Big Thinkers: Sasha Barab

Creator of Quest Atlantis, Dr. Sasha Barab, is interviewed here.  He explains his motivation and desire for students to be engaged in their learning and to be transformed into responsible global citizens, skilled critical thinkers and problem solvers, and life-long learners. Have a listen:

Quest Atlantis on the Learning Channel

Quest Atlantis Explored through Interview with Dr. Sasha Barab, Students, and Teachers

There are three interviews that involve Dr. Sasha Barab, the creator of Quest Atlantis.  I am posting all three. It is important to note that while Dr. Barab's initial learning environment was within a classroom, we at Heritage Christian Online School are implementing it through the use of online education with homeschooling students.  While the video shows the success within a classroom, the pilot project we just concluded implemented many of the same strategies a  classroom teacher would. Using Skype, Scribblar, and Quest Atlantis chat/telegrams, we have explored the world together and formed an amazing community, had group discussions, worked with partners,  supported learning challenges, built friendships, and more.

Yes I Can Award Recipient Holly Henderson

This year has been an exciting one for Holly Henderson aka hchollyh within Quest Atlantis and in her personal life.   She began the year as a very quiet student and ended the year full of enthusiasm and achievement.  Holly has made extraordinary progress this year in many areas of her life and it can be contributed to her hard work and perseverance. She has a wonderful support system with her parents, educational assistants, family members, teachers and her friends.  A wonderful attitude and steadfast spirit have brought Holly to a very special year of success with Quest Atlantis.  A few months ago, Sharlene Grant, her SE teacher and I put together a nomination for Holly for the BC Council for Exceptional Children.  Recently, we heard the exciting news that Holly had won for her success in Technology this year.  Congratulations, Holly!  You are one of the 10 deserving recipients of this award from all of British Columbia.  I traveled to Vancouver to receive Holly’s award for her as she had already planned a trip and was having fun in Quebec with her Mom and sister.  It was an honour to represent Holly there and she had a very special message shared about her achievements and received a certificate and an awesome trophy. BRAVO!!! Holly has graduated this year and will be pursuing a new wonderful adventure.  She will be missed as a student, but she will hopefully return as a mentor.

AWARDS FROM YES I CAN! CEREMONY

UsingVirtualWorldsToEngageGiftedLearners

This video is awesome and it is really great to see that what this teacher is doing with these gifted students, I am doing with Special Education Students with HCOS. The students give great explanations in words that explain the student interaction far better than I can. They give a wonderful synopsis of Quest Atlantis from a student's perspective which is so important for everyone to hear. Enjoy!!

Parental Accolades

Parent shared:

Homeschooling my special needs child has always been challenging because he has opposing strengths and skills.  Even more challenging was finding a supportive curriculum to meet his complex needs.

Quest Atlantis has provided a venue for my son to blossom.  In the 5 months that he has been using this program we have witnessed God’s hand at work.

Diagnosed with dysgraphia among other things, Andrew has always struggled with writing. Andrew went from an emerging writer with weak sentence structure and disjointed thoughts writing only a few sentences to a fluid writer who includes detailed paragraphs with proper opening, transitions and closing statements. Andrew’s social skills both in QA and in the real world have also improved.  He has shown growth in critical thinking skills. He is highly motivated to do his work and feels rewarded by earning cols, shardflowers and petals, the right to build and the ability to hold a job in QA.

Quest Atlantis has contributed to profound changes in my son providing him with a solid foundation to succeed in many areas in the future.

We are SO grateful we took a chance and gave immersive technology a go!  

Thanks so much for your encouragement and support!!  

In Him;

-- Allison Miles

HCOS Special Education Support Teacher

Parent supports:

Karen Henderson here, mother to HCOS SE student Holly Henderson.  This is Holly's sixth and final year at HCOS.  All in all, our experience at HCOS has been very, very positive.  We are ever so grateful as the public school system was failing her.  However, what I really would like to expound upon is Quest Atlantis.  

