Welcome to Gaia! ::

RULES



These are the basic codes of conduct within the Academy. There are not many and they are very simple. Breaking these will have consequences.

1. Common Sense
Don't be an idiot. Respect each other, respect the TOS, and respect guild rules. Don't mess it up for the rest of us, and try not to do anything that would upset other people. This is a GAME after all, we're here to have fun.

2. Control
Because this is a school we're going to be understanding if you don't know proper RP etiquette at first but all students will be required to take POL 101 as their first class where they shall learn, among other things, the following rules: Don't control anyone else's character(s). Don't severely affect (maim, kill, etc) them without permission (of the player or with GM override). Don't go off on an insane killing spree (without permission). Don't mess up the plot/world. Basically use some measure of self control or pay the consequences (character death/player ban).

3. Literacy
This is a school and as such we encourage you to write well. For this RP that means in third person, past tense, complete sentences. L33t speak, txt abbreviations, profuse slang, and generally bad grammar should not be used outside of dialog. We won't be grammar Nazis but do try to write above an 8th grade level. If we think you need help with your grammar you will be asked to take LIT 101 before continuing to another course but you can always request to take any of our LIT classes if you would like to improve your writing.

Also, please do not color and/or bold dialog. It puts too much emphasis on dialog which, while important, should not be put above the rest of the text. And so not to offend our eyes, do not center align long blocks of text, use small fonts, or use bright font colors. In general, please keep formatting to a minimum.

4. Depth
We'd like our characters to be as real as possible but this is a school so we don't expect much from entering students. Because of this all players will start play as themselves (or a believable online persona) and must take PSY 101 to create/flesh out any other character(s) they might like to play.

5. Commitment
We want dedicated players or at least to know how dedicated all our players are. You will be asked how often you expect to be able to post on your application, take that seriously and give us the time you sign up for. We will pair you with a tutor that has a similar activity level so don't waste your tutor's time by falling behind. The absolute minimum is 1 post a week for students. Tutors are expected to make at least 3 posts a week.

6. Dependability
Occasional lapses in commitment are understood but please notify the Registrar and your tutor when you expect an extended absence. Frequent, repeated lapses in commitment will result in the lowering of your listed posting frequency, failure of classes, and possible expulsion from the Academy.

TUTOR APPLICATION

What does an SDRP Academy Tutor do?

There are many people out there who are interested in RPing but don't know where to start or they feel too overwhelmed to give it a try. As a tutor, you will be there to guide them through their first steps along the path to a new and wonderful hobby. Or maybe your student already has an idea of what to do but is looking for more insight on how to do it better. Either way your role as a tutor will be to show them how to reap more success and enjoyment out of roleplaying.

More specifically, you will work with a Faculty Adviser who will in turn help you to help your students through the curriculum outlined in our Course Catalog. You will be responsible for teaching your students the topics listed in each course you teach them and answering any questions they may ask along the way. You are expected to be polite, supportive, and if you don't know an answer you should point them to someone who does. You will also be invited into our Tutoring guild which will give you access to lesson plans and teaching resources developed by the Faculty to help you out along the way.

What We're Looking For

We want our members to have a quality experience with everything we do here and our tutoring is no exception. It's one thing to say you can teach but a very different matter to actually do it so we put our tutors to the test and make sure they have the commitment, skill, and know how to teach in a friendly, supportive, and factual manner. Here are some things we're looking for in a tutor:

• Respect: As a tutor, you will be interacting with other people, such as your students, other tutors, and faculty. These people may not always agree with you, and it will be important for you to understand and appreciate these differences.
  
• Experience: We can't accept an RP tutor who has no experience RPing. Nor can we have a tutor for GMing if they have no experience GMing. To verify your experience, we ask that you provide links to relevant samples and references, as well as info on where you RP - guilds, forums, tabletop, LARP, etc.
  
