Posted July 2005 Travel Buddy gives students a real purpose for reading and writing Education Views, Edition 13, 2005
		Judy Lanham and Gavin Ross, Learning Place Mentors at Emerald District Red the Redclaw is a yabbie with a mission. From his home in Fairbairn Dam, near Emerald, Red travels the state, learning how people use water and suggesting ways it can be conserved. His adventures also encourage students to read and write. Gavin Ross, Learning Place Mentor, Emerald District, said that Red is a travel buddy with a difference. “Judy Lanham and I share the role of Learning Place Mentor for our District. Together, we identified the need to provide a real world activity to encourage reluctant readers and writers to publish a journal entry to a real audience. We decided to create a project that meets the needs of our local area,” Gavin said. Gavin and Judy used the new Collaborative Online Project (COP) learning tool from the Learning Place. “Participants take on the role of Red and try to help him complete his mission of saving water,” Gavin said. “Thoughts can be recorded in an easy-to-use online diary and photos, audio and even video can be added.”

Red the Redclaw Yabbie

Red has already spread his water-saving word to seven schools in the Emerald District and is about to embark on his first overseas trip, to Thailand, to study water use in that country.

Gavin said that his Owner Teacher role in the project involved, first, creating Red’s mission, personality and adventure, and then approving participants from other schools. Partner Teachers at these schools arranged activities for the time that Red spent at their school, and managed students’ workspace and diary entries. “Students have the opportunity to author in diary areas, and respond to other participants through online chats and forums,” Gavin said. “Participating in a Travel Buddy project gives students a real purpose for reading and writing journal entries, as well as communicating and collaborating with other schools in a secure online environment supplied by the Learning Place.”

In an exclusive interview, Red the Redclaw said that he had recently travelled to Anakie State School and talked to students about what happens in a drought. “The students suggested ways they could conserve water, like taking shorter showers and turning off dripping taps,” Red said. “Conserving water is very important to me, because it’s all about saving my home. Be waterwise – every drop counts!”

Photo gallary of Red the Redclaw at Anakie State School