1.

What is Project Connect (PC)?

Project Connect is a series of 7 web-based learning applications that combine a fun, gaming experience with educational content related to our everyday experiences with telecommunications technology. The result? A challenging and engaging educational experience.

The PC program is considered serious games (SGs.) Serious games are computer and video games used as educational technology. Serious games can be of any genre. Project Connect is considered a kind of edutainment genre.

Edutainment (also educational entertainment or entertainment-education) is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse. Edutainment typically seeks to instruct or socialize its audience by embedding lessons in some familiar form of entertainment: television programs, computer and video games, films, music, websites, multimedia software, etc.

This is the second generation of PC. The games have been enhanced from the original version. Among with the many added features, the predominant enhancement is a central story line where players become the newest member of TechForce – a secret international elite network of kids from around the world whose mission is to protect the earth and create a better future for mankind through technology. Each game has a new mission for the player to accomplish. The ability to compete for high scores against users anywhere in the world is another prime feature.

Project Connect is located at http://projectconnect.telecompioneers.org.

2.

Why did TelecomPioneers (TCP) enhance Project Connect from it original version?

Since the initial launch of PC in June of 2005, the headquarters has had various experts evaluate the program from different viewpoints – from the playability and usability aspect to the instructional design.

TCP hired an independent game development company for a strictly game play analysis and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) for a thorough evaluation of the entire program – with a focus on the instructional design. TCP also compiled feedback from volunteer, teacher and student users all over the US and Canada and put together a request for proposals for the second generation of PC.

Missing Pixel was hired to enhance PC. Based in New York City, Missing Pixel is a leading design and technology company who has a unique ability to produce engaging interactive media solutions. To learn more about Missing Pixel, please go to http://www.missingpixel.net/.

The reports from ISTE and Missing Pixel to TelecomPioneers' Education Committee and the Board of Directors (BOD) concluded that the original PC was a good and viable product (and was implemented and being played in many schools) but was not robust enough to meet individual state and provincial education standards. The cost to make PC robust enough to meet each state/provincial standard for wide school acceptance would be cost prohibitive to TCP.

So, at the request of the Education Committee and the BOD, TCP engaged Missing Pixel to enhance PC from an engaging, fun, user-friendly standpoint, rather than from an instructional design standpoint so that is has greater perceived value for the after school market.

3.

How much does the program cost?

Project Connect is an international community service project of the TelecomPioneers and as such, the web-based program is FREE to all users. The project is fully funded by the TelecomPioneers.

4.

Who is the target audience?

The target audience is generally ages 9 – 12 (or 4th – 7th graders.) However, the program can be and has been successfully used by older participants as well. Project Connect is an excellent fit for afterschool programs such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, Girls Incorporated, 4-H Groups, Girls and Boys Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, Libraries, etc.

5.

Why Afterschool Programs?

According to the survey of afterschool program staff conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, many afterschool programs are unable to meet the demand in their communities. Respondents to the web-based survey say budget cuts and stagnation are taking a toll on afterschool programs, and the youth and families they serve. Providers report that future funding is insecure, and many have already been forced to make painful cuts to their programs.

"The results of this survey are sobering, and underscore the consequences of failing to fund the afterschool programs our children so urgently need," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families – but we don't have nearly enough quality afterschool programs in the United States today. Changing that should be a high priority for lawmakers, corporations, foundations, and the public."

For more information, see the reference Afterschool Fact Sheet.

6.

What comes with the games?

• An entity code which generates access to enter a personal username/password
• Access from any computer connected to the Internet
• Windows and Mac compatibility
• Availability in English and Canadian French
• Simple, step-by-step user instructions
• Pre and Post Tests
• On-screen "gurus" that feature the pioneers of telecommunications technology
• Volunteer support from TelecomPioneers upon request and availability in your area.

All program materials are available to download from the program website. There are no printed collateral materials available to order for this web-based program.

The program is only available via the Internet, and it is currently not available on CD.

7.

How can I get a username and password for a Project Connect?

See the step-by-step instructions provided in the reference Logging in, Usernames and Passwords.

8.

How long is the username and password active?

The username and password needed to access Project Connect are active indefinitely unless there is a year or more of inactivity tied to that specific account.

9.

Who do I contact if I need IT support?

