Module 1 - Section 3 - Activity 8

Tree planting on MUVEnation island

For this activity we were asked to create a tree. It was a challenge, indeed. We were suppossed to experience this task in order to develop not only creativity but to master the apprenticeship model, provide peer to peer learning support, enjoy ludic learning and share informal learning.

Objectives

• To further develop building and scripting skills and methods via a creative project
• To cooperate in a community project
• To experience and develop master-apprenticeship model and other forms of peer to peer support
• To explore informal learning opportunities inworld

Process

My group (Group 3) was asked to build one or more of the following types of tree here:

• realistic tree
• surrealistic tree
• typographic tree
• tree of life
• family tree
• naughty tree
• musical tree
• people tree
• tree for sale
• fruit of knowledge tree
• tree into toe won’t go
• tree of oblivion
• tree from hell
• symbol tree
• science fiction tree love tree
• snakes and ladders tree
• monkey puzzle tree idolatree trees a crowd
• geometree
• repositree
• poetree

Although it was not planned that way at the beginning, I created another tree that was not included in the list. I created a Christmas tree, because it was more related to my own RL. Then, I created a realistic tree. Therefore, I can divide my tree building experience into two parts:

Part I. A Christmas tree

At the beginning, I thought that building a tree would be 'a piece of cake'. So, I decided to work on the travel guide first and do this task later. However, as soon as we started with the travel guide, I realized I was wrong. Designing our Creation of Content tour was a total challenge and demanded more time than expected, so my tree had to wait until January.

Trying to accomplish with two assignments at the same time and enjoying the RL Christmas holidays, I built a Christmas tree in the second station of our travel tour path. Its main objective is to show all different shapes we have available in the Object Editor, object features, scripts use, and elements needed for a fun activity in the second station.

I am very proud of that tree. It was made with 16 colorful, lighted and different-shaped rotating prims. If you see it inworld at midnight, it will look like this one in the snapshot.

Part II. A realistic tree

When we came back from Christmas vacations, we realized that several of our travel guide prims had been moved, deleted, or returned. So, I was afraid of using so many prims in my tree. Well, I built this one you see here in the snapshot below.

I first created a cilynder, which would be the trunk. I added it a texture and stretched it. Then, for the leaves, I created a box, stretched it, twisted and hollowed it. I added it a texture, a real tree color and a rotating script. Once this object was ready, I duplicated it several times, creating about 7 or 8 prims. I added these new objects to the trunk. If you see it inworld you will see a rotating tree.

I' ve seen so beautiful trees built, so I'm not very pleased with mine. I still think I could do something better and more productive. So, I will continue trying until I can feel really comfortable or I decide to give up, ha ha :-))

Evelyn