>>> Posting number 605, dated 24 Oct 1994 16:13:33 Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 16:13:33 +0000 Reply-To: KIDLINK Project List Sender: KIDLINK Project List From: Lara Stefansdottir Subject: KIDFORUM Hunt topic ------------------------------ KIDFORUM FEBRUARY 19th - APRIL 1st 1995 -------------------------------------- ================================= The Great KIDLINK Hunt of KIDS-95 ================================= Dear KIDLINKers, Our topic in late February and March of 1995 will be a fun and informative romp through the depth and breadth of KIDLINK services, archives, and information. The topic will be moderated jointly by Mark Hunnibell (USA) and Delwynne Peterson (Australia) and will be fully developed by them in the months prior to the topic beginning. Like many other KIDFORUM projects, the Great KIDLINK Hunt will be designed so that youth can participate for one day, one week, or the entire six week duration of the project. The idea is to participate in the way that best suits your situation. Of course it is most fun to be there all the time. The most important thing is to create dialogue on the subject. Description =========== For many people, youth and adult alike, KIDLINK represents a giant puzzle that they are only able to find some pieces to. Many pieces are left undisturbed or greatly under-used. Our idea is to make an open game of discovering all that KIDLINK is, has been, and what it has to offer. We hope to create a curiosity in the youth in an adventurous environment that will take participants into all features and corners of KIDLINK that they may have heard about and wanted to explore. On February 19 and each two weeks of the month after that, a special puzzle message will be sent to the KIDFORUM list. Participating youth will be encouraged to work the puzzles out as their circumstances permit. Some will work individually on all the puzzles in all the puzzle messages, while others may work in groups on just a few of the puzzles for just two weeks. It is totally up to the individual teachers and youth involved how far you want to take it. System Requirements =================== We will be developing our puzzles with as much sensitivity to various system limitations as is possible. For example, we realize that many people have access to Internet via email only. To the maximum extent possible, the puzzles will be solvable by users with such access. Subjects Covered ================ The final list is yet to be drawn, but we expect to have the kids involved with and develop skills in these areas: - Finding things in the KIDLINK archives - Analyzing data from the KIDLINK archives - Getting help from KIDLINK documents - Downloading files - Uploading files - Using TELNET - Using the KIDLINK Gopher - Using KIDLINK IRC - Using FTP - Getting, viewing, and submitting KIDART We've already gotten some feedback that these are skills that many *adults* would like to develop and so we expect some parallel discussion between adults might take place on the KIDPLAN list alongside any coordination messages. Puzzle Development ================== Each puzzle question will be created so that it teaches or leads the participant to develop expertise in one or more of the above areas. Delwynne Peterson has an enthusiastic group of students who will help develop and test each puzzle document to make sure they can be solved. Every effort will be made to create puzzles that have an answer but perhaps several paths to get there. Additionally, there may be some puzzle questions that ask the user to write a paragraph 'essay' answer. Mid-session Hints ================= After a week of hunting, some participants may get frustrated. To help keep things interesting for all, a 'Hints' document will be sent to the KIDFORUM list a week after each puzzle document is presented. KIDFORUM Discussion =================== The kids will use the KIDFORUM list to share ideas on solutions, ask questions of others, talk about how they might use their newfound knowledge on a day-to-day basis, and whatever comes to mind about the hunt. One thing that they will likely not want to talk about is the details of their final solution. The actual answers from each participating class or individual will be sent to a special address where they will be checked and recorded. Announcing the Answers ====================== Two weeks after each puzzle document is published, a detailed 'Answers' document will be sent to the KIDFORUM list. It will have a list of all the puzzle questions and the first and best 'correct' answers that are received at the special address. All names and email addresses that gave 'correct' answers will be also be listed. A brief discussion by the moderators may also follow the answers to each question. Ending the Topic ================ After the end of the last two-week period on 1 April 1995, a more comprehensive report will be made available that describes all the participants, the general results, and some form of recognition for the youth who worked hard to get the right answers. Since the skills we hope to impart during this hunt are essentially 'networking life skills,' it is expected that the hunt documents will be useful at any time to a teacher who would like to duplicate the project on a local or regional scale at some later date. If it is *really* popular, perhaps we can have a Great KIDLINK Hunt of KIDS-96! Our Moderators ============== Questions about this project should be directed to the moderators; Mark Hunnibell and Delwynne Peterson. They can both be reached by sending mail to one address: hunt-95@kidlink.ccit.duq.edu. If you desire to write to them individually, the addresses are: Mark Hunnibell Delwynne Peterson Mark is a volunteer coordinator for KIDLINK and has been involved with KIDLINK since November 1990. He coordinated much of the activities for the KIDS-92, KIDS-93, and KIDS-94 celebrations and currently manages the KIDLINK Gopher and KIDLINK IRC Network. His real job is an airline pilot. Delwynne teaches agriculture and horticulture at Avila College, a secondary school for girls in Melbourne, Australia. She is particularly interested in the Information Superhighway and its implications for education. She runs a computer club which meets daily and her students have participated in a number of KIDLINK projects. Participation ============= While not absolutely required, we recommend that you advise the moderators of your intent to participate. The list of participants will be made available to other participants as well as those outside KIDFORUM. Please send notice of intent to participate to the following address: Great KIDS-95 Hunt Moderators You will probably want to include a contact and school name and any comments to the moderators that will help them understand how you plan to participate. Other questions about KIDFORUM should be sent to the coordinators: Alenka : alenka.makuc@public1.noprmd.mail.si Lara : lara@ismennt.is NOTE: You do NOT have to start with the project February 19th you can join in later. But of course it is most exciting to participate all the time. First step: =========== If any of the youth who will be participating have not already done so, they should send their KIDLINK Introduction; their answers to the four KIDLINK questions to RESPONSE@VM1.NODAK.EDU and NOT to the KIDFORUM list. It is not necessary to wait until February 19th to send these answers in. The four questions are: 1) Who am I? 2) What do I want to be when I grow up? 3) How do I want the world to be better when I grow up? 4) What can I do now to make this happen? IMPORTANT: KIDFORUM is for kids aged 10-15 only! Outlines ======== Please note that ONLY the children send letters to KIDFORUM the teachers can discuss the topic in the KIDPLAN list. The children like to get responses to what they send, so encourage them to discuss ideas in KIDFORUM. They can either send letters as a group or as individuals. Subscription to KIDFORUM ======================== To join the KIDFORUM list, send an email message to: LISTSERV@VM1.NODAK.EDU or LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 (Bitnet) with the following command in the TEXT of your message: SUB KIDFORUM Your-first-name Your-last-name Use your real name, not a computer name or "Your-first-name Your-last-name". Make sure you send the request to the LISTSERV address and not to any of our lists. ======================== I hope you will enjoy the topic and that each teacher will find a very fruitful way in using it in his or her classroom. Kaer kvedja Lara Stefansdottir Alenka Makuc KIDFORUM - coordinator KIDFORUM - assistant coordinator =============================================================== Lara Stefansdottir The Icelandic Educational Network (ISMENNT) lara@ismennt.is Educational director Tel: 354-1-683230 KHI v/Stakkahlid, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland