ActivIsland....

[markrobinson]

While the rain pours outside (you gotta love England in August!) I decided to transport myself to an island paradise..

Sadly it is only virtual...

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lively.jpg


"ActivIsland" sits in the warm waters of the Pacific waiting for wandering Activeductors to land on its perfect shores.... {}

You merely need to click this link to get there (Oh... and you have to download the Google Lively plugin)

http://www.lively.com/dr?rid=-7819973663678522125



Why not schedule a time to meet your Activfriends there?

[hlh422]

Mark this was soooo cool! [clap] Everybody must try it out so we can have virtual beach parties!

[markrobinson]

Enjoy.... The Activcruise people may anchor nearby and come ashore!


FYI: It is a private URL - so should only get people from the forum..

It is set as "interactive",... so you can right click the TV and choose some other music (Edit > Gadget Options and paste a YouTube URL) or create objects...

[mrsb]

Mark,

I am lovin' the island! It is just too cute! Guys, the water's fine...............come on in!+wave+

[LisaD]

Shoot, It won't work with my Browser (Firefox, Mac). An exclusive resort? ;)

Lisa

[markrobinson]

Shame - it is lovely...

Breeze in the palm trees. reggae on the TV....

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lively.jpg

[mrsb]

Mark,

The first round of daiquiris is on me. Cheers!!!!:D

[markrobinson]

Not seeing you there?

[mrsb]

Still downloading, but I'm already imagining.

[markrobinson]

You missed Bob Marley in concert.... UB 40 playing now...

Red.. Red..... Wine.....:p

[markrobinson]

You should feel at home being from the Virgin Islands!

[Lara]

Google won't let me onto your island, Mark. What on earth have you told them about me?! :(

[markrobinson]

Oh No....

It is BETA software.... so might be buggy...

[mrsb]

Mark,

I got it downloaded and created my acct. What's your Lively name? Can't find the island now. :(

[markrobinson]

http://www.lively.com/dr?rid=-7819973663678522125

[Lara]

Well when I do get in I'll make sure I've brought some sort of insect repellent...

[Lara]

I'm afraid you'll all have to ward off your own bugs... I have a little picture of ActivIsland - looking far too peaceful to be Activ! - and a message telling me this is a screenshot of a room. The software appears to have downloaded ok, but no luck actually entering a room... Ah well - have a margarita or two for me!

Maybe it's becuase we've had no rain here since Thursday!

[markrobinson]

I'm afraid you'll all have to ward off your own bugs... I have a little picture of ActivIsland - looking far too peaceful to be Activ! - and a message telling me this is a screenshot of a room. The software appears to have downloaded ok, but no luck actually entering a room... Ah well - have a margarita or two for me!

Maybe it's becuase we've had no rain here since Thursday!

Try closing your browser down then coming back and clicking this link.

http://www.lively.com/dr?rid=-7819973663678522125

[markrobinson]

You may have also downloaded only the installer called LivelySetup.

I had to click that to install it properly.

[mrsb]

Ok, now I'm on the island. I have yet to figure out how to write dialogue. Bear with me. :confused:

[Lara]

Nope, all launching happily from pretty green icon on sesktop, then it's just screenshots as far as the eye can see - even if I try to create my own room it just gives me a screenshot!

So perhaps now is the time to go and write that blog post I promised weeks ago. Or maybe even go to sleep...

[sheelagh]

Lara, have you got a Google account - if not you need to create one from that screen with a green icon before it will let you in. :)

[Lara]

Thanks, but I've logged in to that and it's happy to tell me I'm logged in as me at the top of it's screen! Have been distracted by SearchMe momentarily - although possibly a long moment as I'm searching for Disney related stuff pre-holiday so may not be out for a LONG time!

[mrsb]

Guys,

You've got to try this. I "met" a few Planeteers on the island. We watched youtube videos on tv, danced, and hung out. Those of you who haven't tried yet, see if you can download Lively and maybe next time we'll see you on ActivIsland!!!!:D Good job, Mark!