• Quality: All the experience in the world won't make you a good tutor (or even player) if you're not doing it well. To verify your quality, we ask that you provide links to relevant samples and references.
  
• Patience: You will be a teacher and there will be times when progress is not made as quickly as you may like. As such, it is important to maintain a cool head and to stay positive.
  
• Dedication: You can't teach if you can't be reached so you need to be available for contact. To ensure smooth operation of this program, we will ask that you be active and log into Gaia to interact with your students on a regular basis, which is at least three times each week.
  
• Discretion As a tutor, you will be privy to student information so you need to be able to handle that and not disrespect anyone's privacy.

Application Process & Form

If you feel that you've got the qualities we're looking for just fill out the form below and PM it to the Registrar (School of Dedicated RPers) with the subject: SDRP Tutor Application to be considered for the job. If your application is promising you will be accepted to participate in this round of EDU 101 to prove yourself and get a little instruction on how (and what) to teach.

Note: Fill this form out as yourself, not a character.


[b]Username:[/b]
[b]How often can you post to this RP?[/b]
[b]Why do you want to be a tutor and what makes you fit for this job (please include any teaching or tutoring/mentoring experience you may have)?[/b]
[b]How much, and what kind of, roleplay experience do you have (include links if possible)?[/b]
[b]What would you consider your greatest strength in roleplaying?[/b]
[b]What would you consider your greatest weakness in roleplaying?[/b]
[b]What do you think are the most important things to keep in mind when roleplaying?[/b]
[b]What do you think are the most important things to keep in mind when teaching?[/b]
[b]What courses would you be most comfortable teaching?[/b]
[b]Please provide a paragraph about yourself for us to put in the directory thread.[/b]
(Things to include here are: your teaching as well as RP experience, what genres of RP you like, and RP samples if you have any. Aim for five to seven sentences.)


Since we're starting you out in a class this time we're also going to need your tutor character information. Tutor characters will be the persona with which you teach your students. For continuity and getting to know each other we prefer your tutor characters to be more or less yourself, or at least your online persona. Embellish and idealize, concoct elaborate histories for how you got here and don't be afraid to give yourself a few fancy abilities but the person at the core should be fairly representative of you.

Submit the following character form with your application:


[b]Character Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Race:[/b]
[b]World of Origin:[/b]
[b]Distinguishing Characteristics:[/b]
[b]Physical Description:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Notable Abilities:[/b]
[b]How did you come to the Academy?[/b] *
[b]Personal History:[/b]
[b]Tableau:[/b] Write a scene that tells why your character applied to become a tutor.


* You might want to read the world information before answering this.

Put yours in today and we will work out a way to get your character into the class. You can still get full credit, even starting late, so long as you adequately complete all of the assignments.



Everyone get to posting. You will be expected to make regular posts to pass this class.

Unit 1: Getting to Know You - This is an introductory lesson to familiarize us with each other's characters and introduce the basic concepts of the Academy world and tutoring program. It will also be used as a way to gauge each student's writing skills and RP style so that assignments may be tailored to them appropriately.
Assignment:

1.) Introduce your character. Feel free to react to and/or comment on other introductions as you do.
2.) Please also try to answer the questions the teacher asked in the second paragraph of her post, otherwise she will assume the answer is 'no' and have to explain it to you.

Due Mon, April 7th.

Unit 2: What We're Looking For - This lesson focuses on defining what makes a 'good' RP vs what is a 'bad' one as well as ways to tactfully provide critique and suggestions for improvements. Examples and resources will be given in lecture then the students will be required to prove their judgment and critique skills.
Assignment:

1.) Find two example RPs: one good and one that needs serious improvement. You can look for them in Barton Town or around the guild; however, to avoid possible conflict, please don't pick an RP from anyone who is in the class, not even for the good one, not even the teacher's, not even your own.
2.) Once you have your samples, your character must present them to the class and explain what's good and what needs work for each of them.
3.) Be sure to also suggest ways to make improvements as you detail the RP's faults.

