CAETI Project Abstract
Title: Pueblo
Performer(s):
Vijay Saraswat
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
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Cluster: SPECIAL
Contact Information:
Phone: 415-812-4747
Fax: 415-812-4334
email: saraswat@parc.xerox.com
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1. Instructional Focus:
Content Areas/Topics: Language arts, writing.
Process Skills: Problem-solving, collaborative learning.
2. Target Population: Grades 3-12; All student populations, including special education, disadvantaged, and bilingual students.
3. Summary Description: Network learning spaces that provide the fabric for design, experimentation, and interaction across curriculum and grade levels. These spaces build on existing Multi-User Domain (MUD) technology to allow for integrated Internet access, tutoring agents, modeling, simulation, and problem-solving capabilities. Social, technical, and educational practices for learning will be integrated into the MUDs. The MUDs will resemble those developed in the Pueblo community, which are existing MUD-based on-line communities of students, teachers, administrators, and researchers.
4. Training and Staff Development:
- Teacher prerequisite skills/knowledge needed: Basic computer knowledge. Teachers must be receptive to a non-directive methodology.
- Student prerequisite skills needed: Basic reading and writing, at least at a 3rd or 4th grade level; basic keyboarding skills. Students must be interested in working with other students.
- Training needed/provided: Minimum of 2 weeks intensive training in the integration of MUDs into an instructional program. At least half of the training must involve practicum training with students. Trainers will be certified by the Pueblo developers. Teachers will be continually updated regarding product changes and/or improvements.
- Technical Support needed/provided: On-line support and other support will be provided.
5. Technological/Resources Needed: Access to the Internet; telecommunications connectivity; at least one computer for every 5 students: PC 486 or Macintosh.
6. Intended Outcomes:
Students: Improve written communication skills; participate in and benefit from collaborative on-line learning.
Teachers: Integrate MUDs into curriculum to organize and facilitate cooperative learning groups and student-centered activities.
7. Instructional Time Required: Minimum amount of time would be 30 minutes per day. The product lends itself to use outside school.
8. Role of the Pilot Teacher(s): Teachers should empower students to develop and carry out their own projects, develop curriculum or adapt existing curriculum for the virtual environment. They will work closely with developers to help determine ways to integrate Pueblo MUDs into the DoDEA curriculum. Teachers should be willing to try out the MUDs with a subset of students and critique their use in the classroom.
9. Example(s) of Use of This Product (Scenario): Students and teacher agree that the students will construct the environment of ancient Egypt during the period in which the pyramids were constructed. They build the environment. They do the research necessary to ensure the accuracy of the environment which they create and of the roles of persons in that environment. The students function in that environment through text-based communications, using reading and writing as the vehicles for carrying out their roles in the community.