Welcome to the first edition of our Interactive3d Learning Objects News & Views, the new monthly newsletter for Africa’s new, and growing Interactive3d Learning Object network members.

Over the coming months, we will be covering a number of aspects of this uniquely African initiative, our network - that we know will help to transform learning and education across our continent.

We’ll be giving you feedback on what’s happening around our community; who’s doing what and any other developments. We will also let you know of new members joining the network (welcome to Wanjiku from Kenya); we will be sharing tips and tricks, and much more besides.

Remember though - this is your newsletter - so we want to hear about YOUR successes (and problems) so that we can share our experiences, spread the word and move onwards and upwards…

Viva Africa... Viva VR

What’s been Happening

It has been over six months since many of us got together for our Workshop and in most areas things have since been fairly quiet. Modou in Senegal set up a Yahoo group for us; Leilo in Mozambique has taken the pit latrine model further; Henok has done some work on the PC Literacy material and Stewart in Harare has done some work on bee-keeping.

However, we also suspect that things are in fact quietly going on, but we haven’t found a good way of telling each other. We also suspect that some of us are also still working on the water material for the VMA project.

News and Views is a new way for sharing with each other – so, let us know what you have been up to, and we will include it in the next edition.

And so to get things going – some news from our side…

Our Interactive3d Learning Object collaborative network gets a push

It’s official. The Naledi3d Factory has signed a new agreement with UNESCO (thanks to Paul Hector) to develop and stimulate activities around Africa’s Interactive3d Learning Objects network.

In addition to this newsletter, a few things are happening… including…

1. Setting up the oft spoken common web resource where we can download and upload Interactive3d Learning Objects. Now we have the resources to do the job. Watch this space…

2. Adopt the older Nakaseke basic hygiene model to a new format that can be localized – to be added to the server.

3. Develop a full two to three year plan to take our i3dlo initiative to a much higher level… This plan will focus on how to further expand our network, identify new development areas, and build new Interactive3d Learning Objects and so on, with a view to obtaining funding for a broader programme.

As part of another project with the WK Kellogg Foundation, we will be adopting some VR-based content on bee-keeping as well – so that is something else for you to get your teeth into down the line!!

Finally, within the next week or two we will also be sending you a questionnaire to find out what your needs and, importantly, your expectations are regarding this process. In the meantime, we will be building that web resource.

Onwards and upwards…

First International Conference on ICT’s for Development Responds Enthusiastically to the Interactive3d Learning Object Concept

One of our first tasks has been to raise awareness of the Interactive3d Learning Object concept amongst education specialists and stakeholders

The 1^st International Conference on ICT’s for Development was held recently in Addis Ababa (late May) and this offered an ideal platform to tell the world not only about Interactive3d Learning Objects – but also about YOUR role in taking material and translating it into local languages and to local contexts.

With true fanfare, Dave Lockwood, of the Naledi3d Factory, Paul Hector of UNESCO and Dr Bob Day from ICT’s for Non-Zero-Sum Development, gave a joint presentation as part of the African eLearning Showcase session. The lively session took the format of six brief presentations on various learning tools, followed by each of the presenters manning a side exhibition, which afforded participants an opportunity to take a closer look at the learning innovations on display. The response was overwhelming! Our demonstration stand was, quite literally, swamped as the innovative and revolutionary nature of Interactive3d Learning Objects as a powerful new learning concept fired the imagination of those present.

Even better – many were interested in using the Interactive3d Learning Objects and some (from Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Ghana and Zambia) were also interested in joining our network!

We’re also excited to report that Interactive3d Learning Objects are poised to depart from Africa’s shores - A group from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific are also interested in translating objects into some of the 82 South Pacific island languages - starting with one of the most commonly spoken - Polynesian.

Encouragement indeed - for all of us…

Localisation of Interactive3d Learning Objects gathers speed

We have talked of the future, but what of the present… We know that:

1. The Pit Latrine i3dLO has been translated into Portuguese by the team at Eduardo Mondlane University – and Shangaan is, we believe, on its way

2. The Pit Latrine i3dLO has also been translated into French by Modou at UCAD in Senegal

3. Stewart in Harare has been doing some work on bee-keeping

4. Henok in Addis Ababa has done some work on the PC Literacy material

5. Finally, and hot off the press… The Pit Latrine object is now being translated into Kikuyu (as we speak); Embu and KambaKikuyu and Swahili is also being talked about. I mentioned that Wanjiku from Nairobi has joined our network… not only has she joined us, as you can see, she is climbing in with both feet.

Welcome Wanjiku (Ng'ang'a) from all of us, and we are looking forward to seeing the fruits of your efforts.

So, the challenge is on. Will the first truly African Interactive3d Learning Object be in Kikuyu, or will it be Shangaan?
Sorry Stewart, our collective work on bee-keeping in Shona isn’t really an Interactive3d Learning Object – yet…

For these efforts, we are truly grateful. For what is coming, we are excited. Keep up the great work!

However, I am also sure that we have done someone an injustice. Please, please, please, let us know over the NEXT THREE WEEKS what you have been up to and we will include it in the June edition of i3dLO News and Views…

Who’s New - The Collaborative Network may be growing soon

As you know, our network started out with members from Senegal, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Wanjiku from Kenya has brought a new energy – and we hope to soon be also welcoming aboard new members from Botswana, Tanzania and Somalia. In addition, the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific may soon become our first non-African member.

Tomorrow… the world.

That’s it for this edition. We’ll be back next month with more exciting news as well our first Tips & Tricks section that’ll give you pointers on how to “localise” i3DLO’s, create good quality audio & video clips, optimize textures and materials and much more!