville in Texas – 2007 and 2008 • Two grants funded by TWC • Biotech careers • Advanced Mfg careers • Click-through to educational web sites • 10,000+ TX users • 2,500+ click-throughs to local educational opportunities

  28. Whyville in Texas – “WhyTexas” Competition • 200+ classes • From all over the State • Governor’s Certificate

  29. WhyPower – Electricity for Whyville • 20th Century Grid for Whyville • See problems! • Engage students in energy policy • 21st Century Grid for Whyville

  30. Curriculum Supplements • Eight curriculum supplements • 40-minute modules • Based on new Whyville content • Cross-matched to the TEKS and TAKS objectives (state standards) for 8th Grade Career Portals • Also covering selected 8th grade math and science standards.

  31. Curriculum Supplements Identifying power usage by home appliances Calculating home electricity usage Understanding electricity measurements Understanding peak load The science behind electricity Components of a power grid Green technician jobs and education Green professional jobs and education During the program, students will choose one of these WhyCareers Home Appliance Technician Power Plant Operator Electrical Technician Home Energy Engineer Renewable Energy Consultant Power Plant Engineer Electrical Engineer Math and science content examples Ohm’s law: v = ir Energy vs. power Measurement in kilowatts Ratios: How v=ir stays true as voltage steps down from plant to home Algebra: Short- vs. long term cost trade-offs And taking real home appliance measurements

  32. Career Pathway Builder • Our staff will help you define career pathways running from your middle school to your community colleges, showing the specific courses students must take to enter college programs. • Students will explore the career pathways, integrated with WHY-POWER and the curriculum. Curriculum CareerPathways MIDDLE SCHOOL 8th Grade Careers & Other Classrooms HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE

  33. Assessment • Led by Alamo Colleges • Assess adoption by school districts, colleges • Assess usefulness as awareness and recruiting tool for college staff

  34. Schedule • Year 1 • San Antonio: NEISD, Alamo Colleges w/ Workforce Solutions Alamo and CPS Energy • Waco • Rio Grande Valley • Year 2 • Austin: With Capital Area Workforce Solutions, others

  35. For More Information • Cliff Zintgraff • cliffz@davinci-minds.com • 210-274-2485 • Anson Green • agreen27@alamo.edu • 210-485-0259

  36. WhyCareers Education and Pathways From Middle School to College for Green Energy Jobs numedeon, inc.

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