[Margaret Allen]

I can't do this. Have downloaded Lively... been to the link but just get a picture - won't let me create a Google account. Exclusive club or what???+wave+:D:eek:

[markrobinson]

Yep... Very Exclusive....

The instructions are not perfect on their site... and it is still BETA

Check that you run the "Installer" that you download and then restart the browser.

If you have done that, then it might be a browser version/OS issue.

[Dug]

I got in. Bit fed up of UB40 now!

I'll be offline for a few days but hope to see the party thumping when I get back.

[markrobinson]

Glad you managed to get in....You just left as I arrived... I need to add a calender of "island events" on the blog.... It is linked from there under the new "gadgets" page.... so people won't be left alone. Being virtually lonely is twice as bad...

BTW: You can change the music... Just right click the TV, Choose Edit > Gadget Options and then paste another YouTube URL in the popup.

I'll put Bob Marley on....

[Lara]

Margaret, I know just how you feel!

[markrobinson]

Margaret made it through the Pirate and Shark infested waters a few minutes ago....

[Lara]

There is a much larger screenshot to look at today though, so I can try to peer in like some scientist observing from above!

[htemske]

Glad you managed to get in....You just left as I arrived... I need to add a calender of "island events" on the blog.... It is linked from there under the new "gadgets" page.... so people won't be left alone. Being virtually lonely is twice as bad...

BTW: You can change the music... Just right click the TV, Choose Edit > Gadget Options and then paste another YouTube URL in the popup.

I'll put Bob Marley on....

I just got in and am liking the Marley. I think an event would be fun. Right now I'm hanging out with the orange starfish enjoying the view and the breeze.

[kevhogg]

The journey was painless - but someone seems to have removed the plasma TV. Was hoping to bump into some guy who bought his wife an Activboard - but the island was all mine. Paradise - shear Kevin heaven!
Kevin

[ctriplett]

Will I receive spam if I go into other rooms in this chat space?

[markrobinson]

Most of these online communities can be seedy... Spam is not so much the problem as "strange" people...

The ActivIsland URL is not listed in all the "public" rooms... so is semi-private...


For kid safe 3D worlds I would avoid all the famous ones like Second Lide and even Lively.


The blog has lists of sites/projects trying to make safe environments for kids...

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/?p=307

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/?p=215

[Jes2G]

Darn corporate Internet filter won't let me in! It's a conspiracy!! :(

[LBumgardner]

I have been to the room twice, but I'm afraid that I'm in the wrong place. I have never heard Marley and there is never anyone else there. :( I'll keep trying and I'll look for some fellow ACTIVusers in Paradise. I could a Margarita and my tan is starting to fade.

[Sarah Carpenter]

Ok - I've visited and although I'm not a fan of the artist I have put on the TV I think the song says it all!!

Sarah +wave+

[Dug]

I've been on with a couple of other folks and had a real laugh. I think it is improved by other people. How about we arrange a time for a few of us to meet up?

Can people make 21:00 this evening (GMT time)? I'll try to show up.

[Sarah Carpenter]

9 o'clock's good for me!!

[Sarah Carpenter]

Ah but how will I know it's you??

And don't worry I'll pack a compass!!

[htemske]

That's 5 EST, right? I'll see what I can do. I've stopped in a couple times but I'll always been "all by myself."

[Sarah Carpenter]

Hopefully see you later then!

Sarah +wave+

[Sarah Carpenter]

Well where are your friends when you need them?! ;)

You've missed me trying out my dance moves - lots of fun!! :D:D


Sarah +wave+

[Dug]

Really sorry. My Mum phoned me just before 9pm and I couldn't make it.:(:mad::D

[Sarah Carpenter]

No problem - it gave me time to explore what you can do etc etc - got quite into it in a 'sad' sort of way!! ;):eek:

[LouB]

Hi all,

I keep popping back but I am also 'all by myself'. Anyone fancy a visit to the island in the next hour or so?