Due Mon, April 14th. Extended to Fri, April 18th with extra credit given to those that get theirs in by Monday.

Unit 3: It Takes All Kinds - This lesson focuses on the different styles of RP as well as different learning styles and ways to deal with each of them. Examples and resources will be given in lecture then the students will be asked to identify their own styles as well as those of given samples and develop ways of working with them.
Assignment:

1.) Identify your own RP style and explain why you prefer that style.
2.) Identify your learning style and give examples of teaching techniques that have gotten through to you.
3.) Read over your assigned sample student's profile to identify their RP and learning styles then outline a plan for how you would approach teaching them.

Due Mon, April 21th.

Unit 4: Deep Thought - This lesson focuses on development, both in RP and psychology. Lecture will discuss various appropriate amounts of development for each RP style and ways to help develop plot, characters, and setting in an RP will be given along with an overview of psychological development theories with a focus on Piaget's Developmental Theory, Bruner's Constructivist Theory, and Vygotsky's Social Development Theory and the cognitive limitations they each place upon various stages of development.
Assignment:

1.) Identify your preferred level of RP development for each plot, characters, and world then explain why you feel this way.
2.) Read over your sample student's RP posts and suggest some ways they could better develop their plot, character(s), or world - you choose which one to address.
3.) Identify your sample student's level of cognitive development and explain the limitations that will put on them.

Due Mon, April 28th.

Unit 5: The Right Approach - This lesson focuses on what is appropriate for a given RPer, both in game and teaching approach. Examples of appropriate content for the various skills, styles, and developmental levels will be discussed for both RP and lesson plans.
Assignment:

1.) With the previously identified skills, styles, and developmental levels of your example student in mind, come up with a list of at least 10 RP content items that would be most appropriate for your student.
2.) Keeping the same in mind, come up with a list of at least 10 RP content items that would be inappropriate for your student.
3.) Again, keeping your student in mind, develop a lesson plan appropriate for improving your student's greatest fault.

Due Mon, May 5th.

Unit 6: Plans of Mice and Men - This lesson focuses on improvisation skills and what to do when your plans unravel. Examples of commonly encountered issues will be given in lecture along with suggestions on ways to both prevent and handle each.
Assignment:

1.) Deal with whatever your sample student throws at you.

Due Mon, May 12th.

Unit 7: Putting it All Together This lesson continues the previous lesson and puts all others together to culminate in the Final Exam.
Assignment: FINAL EXAM

Due Mon, May 19th.

Szalmarik was quietly reading an old textbook in the back of the classroom. He hadn't taken to a desk quite yet as the teacher hadn't arrived.
"After the pot comes to a boil add a leg of a newt, three sprinkles of confetti, one cyclops eye, and stir with a hag's broom and speak the words 'Abra Ka-Moo'. Huh, what a strange way to make cheese." he muttered to himself reading aloud.

It was then that the teacher arrived in such a startling fashion that he almost threw the book at her. After easing up a bit when she started speaking he put the book back on the shelf and moved into a nearby desk. He listened carefully to her instructions before looking around the room to see if anyone would dare take up the first introduction. Alas, it seemed nobody would so he rose again from his chair, clearing his throat.

"Ahem, I suppose I shall be the one to start then. My name is Szalmarik with an 'S' 'Z'. You can call me Marik if you would like or 'Gimpi' as the Lord Mistress would most likely continue going. Which reminds me, when you play the game of walls you either win or it died. Or was it the game of roles? I forget. Either, or, continuing on. I am a Nephilim hailing from worlds both distant and lost from wars long past. I'm not certain of my age as time flows differently from each plane I've visited so please don't ask. I enjoy simple things such as a starlit sky and a warm summer rain. My favorite delectable is a combination of peanut-butter and ice cream. I'm a monster for Ice cream." He thought about something more to say but nothing came to mind so he slowly took back his seat.

