Monday, March 31, 2008

Contacting Whyville

Here's how to contact Whyville with issues:

Option 1 -- Click on the "About Whyville" link underneath the bus, and click on the "Contact Us" link on lower right corner of the resulting web page.

Option 2 -- Use the "Contact Us" link on the homepage.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Savings account password

One of my students is having difficulty retreiving her password for her savings account. She has requested that it be sent to her e-mail account; however, she has not received a response. How can we access her account if she loses her password and no access to e-mail? Hopefully, everyone is enjoying spring break!

Thanks

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Skater Lesson Plan

After TAKS this past week I took my 8th grade Technology Systems students into their first taste of Whyville. I signed on each student to Whyville, ask each student to pass the chat test, and introduced the salary ledger with the Skater Lesson Plan. This completely filled a 45 minute class period. Faster students were encouraged to continue increasing their salaries giving me time to help the slower students.

The second day most students had raised their salary to 5 clams, so I ask each student to raise their salary to a total of 10 clams before individual exploration of Whyville. The students were very easy to manage and learning was exciting and fun. I did not have the problems that I had with my first semester students because of the introduction to the salary ledger using the Skater Lesson Plan.

G W Carver has successfully started Weekly Whyville....

Trouble with Amethyst

While trying to complete the GEODIG while collecting in London, up on the rocks on the left of the screen, using a pick, with my avatar shouting I found something, a piece of amethyst appears on the screen, but it never makes it into my rock collection. What am I doing wrong here? I have ask a helper and the helper suggested that I contact Whyville. I do not readily see a way to make that contact.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Whyville student reactions

This week, my students really received several awakenings while working in Whyville. As I checked each student's salary, I found that some students (not many) had received no salary. One student told the one with no salary: "No work no pay." They really are trying several of the activities in the salary ledger to earn more salaries. Another student found that his stamina was in part determined by what he ate. He adjusted his meals so that he could build stamina. Students are also learning a lot also about eating right through proper diet and sickness.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Test

This is a test of the email feature -- please ignore.

Greek Theatre activities

From Tim Lee, Whyville City Manager:

When you first login, the Welcome Page has a Calendar of Events at the top. Each day you'll see an icon for either Math Expressions or Letter Squash at 1 PM or 6 PM. Whichever game you see at a given time, the other game will play at the other time.
For example, today I see that Math Expressions is scheduled for 6 PM.
That means that Letter Squash played at 1 PM.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Technology Module Connections to Whyville

Module Whyville
Biotechnology Bioplex
Research and Development Club Scion
Air Transportation CAD Plane Works

Summer Conferences

CTAT/Health Careers Houston July 21-24
Family & Consumer Dallas Aug 4-8
Business Dallas?
Industrial Arts Houston July 14-18
Ag Teacher Corpus Christi July 29-Aug 1

Touching Base

Wednesdays is going to be okay with me.

Whyville is wild and wooley on our campus. It's creating quite a buzz.

I'll try to rein the kids into completing the Treasure Hunt soon and write a little about it.

I've also had some success with the PlaneWorks Olympics. It's a really good clam maker.

D

Weekly Whyville Blog Reminder

Remember to use Weekly Whyville blog to reduce the number of formal meetings.

Whyville suspension

Mrs Line was in class when she noticed that one of her students at home on suspension was in Whyville building jeeps. The students thought it was amusing and the teachers were amazed that he spent his "free time" at Whyville and that lessons were still being when he was in punishment situation.