We came to Quest Atlantis almost reluctantly - our support teacher reservedly recommending it for Holly.  We were encouraged by John Davies and had questions answered and fears allayed by Sharlene Grant's conversations with Gord Holden.  And finally, we met online with April McLeod.  We were sold without waiting for the two week trial period.  The program was described to me as Immersive Technology, 21st Century Learning focusing on functional and practical skills as well as socialization.  Well, this is one of the most exciting ways to take in knowledge and to learn life lessons I have ever experienced.  Yes, as Holly's coach, I am learning too.  

Most amazing is the intriguing way lessons are taught, information is given, and the lessons are individualized for each student.  Holly has been given encouragement, had her own skills reinforced, acknowledged and expanded.  She has been given recognition on so many different levels.  She travels the 'worlds' with ease and a great deal of expertise and has shared her experience with other students in the program.  This program is perfectly aligned with Holly's way of learning.  Of course she still has difficulties in the areas where she always has had difficulty, but even those are being ameliorated in Quest Atlantis.  

It is difficult to say for sure that Quest Atlantis is responsible for the glowing eyes, increased self confidence and sparkle Holly exhibits, but it sure looks like it.  Our only regret is that this is her last year and she will be unable to continue to develop through this program.   

Thank you HCOS for bringing Quest Atlantis to our learning experience.

Sincerely,

Karen Henderson

kahadell@saywardvalley.net

Andrew's Spectacular 5 paragraph Essay

Sacrifice for the Cure

QA Plague Essay

March 29th, 2013

Andrew, Grade 5

The plague, a contagious bacterial disease, characterized by fever and delirium, killed over 200 people in the village of Ingolstadt.  Some villagers believe that Dr. V. Frank is a deranged man with ill intention while others believe he is misunderstood and that he is on a mission to save the village from the plague.  Dr. V. Frank should be allowed to continue searching for a cure for the plague, using his 'subject' in medical experiments because 1) the plague is destroying Ingolstadt 2) the doctor is their only hope and 3) the creation will be sacrificed for the town to prevent further deaths and loss in the village .  I know Dr. V. Frank is working hard on a cure to save Ingolstadt and the world.

The population of Ingolstadt continues to fall affecting the people, the work, the business and the future of the village.  Reporter Henry Curbshall states: "More than 200 people have died in the past year." Constable MacArthur goes on to add that, "the plague is destroying Ingolstadt" while Joey Mager suggests "a cure will help all of society, not just Ingolstadt" Furthermore, both Joey Mager and reporter Henry Curbshall agree that "people have lost their jobs because of the plague." Even Innkeeper Udolf and Millworker Karl stated "the mill worker and the innkeeper have lost 80% of their business this year."  The economics of the village is being devastated and Dr. V. Frank is the only one who can find the cure to save the village from complete destruction.

According to Postmistress Jodi, Dr. V. Frank "has won many medical honor for his excellent work" . Reporter Henry Curbshall suggests the doctor can be trusted and is "our only hope".  After all he is a doctor and his job is to save others and he was "the one to find the cure to that HG9 disease." (From Innkeeper Udolf and Lizzie's Diary) Dr. Frank as well as Innkeeper Udolf further states: "it's too late to start over and get someone else to find a cure." According to the mayor, not only is the doctor working day and night to save the village but he is also giving up meals to complete his research to find a cure for the plague. I heard Dr. Frank is one of the most highly trained doctors and he will find a cure.

Dr. V Frank's intention is to find a cure for the plague by completing medical experiments on his 'subject'.  The creation can be sacrificed for the good of the community because it isn't human and it doesn't have human rights.  "The creation doesn't even LOOK human,' shared Aunt Patricia.  Doctor V. Frank said "the creation was made in a lab from dead body parts".  I also witness this when I had to deliver a human brain to the doctor.  Dr. V. Frank is clearly sacrificing these bodies for the good of the town  

In conclusion, Dr. V. Frank is a committed doctor who is well intended and whose goal is to save the village of Ingolstadt from the devastation created by the plague. Dr Frank is Ingolstadt's only hope and he should be allowed to use his 'creation' to prevent further deaths and loss.  His cure will not only save Ingolstadt but also the world.