Maegan was lost in another daydream of hers; this was in truth about the third one since entering the classroom but hey, who’s counting…right? This one being of the romantic type, well most of her fairy tale like dreams were about love. Although, she for some odd reason was never in her own daydreams about love, action of course but the second you throw in some hormones, she takes her dramatic exit like it comes with a side order of plague.And so the prince in all his mighty glory burst into the dimly lit room forcing the tapestries to flutter around their windows. In his arms, the tranquil beauty that was the princess lay in a deep slumber with no possible hope to be awakened. None other of course than true love’s first-

“Ahh!” Maegan’s sweet delusions were torn from the seams as the teacher appeared before them in a cloud of shimmering glitter. It was indeed the loud bang that forced her back to reality, if the teacher had simply appeared like a normal person there would be a chance that Maegan’s fantasy would have kept their grip on her forever-wandering mind. Had the teacher planned it that way, she was almost 20 minutes late according to the clock on the wall; maybe she knew some of her students would in fact be just as lost in Lala land just like her. Ah well she would probably never ask, and so would probably never find out.

It was then that she realized what the teacher had actually instructed them to do. It was also the moment that she realized she was next in the rows of desks. Maegan quickly slid her chair back slightly across the floor, to gain the ability to stand up. Once standing she fiddled with the hem of her blouse, only slightly nervous, and lightly cleared her throat.

“Well my name is Maegan, with an extra “A” in front of the “E”, but you can of course call me Mae or Spaz if you would like. I am nothing more than a human, or at least I believe so. I am only 21 and this is the first world outside of my own that I have actually been to or heard of for that matter. Some of my favorite things are performing in plays and musicals, long walks, and lying on a grassy hill under a sky filled with clouds. I simply love seafood especially crab legs. Ah well I do believe that is enough rambling for now. It’s nice to meet everyone” With a slight wave of her hand a sweet innocent smile she slid back into her chair, awaiting for the next introduction.

The teacher flopped down in the chair behind the desk at the front of class as the students began to introduce themselves one by one. She picked up a thin dagger from the pile of things atop the desk and used it to idly pick her nails as she listened to the introductions, nodding slightly for points on each of them. As they finished she stood up to look over the class, taking note of the neko asleep at her desk and giving the girl a disapproving frown before she smiled at the rest of them, walking up stand beside the sleeping girl then clapped her hands loudly together with a little puff of glitter right over the cat's ear.

Umbraja didn't really wait to see if the girl woke up or not and just stepped away to take her place back at the front of the class before she started to speak. She didn't get very far though before a boy burst through the door asking if this was the right class. He started to get a flat look for it but recognition dawned and she cracked a wry grin at the question.

"Well now, making a habit, Vince," she purred as she waved at the empty seats in the class. "Sit anywhere. We were just getting started," she gave Zane a moment to sit down before she waved her hand again, this time at the board.

"Since most of you did not address my question, I'll go ahead and give a bit of explanation as to what we're doing here." She paused with a grinning nod toward the boy that had come in late. "As Vince began to postulate, this is where y'all will learn about that 'weird hobby' and the people that control you. Yes, terrifying proposition. We," she waved a hand at them all, including herself, "Are not what we think we are. We are merely players and all the world's a stage," she purred a little laugh for that then shook her head. "Long story short, we're characters in a game controlled by them" she pointed up as if there was someone above holding her strings though they saw nothing. "We each have a person behind our glorious facades, a player, creator, puppeteer, whatever you wish to call them. They speak to us in various ways: that nagging voice in the back of your head, the moving picture in your sketchbook, the mysterious texter on your phone. However they do it, they are the tellers of our story. And that's what this is all about - telling stories.

"Here at the Academy, we work through you to teach your player how to tell your story better. We've got courses covering the whole gambit from making you a more well-rounded individual to making your world a bigger, better place, and let's not forget the whole mechanics of telling your story bit. This class in specific is going to teach your player how to teach those other courses. Exciting, isn't it?" The woman only half asked, throwing a wink at the nearest student before she flicked her wrist with a snap to make a little black book appear on each of the students' desks in a puff of glitter.