Lou +wave+

[Alison]

+wave+ Great fun Lou! It just completely died in the end. I'm going on a hunt to see what I can delete off my computer so that hopefully when I try again it goes a little faster. See you there another time! [clap]

[Sarah Carpenter]

Missed you all again! :(

[LouB]

Ahh, sorry mate! Might pop back later.

I found some activ chairs to add to the island although they are studio versions not primary! lol!

Catch you all later hopefully!

Lou +wave+

[Sarah Carpenter]

Been today and noted the change of music - have added a friend but he's not too keen on being touched! :p
Sarah +wave+

[LouB]

Meet you there in 5 minutes??

[bovinfever]

This is totally fun!!! And, both of my teens stopped by to check out what I was doing, so thanks for making me look good!!;)

[Sarah Carpenter]

Very apt song choice last visitor!! [clap]

And yes I was!! :(

Maybe this could be the challenge for each visit to ACTIVisland - choose a song that sums up your visit!

Sarah +wave+

[markrobinson]

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/activeworld1.jpg


We tried out a few lessons on the Island... The Times Table Dance was pretty cool... Get a hug if you get 10 right... but after a while it was somewhat lacking....

....so after many weeks on the small island with only a starfish for a friend, I finally decided to chop down the palm tree to carve its trunk into a hull and weave sails from its leaves and set sail across the ocean to somewhere new...

http://www.activeworlds.com/edu/awedu.asp

But what's this.... As I land on a sandy shore I find I have not just crossed an ocean but I have travelled through time to Ancient Egypt! My clothes have changed and the world sounds alive...

I meet with others and we discuss how alike this Ancient world seems - shops, buildings... I enter a tomb.. They are still building the traps and I can climb the ladders... finally I get to the burial chamber..

Like Doctor Who - it seems I have command of time and space... No more confining little Island for me now!!! ...So it's off to the moon... Then an abstract world that could only have come from the creative genius of Van Gogh, then on to the the Education Nexus where solar systems swirl before me... Then finally down to the beach where I hop in my sailing boat and let the wind waft me across the bay.... that forest looks interesting............

[markrobinson]

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/forum/../blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lively.jpg


The Google Lively virtual world service is shutting down at the end of December - meaning you only have a few days to connect up on the Activisland and enjoy its pleasures before the tide rises on its shores for the last time.

Not been before?

Get a free Google Account and then click the link below to visit the Island (and perhaps locate the secret base!)

http://www.lively.com/dr?rid=-7819973663678522125&pli=1

I'll be there tonight and might pop round at the weekend.

Leave a note on this thread if you want to schedule an "event" for all the ActivAddicts and ForumFriends!

[DavidFhu]

I get to know it too late.

Anyone plan to move it to second life?

[markrobinson]

There is a working Promethean Interactive Whiteboard available in Second Life (my sister made it) as well as some novel voting ideas - and the "hands up chair"!

http://metalab.blogspot.com/

I have heard that thousands of these have been sold - and they pop up on the walls of numerous SL collage and university campuses. There is no official Promethean Place in SL... but people who use it can make one and let us know!

I personally think that the SL environment is not as "education friendly" as other places for younger children. I liked the Google Lively island becuase you could keep it "private" for an inter-school project or activity.

Activworlds was also great (see earlier in thread for link, etc.)

We recently featured EduSim on the blog that offer a safe environment for learning through virtual worlds.

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/?p=307

I also found the Alice software great on an Activboard - teach programming through 3D worlds. Not really a social space - but great to engage kids via the 3D medium that they are so familar with via games and stuff.

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog/?p=51



If there is enough demand for a "planet place" - then something could be made...

Although my questions would be:



Would you want a social space to connect with other teachers?
Would you want a place to see and take part in collaborative educational projects?
Would you want to be able to create and manage your own worlds/activities?

[markrobinson]

I'd be interested in thoughts on this....

http://www.justleapin.com

I hame my little SanteFe house set up to escape the winter blues!

http://www.justleapin.com/shares/9057:yNq6CyNr

[DavidFhu]

Thank you Mark.

I will try the link that you offer. :)