The Learning Engagement Theory of Quest Atlantis, “learning, playing, helping” has not only formed the basis of the students’ work in QA, but has become part of their whole class experience. It has been beautiful to witness the way that the students themselves have recognized this. After their first term of participation, students were asked to reflect on their QA journey. Some of the responses from our 11 and 12 year old students were:

“Quest Atlantis is good for having some fun and doing some work.  So it’s like learning and playing at the same time.” “I think that the future of learning lies here, that Quest Atlantis can make everyone aware of human errors and that Quest Atlantis is a great way to communicate.” “I see people helping others, opportunities to learn and new friends. I think outside the square, about the world, about how others feel.”

We were, to say the least, “blown away” by these responses! You can read all of the responses on our My Quest Atlantis Blog or view our movie about Learning, Playing & Helping in Virtual World. We have seen a wonderful sense of gratitude from our QA students. One teacher commented that he feels QA has not only changed the way he teaches but even the relationship he has with his students.

“The students are able to participate in such a positive learning experience. They realize that you are the one helping to make that possible for them. As a result, there’s a definite feeling of gratitude towards all QA teachers.”

There have been a number of special moments that we have experienced with our QA students.

After our first student, Cleo, luminated for the first time, we decided to mark the special event by presenting her with a laminated picture of herself “in-world”. I will never forget the look on Cleo’s face as she took the picture out of the envelope. After giving me a hug she said proudly, “I know exactly where I’m going to put it – above my bed! That’s where I put all of my special things.” My heart melted! You can read more about Cleo’s QA experience in her blog post. For a number of years, our school has been involved with Kidzpositive and The Positive Beadwork Project. The project produces beautiful customized beadwork that provides income for many HIV/AIDS affected women in South Africa. We were able to create our own QA badge using their Online Design Tool. It was an exciting day when the badges arrived! The students were not aware of the QA badges that would be presented to them as they luminated for the first time. As I showed the students the beautiful new badges and explained their purpose, I remember looking at their beaming faces and hearing the chorus of “Wooow…” as I held them up. “Does anyone have any questions?” I asked. “I don’t have a question but I just wanted to say thank you.” Yet again, my heart melted!

As my role is to assist teachers with implementing Quest Atlantis in their curriculum, it is not uncommon for Questers to “pop in” and tell me about their latest achievements in QA.  ”Mrs B, guess what I’ve done in Quest Atlantis?!” In particular, I have enjoyed following the journey of our students who have been learning to build in QA. The students have an incredible opportunity to develop skills in building in a 3D virtual world. Students as young as 9 years old are building their own houses, furnishing them and, as I found out, building areas as gifts for other Questers. As I sat with Tess, she took me on a tour of her virtual home, complete with furniture and garden. “I made a mushroom house for you,” Tess proudly told me, “and I put a laptop computer in there because I know you love computers.” You guessed it, my heart melted! You can read more about Tess’ QA building experience in her blog post.

As we approach our last school term of the 2009 school year in Australia, it is also time to sit down and assess our participation in Quest Atlantis.  Our School’s Strategic Directions document states “Nurturing the Learner” as our first goal with “new programs enhancing the social, emotional and spiritual well-being of learners.” For us, Quest Atlantis has not only provided opportunities for our students to combine the “learning and playing” but, as we watch on proudly, we continue to see the “helping” shine through.

Lucy Barrow is the Staff ICT Trainer at a K-12 Independent School in Victoria, Australia. She is fortunate to work with wonderful staff, including Janet Hillgrove and Roger Barrow who have embraced the Quest Atlantis program. You can read the School’s My Quest Atlantis blog by going to http://myquestatlantis.edublogs.org/