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August 2009 - Innovative ICT Projects: Daynuv - “Immersive Education in Virtual Worlds”
Founded by Keith Kennedy and James Corbett, Daynuv has its roots in the IT department of Gaelscoil Ó Doghair in Co. Limerick. A multiple award winning primary school, Gaelscoil Ó Doghair is widely recognised as the most technologically advanced primary school in Ireland. Under the guidance of principle Daithi Ó Murchú the school is immersed in the traditions of constructivism and blended learning.
Daynuv specialises in virtual worlds for immersive education. With expertise in 3D modelling software and programming tools for children, Daynuv has created an exceptionally engaging and empowering learning environment. 3D learning software allows gifted children unlock the abilities which can go unnoticed in a traditional learning environment.
Case Studies
Collaborating closely with Gaelscoil Ó Doghair, Daynuv has first hand experience in working with children of exceptional abilities. Connor was considered an under achiever before he was introduced to the Daynuv software. But he quickly excelled in using the 3D environment to build highly accurate and detailed models, revealing otherwise hidden talents. Conor also demonstrated his capacity for self-directed learning by figuring out how to source suitable textures on the internet and apply those to his 3D models with the necessary modifications.
Another student, Autumn, had socially excluded herself from her class mates and teachers. But shortly after she started using the software she found herself, unwittingly, collaborating with her peers on a range of design projects. Which coincidentally exposed a proven characteristic of online networking and collaboration - that a sense of community and camaraderie can only be crystallized around a common interest or purpose, referred to as the ’social object’.
Positive Outcomes
The children of Gaelscoil Ó Doghair are now often to be heard debating the finer points of design around such social objects, from the dovetail joints on a hotel balustrade to the appropriate flora for their undersea Atlantis.
In a virtual world imagination is the only limit.
Future Partnerships
In the next few weeks Daynuv will launch Ireland’s first education dedicated virtual world in association with six partners, including learning institutions and social projects, drawn from across the country. The aim is to provide an online ‘laboratory’ and social network where teachers and students alike can build a collaborative learning environment with the same scope and possibility as their unfettered ability to imagine.
May 2009 - MEP helps to launch student’s interactive map
FIANNA Fail MEP Brian Crowley was in Newcastle West last week to launch an innovative ‘Virtual Europe’ programme that will give students of Gaelscoil Ó Doghair an interactive insight into the history and culture of the European Union.
The programme, which was co-developed by the school and local software company Daynuv, allows students to build and interact with a simulated map of Europe and learn about the characteristics of each member state. The project is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ ‘Communicating Europe’ initiative to bring a greater awareness of the EU into Irish classrooms.
Gaelscoil O’Doghair principal Daithi O Murchu said that the school have taken an active interest in using new platforms to teach its pupils more about the EU: “Virtual Europe is unique in that our students are constructing their own encultured model of what Europe is and can be. We’re immensely honoured that for the second year running Gaelscoil Ó Doghair has been awarded assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs to develop an EU themed project.”
Mr Crowley marked the launch of the programme by planting a tree beside a virtual model of the school, before going outside and planting a real one. This Friday the students will take part in a number of activities within their new virtual continent to mark Europe Day. Daynuv co-founder James Corbett said that the response from the students to the software has been tremendous: “The programme isn’t just an existing environment that they go in and interact with. The students can create and build the world around them and terraform their own map of Europe. The idea is to let them create their own image of Europe and appreciate the unique culture and geography of each EU country. Instead of just reading about, say, the Acropolis they can build it and walk through it themselves. It’s very immersive.”
Daynuv was formed in 2008 by Keith Kennedy and James Corbett, who have two decades worth of IT experience between them. They provide an innovative educational platform ‘Opensimulator’ which is based on the popular ‘Second Life’ programme.
Gaelscoil Ó Doghair have been consistently on the cutting-edge of IT and interactive learning since they moved into their state of the art new building in 2006. For more information, visit the school’s website www.gaelscoil.com
May 2009 - Daynuv at The Computer Clubhouse Showcase
The Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe after-school learning environment for young people from the under-served communities of the south west inner city area of Dublin. The young members work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology. The model of learning was developed by Media Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Boston Museum of Science.
The Computer Clubhouse is a non-profit organization run by the South West Inner City Network (SWICN) and is part of the INTEL Computer Clubhouse Network.
A very confident and tech savvy Emer from Warrenmount Presentation Primary School, in Dublin’s Liberties fired a series of off-the-cuff, common sense questions at two unsuspecting gentlemen (Keith Kennedy and James Corbett of Daynuv) displaying “Virtual Europe”, an OpenSim creation, at today’s inaugural Annual Showcase of the Computer Clubhouse held in the club’s premises in the Digital Hub. Emer was so fast in her quickfire delivery that it was necessary to slow down proceedings with a suitable piece of background music from the podSafe Music Network entitled “The Specialist.”
Source: ww.slua.com
March 2009 - Daynuv recognised as an official Reactiongrid K-12 parner
Daynuv has an RG sim & full 6 sim private grid on ReactionGrid’s platform managed by James Corbett & Keith Kennedy of Ireland.
These 2 Educators are working on the first implementation of OpenSim & virtual worlds in general in a Primary School setting in Ireland. If you are in Ireland or Europe & would like to try Virtual Worlds with your class contact these two using the links above.
Source: www.recationgrid.com
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