Whyville is Seriously Fun!

An Introduction

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An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something.

What is Whyville?What is Whyville?

An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something.

What is Whyville?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

WhyCareers

Whyville: A Community• Founded in

1999

• Economy, government, math, science, journalism, art, much more

6.4 MM users

WhyvilleWhyvilleAverage Minutes Per Visit

Over 70 Sponsors Including:

Whyville users stay engaged longer per visit

35 minutes per log in average

Engaged: 1 year average duration

10% in 2000 still there

1985: K- 6 Kit-Based / Hands-On Science Learning

1992: CAPSI CENTER FOR SYSTEMIC REFORM

Bakersfield

Tulare

Stockton

South Bay

Inglewood

El Centro

Desert Sands

Lennox

Lynwood

Baldwin Park

Hacienda La Puente

Whittier

Pasadena

1985 - 1998 Computers in Support ofInquiry Learning

1985 - 1998 Computers in Support ofInquiry Learning

REAL CHANGETAKES TIME

Innovative Real World LearningInnovative Real World Learning FinanceFinance

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Workforce Development Workforce Development

NutritionNutrition

Over 70 Sponsors Including:Over 70 Sponsors Including:

CDC in WhyvilleCDC 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

WhyReef: Bringing Science to Life Virtually

The Field Museum in Whyville

Data from 2 months

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

Creativity:

Face Parts for Customizing Their Avatars

Scions for Cruising Around Town

3,000 “Face Parts” Created Per Month

Over 100,000 “Purchased” Per Month

It’s all about tops for me this season…..

Leveraging: - Self Organized Beauty Contests

- On average over 6,000 “BCs”mentioned in chat every day

&

Game Arcade

Cool! Play Games for Health.

Community Management

“Report Decision: You are muted for 3 days due to inappropriate behavior.”

Whyville Safety

White Paper –

available upon request

Whyville Safety

White Paper –

available upon request

Whyville’s safety orientation is best in class and also offers kids and teenagers a secure environment to socialize and play. iParenting Media

Awards

•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

Academic Papers

January 2010

WhyCareers

numedeon, inc.

WhyCareersWHY-POWEREducation and PathwaysFrom Middle School to Collegefor Green Energy Jobs

WhyCareers

About the Effort

MIDDLE SCHOOL8th Grade Careers

& Other Classrooms

Curriculum

HIGHSCHOOL

COLLEGE

CareerPathways

WhyCareers

What is WhyCareers?

1. Exploratory learning in 8th Grade Classrooms

2. Connected to standards (“TEKS”)

3. That connects to Career Pathways

4. Promoted by H.S. and College teachers, directors, recruiters

5. Assessed by Community Colleges

6. Selected by the Governor, managed by TWC

WhyCareers

What’s In WhyCareers?

1. Whyville, the learning-based virtual world

2. WHY-POWER, new green activities in Whyville

3. Curriculum supplements teaching to standards

4. A Career Pathway Builder for exploration of the courses needed to get to college programs and careers.

WhyCareers

Whyville: A Community• Founded in

1999• Millions of

users served• 50+ sponsors• Economy,

government, math, science, journalism, art, much more

WhyCareers

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

WhyCareers

Whyville in Texas – “WhyTexas” Competition

• 200+ classes• From all over

the State• Governor’s

Certificate

WhyCareers

WhyCareers

WhyCareers

WhyPower – Electricity for Whyville

• 20th Century Grid for Whyville

• See problems!

• Engage students in energy policy

• 21st Century Grid for Whyville

WhyCareers

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.

WhyCareers

Curriculum Supplements

1. Identifying power usage by home appliances2. Calculating home electricity usage 3. Understanding electricity measurements4. Understanding peak load5. The science behind electricity6. Components of a power grid7. Green technician jobs and education8. Green professional jobs and education

Math and science content examplesOhm’s law: v = irEnergy vs. powerMeasurement in kilowattsRatios: How v=ir stays true as voltage steps down from plant to homeAlgebra: Short- vs. long term cost trade-offsAnd taking real home appliance measurements

Home Appliance Technician

Power Plant Operator

Electrical Technician

Home Energy Engineer

Renewable Energy Consultant

Power Plant Engineer

Electrical Engineer

WhyCareers

During the program, students willchoose one of these

WhyCareers

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.

MIDDLE SCHOOL8th Grade Careers

& Other Classrooms

Curriculum

HIGHSCHOOL

COLLEGE

CareerPathways

WhyCareers

Assessment

• Led by Alamo Colleges• Assess adoption by school districts, colleges• Assess usefulness as awareness and recruiting

tool for college staff

WhyCareers

Schedule

Year 1• San Antonio: NEISD, Alamo Colleges w/

Workforce Solutions Alamo and CPS Energy• Waco• Rio Grande ValleyYear 2• Austin: With Capital Area Workforce

Solutions, others

WhyCareers

For More Information

Cliff Zintgraffcliffz@davinci-minds.com210-274-2485

Anson Greenagreen27@alamo.edu210-485-0259

WhyCareers

numedeon, inc.

WhyCareersEducation and PathwaysFrom Middle School to Collegefor Green Energy Jobs