"That," the pointed at the nearest book, "is your journal. It's also a fancy sort of magical retro-tablet device type thingy. Lecture notes will appear in there along with resources and assignments. Open 'er up and you can see your first resource is the course syllabus," she gave a little nod as she flicked the nearest book open and gave the page a little tap. "That'll give ya an idea of what's gonna be expected round here so I'd suggest ya look into it." She paused a moment before flipping the page to show a transcript of their first assignment, the introductions they just gave.

"As you can see, the journals take notes of what you say too so all your oral work will be cataloged here as well. Nifty, huh?" She flashed another grin before flipping the page twice this time to a mostly blank one with a writing prompt, "And the final function, this is where you'll be putting all your written work. Fan-say~" she gave the last a thick drawl then flicked the page back to where lecture notes were magically appearing as she talked. "Have fun playing with those between lectures. If ya get clever enough you can connect to other students with em but ya better not get behind on assignments trying to figure that out," she gave Zane a slightly warning look for that before turning her smile back on the others. "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's get down to business," Umbraja stretched her hands in front of her, cracking her knuckles as she did.

"Before you can teach a subject you first have to know it. Now, your players all have experience doing this thing called Roleplay, or RP for short, but we're going to have a crash course in it to be sure that experience was worth a damn, cuz all the experience in the world ain't worth much if yer doing it wrong." She tilted her eyes up with a wry grin and little nod, "No offense, guys. sure you'll do fine." Then she smiled back at the class again.

"This particular piece of the crash course is about Quality, that often over looked and hard to define little something that makes the difference between good and bad. For the sake of keeping this lecture (relatively) short, I'll just direct you to the resources linked in your journals where you can do a little independent study on them," Umbraja waved a hand at their books and a list of red text appeared on their pages, links they could assume. Touching those links made text appear on the facing page which they could scroll through to read the resources. The woman let them play with that a moment before going on to describe each link a little. "First we have the cleverly irreverent Making the Perfect Role-Play which you can use as a guide to find your bad RP example. Then I would suggest having a look over the SDRP Level Standards. This link gives a basic overview and then links to the specific standards for the RP ranking system we will be using around here. We're working on revising these standards a bit though so don't take them for gospel. To balance the bias of the old standards (and for a good grammar source) you should also look over Learn to Roleplay Like a Boss. I don't, personally, agree with everything that one says but it's a matter of style, which we'll cover next week. For this week, familiarize yourself with what makes a good RP and that leads us to the next part of the lesson.

"A teacher has to not only recognize quality and know what makes it but they also have to be able to work with their students to get them there, and that doesn't happen over night. This duality is the difference between a teacher and a critic because teachers do everything a critic does and then they have to help their student do better. First though we're going to start by making you into good critics. Again, you've got a resource to read for that. Advice on Giving Advice is a short one so enjoy but if you want a longer read, these Seven Steps to a Good Critique (offsite link) lays it out in detail.

"Now. There's your reading for the week, but that's not all. Here's the assignment: Your player must find two example RPs, one good and one that needs serious improvement. They can look for them in Barton Town or around the guild; however, to avoid possible conflict, please don't pick an RP from anyone who is in the class, not even for the good one, not even the teacher's, not even their own. Once your player has their samples, you must present them to the class and explain what's good and what needs work for each of them. Be sure to also suggest ways to make improvements as you detail the RP's faults - cuz that's good critique," Umbraja gave a sharp nod and flopped down into her seat again.

"That is all," she dismissed the class to their work with an idle wave and started sorting through the scrolls on her desk a moment before she huffed a little laugh and looked back to the students again. "Oh yeah, if you've got any questions don't hesitate to ask em. And if anyone asks something you know feel free to answer. Now I'm done."