Teaching Spaces on EDTECH IslandThis is a featured page

Magic Skybox, BSU EdTech Island

When you first arrive at the Magic Skybox, you hear an owl, birds, and crickets, and some lovely night sounds. You're in a forest environment. Fallling leaves really gently float downward, acorns are falling from the giant oak trees, and you sense you should have brought a sweater.

You look around at a tall stand of ancient trees. There are some green lights hovering around one tree; perhaps fireflies or something more ethereal. The lighting is a little dim through the canopy of leaves, and you sense that high above, there may be nests and families of fowl looking down on you. You get a sense you should whisper not to disturb the peace.

As you walk slowly through the stand of trees, you see a few animals bounding about, searching for food and scurrying into their hovels, perhaps hidden behind the huge ferns. Suddenly, you smell smoke, and realize there's a small fire, a campfire over in the distance. As you approach it, you can smell the mossy smells under your feet, the dark, rich earth and the fallen leaves and grasses. Around the fire you see eleven colorful cushions, welcoming, inviting. And do you smell camp food?

Sitting by the fire you count to seven logs. Others join you, and everyone feels welcome and relaxed, staring into the flames, listening to the friendly sparks from the fire and to one another. Everyone taking polite turns. The atmosphere calls for slow responses, reflection, relaxation.

There seems to be quite a depth to the texture of the forest...as if you can see 3D. Some of the trees are at the edges of the walls of the scenes so you feel they are part of your environment.

Looking up into the sky, you can see the trees are quite different at the tops, which makes for a varied effect. You gaze upward, wondering whether there may be a tree house, a fort, something high above hidden by the leaves. It brings a sense of mystery, of adventure, of potential.

The Magic SkyboxMagic Skybox

SL Avatars from left: MLani Montgomery, Leslie Beaumont, SC Zunimoor, Snowflake Lannock. and ??
Magic Skybox seen from a distance in space


Sandbox, BSU EdTech Island

EdTech SandboxThe sandbox has sand and is meant to be built on. Come try some experimental building and rezzing! Some grass is growing in the sand. There are a lot of fur trees around the sandbox on the one side to keep the sand from blowing away. On the other side is a stone wall and some buildings in the distance. There is a bridge leading to some tutorials and a freebie area. It almost looks like the sand area is flooded once in a while because of the bridge structure that leads to the tutorials. Look inside the lighthouse for free tectures!

There are some orange dots on the ground in front of the bridge structure. Not sure what they are for, perhaps for a class. There are prims hanging in the air in the distance.

A tree house is built in a giant brown oak tree on a small island next to the sandbox. There is a small bridge leading to the treehouse island. The proportions make it look funny. A tree that size can not possibly grow on such a small island.

There is a eagle circling in the clear blue sky. It cries out with intervals. I can hear some wind shimes as well. You can hear the wind and smell the water from the sea close by. The smell is carried in by the wind. Perhaps there is a little dust smell in the air as well - slowly carried around by the wind.

Come have some fun in the sandbox. Meet some friendly fellow builders and learn together. Don't be afraid to ask for help!










JennySW
JennySW
Latest page update: made by JennySW , Sep 6 2009, 1:13 PM EDT (about this update About This Update JennySW Added an image of the skybox from a distance and edited image caption - JennySW

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leslie_beaumont Leslie observes the skybox 8 Sep 16 2009, 1:14 PM EDT by MissAnnie
Thread started: Aug 27 2009, 7:34 PM EDT  Watch
It is a woodland setting. One hears creatures out of sight (birds and insects). A number of people are sitting around a fire.

If I scan downwards sideways or up I find mysel f in midair, but an illusion of space is maintained inside the box due to the backdrops on the sides.

all in all a very effective illusion.

I rather imagine I would smell the fire and typical background odors of a forest at night...
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Said-Alamrani Social networks and learning 0 Sep 13 2009, 5:43 AM EDT by Said-Alamrani
Thread started: Sep 13 2009, 5:43 AM EDT  Watch
"We participate, therefore, we are" Dewey

The socio-cultural theory emphasizes that learning occurs within context and interlocutors' understanding is socially constructed. That is to say that a student does not construct knowledge in his/her own. Social networks make simulation that encourages students to interact and work collaboratively. Before the exiting of social networks, students used to interact face-to-face only while they were in classrooms or on campus. However, nowadays students can interact and collaborate with other students from all over the worlds and for a long time. That will facilitate learning and constructing knowledge.
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Said-Alamrani Description of skybox 0 Sep 12 2009, 6:03 AM EDT by Said-Alamrani
Thread started: Sep 12 2009, 6:03 AM EDT  Watch
Rowan and I visited two small islands. We found some creatures such as anteaters and a wrecked boat. We also heard sounds of gulls, breakers, monkeys' chattering and bells. Rowan and I talked about the influence of one's background and environment on his/her feelings when visiting a new place. We agreed that one's environment effectively affects the way he/she perceives things in the new place and he/she will feel more connected to things that he/she is more familiar with or available in his/her original environment.
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