Virtual Learning Prize
July 22nd, 2008 by trottahe
I was watching the movie Akeelah and the Bee the other day and I was thinking of the quote mentioned in the film, “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?”
Life’s turbulent waters have a tendancy to drown any such notions from our mind. Being tumbled around, these thoughts have been the last on my mind in recent years… yet today, I am reminded that every once in a while, someone or something comes along just for the sole purpose of encouraging us NOT to forget.
I never, ever, thought I would be awarded one of the NMC Virtual Learning Prizes for 2008. I knew that the competition was tough and there were many talented and knowledgable Second Life educators applying with excellent proposals. I had been working on a Second Life project, the ”Virtual Endangered Ecosystem - Salt Water Marsh” for a year with two science faculty from Seton Hall. The project had not been approved for funding at the university for some reason this past year. I had seen the call for NMC proposals and I was so excited. By having our proposal accepted, I could thank these faculty, in some small way, for putting in so many hours of their own personal time to help me develop out the design.
Eight grants were issued from 75 applicants … I feel truly humbled that our idea was chosen. When I actually found out, I started to cry. We were really being given the opportunity to recreate our learning environment. And for me personally? Well, it represents a candle of encouragement, beckoning me to enter the light.
