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<TITLE>Re: OT Kahootz, 7-10 IT and Has VELS got it WRONG? </TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Dear List Members,</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I had the post from Stephen Digby regarding Kahootz forwarded to me from the ‘Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management Teachers' Mailing List. I appreciate his frank assessment and would like to take this opportunity to respond to his comments on behalf of the Kahootz Team.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">As most secondary ICT teachers would appreciate 3D software has traditionally been seen as too complex and advanced for many students at primary age (and in some cases early secondary) to use and master. Kahootz attempts to provide both primary and secondary age students with an open-ended set of 3D construction tools that introduces concepts such as 3D manipulation, keypoint and timed based animation, linking, spatial understanding and perspective.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We believe Kahootz introduces students to a range of generic construction and authoring concepts that will allow them to develop and refine skills across a range of digital media. Currently Kahootz does not provide complex authoring or professional 3D modelling capability. The reasons for this were twofold:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">- The complexity involved may preclude many students (and non-ICT teachers) from using these functions, especially outside of ICT classes. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">- Students will naturally progress to higher-level authoring tools as they master the generic Kahootz concepts.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">One of the clear rationales for DET in placing Kahootz into Victorian Government schools was to provide every school with an entry-level 3D application that would hopefully lead to the exploration of more task-specific and sophisticated software applications. Feedback from teachers at both primary and secondary level would seem to suggest this is occurring.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I’d now like to address some of Stephen's specific observations:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">1. Slow Loading Xpressions</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The load speed of Kahootz Xpressions is largely dependent on the processor speed of the machine and the number of 3D Objects that have been placed in the saved Xpression. Whilst I agree that where there are a large number of Objects included, the Xpression may be relatively slow to load, it would be uncommon for an Xpression to take longer than 30-60 seconds to load.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">2. No Online Help</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Kahootz pack came with the ‘Kahootz User Guide’ that provides detailed instruction in the use of Kahootz. Each Victorian school should also receive a ‘Kahootz Tutorial CD’ from DET early in Term Three that provides simple instruction in the basic Kahootz functions.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">3. Minimising Kahootz Window</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Whilst Kahootz does not use the standard Windows minimise function, Ctrl+H is all that is required to minimise Kahootz and switch between applications.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">4. ‘Stock’ Images Limit Students</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">At first glance it may appear that the construction process is limited to the existing library of Worlds and Objects. We have found however that students through the use of manipulating the depth, width, height, etc of the Objects and by grouping multiple Objects, are effectively able to create ‘new’ Objects that do not exist in the library.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Swatching function also allows for Worlds and Objects to be substantially transformed in a visual sense. Importing 2D images and saving them as a Swatch also allows for the student’s own artwork, scanned images or digital camera photos to be ‘swatched’ to the 3D surfaces of Worlds and Objects.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">5. Inability to Import Images</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We accept the limitations you raise regarding the importation of animated gifs and other similar formats. It is something we are looking at in terms of future development.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">In the case of your students being unable to import or create animated flames, this could have been achieved by Swatching an Object with one of the ‘fire’ surfaces in the Animated category of Swatches.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">6. Import/Export Flash</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">This is something we are happy to look at as part of our future development of Kahootz.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">7. MovieMaker Function</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">List members are probably aware that we recently released a downloadable Update Patch that allows for individual Kahootz Scenes to be exported as either AVI or QT movies. We are already seeing schools use this functionality to combine Kahootz with other applications such as video and sound editing programs to create integrated 3D video presentations.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">8. Lessons and Examples</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The ‘Teaching Activities’ area of the </FONT><A HREF="http://www.kahootz.com "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">www.kahootz.com</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> site is definitely geared towards providing non-ICT teachers with simple tutorial instruction in the use of Kahootz. We make no apology for this.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The ‘Showcase’ area at </FONT><A HREF="http://www.kahootz.com "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">www.kahootz.com</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> provides a range of teacher-created examples of unit outlines that illustrate how Kahootz has been incorporated into various areas of the curriculum. Whether these are ‘shallow or speculative’ I will leave that for others to judge, although the feedback we have received from both primary and secondary teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We are continually looking to improve the quality and breadth of our teacher resources. Any suggestions in this area would be greatly appreciated. The ACTF has been working with DET to generate additional materials that will arrive in Victorian schools shortly that will further illustrate how classroom teachers have been integrating Kahootz across the curriculum.