The expedition has a number of educational
objectives:
To obtain video and still photography for use in immersive
chromakey video work at the new The Huyton CLC at Knowsley
Hey School scheduled for opening in early 2002. More>>
To investigate the use of SMS (text) messaging on
mobile phones and e-mail to engage pupils in real-time educational
experiences. More>>
Chromakey Video
The City Learning Centre at Knowsley Hey School will be
the most advanced IT centre in the country for creating
Educational Materials. Focusing on the use of Digital
Television and Video it will have a two story high Performing
Arts Studio where Pupils and Adults around Knowsley
will create their own TV programs. Use of highly advanced
IT facilities will allow the creation of animation to the
same standard as Disney films. The most exciting development
will be the use of a 'virtual' studio which will enable
people in Knowsley to be placed in locations throughout
the world by simply superimposing them into filmed backdrops
using chromakey (blue screen) techniques.
The objective will be to explore ways in which more engaging
educational experiences can be created using current technology.
A number of concepts are being developed for the rainforest
materials, including a virtual "walk in the jungle"
in which pupils will see themselves in the jungle and will
appear to walk behind trees and other objects (using alpha-channels).
A teacher will accompany pupils on the walks and will point
out and discuss biological and environmental subjects with
the pupils. Initial trials with video collected on the Pre-visit
have shown that the quality of current chromakey systems
is excellent, providing a very realistic effect,
and is likely to have a major impact on pupils.
More details about Hey School and the new CLC can be obtained
on their web site at www.knowsley-hey.org.uk/index.htm
or by contacting them directly:-
The use of SMS (text) messaging on mobile phones to enhance
or promote educational projects has been piloted before
in Knowsley, in the form of a soap opera style narrative
called WAN2LRN. The text messages were based around the
lives of three teenagers in the North West and signposted
pupils to a web site (www.knowitall.org.uk)
about revision and examination skills.
JUNGLETXT builds on the experience
gained from WAN2LRN and aims to generate an interest
in the historical, biological, geographical and environmental
aspects of the expedition. It will do this by documenting
the progress of the expedition through daily text message
updates to pupils in Knowsley schools. The text message
will also appear on the Journal page of this web site, along
with more detailed e-mail Journal entries. It is hoped that
this web site will develop over the course of the expedition
and beyond to become a reference point for rainforest related
curriculum materials, for schools in the North West.
Click here to subscribe to JUNGLETXT
and receive daily updates from the expedition (11 July to
8 August 2001).
