How to get into Second Life without really trying

Selby Evans is Thinkerer Melville in Second Life

The language of the Thinkerer is well within the range of high school students, but most of them are not likely to use the tools on their own.  If you wonder why, see the Secret of the Instruction Manual.  The most effective way to help your teen use one of the Thinkerer tools is probably to start using it yourself.  Visibly.  Print out a relevant page and mark it. 

Caution!   When you look over these items, you may want to dump the whole load on your teen at one time.  Don’t bother.  You can find less damaging ways to feel frustrated. 

Take one item.  Print it out.  Use it yourself until you can be a good role model.  Then let your teen see you use the printed page.  Maybe let your teen help you use the page.  Maybe suggest that someone the teen knows could use the page to advantage.  Maybe ask the teen to print out another copy for you.  Maybe try a little semi-structured brainstorming on how a person could use the page.

Please do not tell any teens that they should use the Thinkerer.  Those who find it useful will use it on their own. 

The Secret of the Instruction Manual

Tools important to teens

Start Buttons

Study Tips
Feel Feelings Clipit
Impulsiveness Clipit

Self-confidence Clipit

Resolutions Clipit

Time Sucker Clipit

Tomorrow Clipit
Self-direction Clipit

Memory Clipit
Winning with Cuepons
How to make a Thinkerer's Kit
 

Attention span
Know what to expect.

Learning, studying
and other tribulations

Explore a Chapter Clipit

Your one true path to studying

Study: Best Practices Clipit

Semi-Structured Brainstorming

Motivation:  Shift from Park to Drive

Hunter's Kit  (.pdf)
The powers of the Hunter in one file