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">9. Motivational Tool for Students</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">If I am correct Stephen seemed to suggest that whilst Kahootz may have been a, “motivational tool for fun exploration of animation”, this was possibly a diversionary and unjustified objective in a crowded primary curriculum. I’ll leave that for others to judge. However, below are just a sample of links to Kahootz Project Spaces created by Australian primary and secondary teachers demonstrating their students’ work using Kahootz and the way it has been integrated across the curriculum.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Roxburgh Homestead Primary School</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Teacher: Maree Leopold</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Year Level: 6</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject Area: SOSE</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Topic: Three Steps – Strategies to Prevent Bullying</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Project Space Link: </FONT><A HREF="http://roxburghhomesteadps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/589/teacher_id/1009?navitem=school%2Fbrowse"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">http://roxburghhomesteadps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/589/teacher_id/1009?navitem=school%2Fbrowse</FONT></U></A></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Ararat Community College</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Teacher: Jo Tate</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Year Level: 8</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject Area: Science</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Topic: Endangered Species </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Project Space Link: </FONT><A HREF="http://araratcc.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/337/teacher_id/396?navitem=school%2Fbrowse"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">http://araratcc.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/337/teacher_id/396?navitem=school%2Fbrowse</FONT></U></A></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Belconnen High School</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Teacher: Nanette Bragg</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Year Level: 9</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject Area: ICT</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Topic: Changes in Technology, Environment and Lifestyle</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Project Space Link: </FONT><A HREF="http://roxburghhomesteadps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/589/teacher_id/1009?navitem=school%2Fbrowse "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> http://belconnen.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/427/teacher_id/548?navitem=school%2Fbrowse</FONT></U></A></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Princes Hill Primary School</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Teacher: Rita Jokubaitis</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Year Level: 5</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject Area: History</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Topic: Stolen Generation</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Project Space Link: </FONT><A HREF="http://roxburghhomesteadps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/589/teacher_id/1009?navitem=school%2Fbrowse "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> http://princeshillps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/678/teacher_id/5209?navitem=school%2Fbrowse</FONT></U></A></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Wheelers Hill Primary School</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Teacher: Simon Broecker</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Year Level: 6</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Subject Area: English</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Topic: Recreating a Novel as a Kahootz Movie</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Project Space Link: </FONT><A HREF="http://roxburghhomesteadps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/589/teacher_id/1009?navitem=school%2Fbrowse "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> http://wheelershillps.kahootz.com.au/kz/template/school%2CListXpressions.vm/pro_id/586/teacher_id/4656?navitem=school%2Fbrowse</FONT></U></A></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I would be happy to provide additional links to work being uploaded by teachers using Kahootz in diverse ways.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">10. Contacting the Kahootz Team</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I’m sorry to hear that Stephen wasn't able to contact us directly. The </FONT><A HREF="mailto:info@kahootz.com "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">info@kahootz.com</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> email address was provided with the documentation that each school received when Kahootz was delivered by DET late last year.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The ‘Help Guide’ link at </FONT><A HREF="http://www.kahootz.com "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">www.kahootz.com</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> also provides you with the capacity to email the Kahootz Team directly. I would be keen to hear from any other teachers who have been unable to touch base with us.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We appreciate that Stephen has taken the time to air his thoughts regarding Kahootz. Kahootz was developed in Melbourne with the support and assistance of Victorian teachers. We intend to improve and develop the software with the continued involvement of Victorian teachers. If anyone on the mailing list would like to discuss any of the issues raised with me directly, I would be happy to have a chat at any time.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Regards,</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Peter Maggs</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Head of New Media</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Australian Children’s Television Foundation</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Email: </FONT><A HREF="mailto:peter.maggs@actf.com.au "><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">peter.maggs@actf.com.au</FONT></U></A>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">PH: (03) 9419 8800</FONT>
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