Contact TCP's helpdesk by calling 800-872-5995 or e-mailing telecompioneers@helpdeskconnect.com.

10.

Where can I get the PC brochures?

Brochures are available to download off the PC website. You may save the file and have them printed locally, or print them off of your own computer.

11.

Can the brochures be branded with the local Group/Chapter/Council/Club name?

Pioneers can locally brand the brochure by placing a customized sticker on the back panel of the brochure.

12.

Where can I get the PC logo to customize my local communications?

The PC logo is available to download off the PC website.

13.

Has the colon been removed from the Project Connect name?

Yes, the colon has been removed from between the words Project and Connect. Originally the name read, Project:Connect. It now reads Project Connect.

14.

As a Pioneer, how do I implement the program?

1. Contact the Afterschool Group’s Program Administrator (or other entity contact) to gain their interest and support of the program.
2. Work with the contact on the presentation, distribution, and volunteer options.
3. Register the entity and entity contacts via the PC website – entity contacts will be sent an automatic confirmation e-mail with the account information.
4. Plan and implement distribution, making it a special program if possible.
5. Give all users the online pretest(s) before playing any of the games.
6. Send out press releases, media alerts, contact your local TV and radio stations. Get publicity!
7. Follow up with the entity on their use of PC and give the post tests.

15.

What is the best way for me to learn how to play the games so I can present the program to interested entities?

1. Register yourself a TechForce username and password via the administration page. After you are registered as a TechForce user, choose the game you want to play and enter your username and password to get started.
2. Navigate the website to get familiar with the contents of the program.
3. Choose one game to begin with and read through the step-by-step user guide.
4. Have fun and spend some time playing the game in the non-timed version until you understand how the game functions.
5. Move on to the timed version of the game. Practice makes perfect! The more you play around, the better you’ll become.
6. Participate in one of TelecomPioneers WebEx training sessions.
7. Ask a kid to help you!

16.

What other volunteer participation ideas can Pioneers bring to the entity that receives Project Connect to support the experience?

• Conduct a poster contest on the subject matter of the games.
• Schedule a field trip to the telecom company for a tour of the network operations center, a server farm or another system that will help the student develop a context on which to build their understanding of the concepts delivered through Project Connect.
• Choose one of the 7 game topics and have the kids research this topic on the Internet, using the approved search protocol at their user location. Have them write a newspaper article to produce a presentation for their peers.
• Have the users give a presentation on the games to their parents as a means of demonstrating the way certain technologies work or the benefits they provide.
• Hold a high score contest and give prizes to the winners.
• Bring additional tools related to the game topics covered in Project Connect. For example, Pioneers can bring and talk about a GPS receiver, a piece of fiber optic cable, a device that uses compression such as an iPOD, or a cellular phone.
• Bring in active employees for a career day to talk about what their responsibilities are for the Telecommunications Company.
• Work with users to create an age appropriate timeline showing the progress of telecommunications.

17.

When should users/volunteers/program leaders fill out the general survey?

The general survey can be completed by any user (one time only) by clicking on the link in the website. However, to be eligible for the computer giveaway (May 1, 2008), you must have played through level one of each of the 7 games and complete all questions in the survey.

18.

Why isn't the player's username and password showing up on the high scores screen?

Given that students are creating their own TechForce account names and have the ability to get "creative" with their name led TCP to make the decision that before high scores are posted to the website, usernames must be approved before being posted to the website for the world to see. Usernames are approved by the entity's contact.

19.

As the "Entity Contact," how do I manage the approval of usernames and passwords?

Each time a user submits a new TechForce username and password, the entity contact(s) will be notified via e-mail of the pending account. The entity contact can then log in to the PC Administration page and approve, edit or deny any pending user account(s). Usernames that have been approved will show up on the high scores page. Usernames that are pending approval will not show up until they have been approved by the entity contact. Usernames that have been denied will not show up on the high scores page until that information has been edited and approved.

20.

What are the system requirements for Project Connect?

System requirements are available on the main page of the PC website, http://projectconnect.telecompioneers.org/.

21.

Will the TelecomPioneers Headquarters be initiating an effort to get national afterschool programs to sign letters of approval for the use of PC in their local organization's programs?

Yes, TCP headquarters will be initiating this effort for national programs such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H, etc.