Difference between revisions of "The Homeschoolers Aggregate"
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'''Website:[http://www.hsao.net/ The Homeschoolers Aggregate]'''<br> | '''Website:[http://www.hsao.net/ The Homeschoolers Aggregate]'''<br> | ||
''We play by the rules. And yet information wants to be free.''<br> | ''We play by the rules. And yet information wants to be free.''<br> | ||
− | [[Image: Hsa1.jpg|right|500x500px| | + | [[Image:Hsa1.jpg|right|thumb|500x500px|<center><font color=Indigo>[http://hsao.net Homeschoolers Aggregate Online website]</font></center>]]Homeschoolers Aggregate Online is a fan creation that began in October 2006 with some short, text based “advertisements” for an online program for home schooled students. The videos shared the strict rules that participants need to follow in order to remain in the program. Many viewers questioned the relationship of these videos and the [http://hsao.net/ HSA website] to the Lonelygirl15 production. Fans soon realized that the videos and site were an independent production that ran parallel to Bree’s story. Some viewers speculated that Bree was a former participant of the program due to HSA's strict policies. Others speculated that it was a cult, trying to lure students to enroll. As it turned out, HSA was a game that followed the idea of immersive fiction more that a traditional ARG. The HSA offered no dead-drops or computer codes to break. To participate in HSA, students need to register by the deadline and complete written tasks that often help them find the password to the class notebook, a password-protected message forum. Since HSA discourages students from interacting or socializing, the message forum is the place where students leave the answers to their “assignments.” Assignments range from replying to philosophical theories, making personal connections to philosophical ideas, responding to specific pieces of art, and even creating and sharing one’s own art work. |
Students find the assignments posted on the website. Videos either reinforce a lesson’s focus, provide insight to an area of examination or offer clues to the participants to figure out the assignment’s password. At HSA, when students solve the password and are ready to post their answer in the notebook, they are said to “Bring It” to the notebook. Students who are interested are free to post their own in-character blogs that link off the HSA website. | Students find the assignments posted on the website. Videos either reinforce a lesson’s focus, provide insight to an area of examination or offer clues to the participants to figure out the assignment’s password. At HSA, when students solve the password and are ready to post their answer in the notebook, they are said to “Bring It” to the notebook. Students who are interested are free to post their own in-character blogs that link off the HSA website. | ||
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[[Image:Hsacertificate.jpg|right|thumb|500px|<center><font color="indigo">'''HSA Certificate of completion'''</font></center>]] | [[Image:Hsacertificate.jpg|right|thumb|500px|<center><font color="indigo">'''HSA Certificate of completion'''</font></center>]] | ||
− | Orientation 2006 ended with a rousing speech by [[LordGreystoke422]] entitled [http://one.revver.com/find/keywords/lordgreystoke422#_show_video_88516 | + | Orientation 2006 ended with a rousing speech by [[LordGreystoke422]] entitled [http://one.revver.com/find/keywords/lordgreystoke422#_show_video_88516 HSAO: What is Reality]. <br> This 18 minute and 48 second video ended the term with a presentation that they were not expecting. "It has been suggested that this was the longest graduation speech in history. Though long it is actually exceeded by others such as a noted 24 minute graduation speech once given by Warren Beatty, it is definitely the longest in HSAO history and may be one of the only Graduation speeches involving the removal of clothing." <ref>[[LordGreystoke422]]</ref> |
<br> Graduates who completed the necessary assignments were issued diplomas and were treated to HSAO online yearbooks.<br><br> | <br> Graduates who completed the necessary assignments were issued diplomas and were treated to HSAO online yearbooks.<br><br> | ||
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For a short period, HSAO's director, Ms. Kelly, was institutionalized for reasons that are unclear but vaguely addressed in a video entitled [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ItOftFyMw Rose Kelly.] There was some speculation as to whether Ms. Kelly suffered from spontaneous combustions. During this period, students were invited along on a train trip by a mysterious host/architect. This train ride turned into a surrealistic and confusing journey that led guests nowhere. Although the lounge, library and drawing room art offered much to occupy the travelers, there was little else to do but watch as guests became frustrated with the host and left one by one. Ms. Kelly jumped off of the train part way through the trip to get back to her family, her school and the consequences she faced for some fraudulent behavior. <br><br> | For a short period, HSAO's director, Ms. Kelly, was institutionalized for reasons that are unclear but vaguely addressed in a video entitled [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ItOftFyMw Rose Kelly.] There was some speculation as to whether Ms. Kelly suffered from spontaneous combustions. During this period, students were invited along on a train trip by a mysterious host/architect. This train ride turned into a surrealistic and confusing journey that led guests nowhere. Although the lounge, library and drawing room art offered much to occupy the travelers, there was little else to do but watch as guests became frustrated with the host and left one by one. Ms. Kelly jumped off of the train part way through the trip to get back to her family, her school and the consequences she faced for some fraudulent behavior. <br><br> | ||
− | She vowed to turn things around and applied for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for her school. Back at the helm, she began planning a new term for her students focused on [http://hsao.net/school.html/ | + | She vowed to turn things around and applied for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for her school. Back at the helm, she began planning a new term for her students focused on [http://hsao.net/school.html/ technology and art]. |
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− | Students spent the term focused on examining technology and art, as well as learning from the examples set by lonelygirl15 in a series of lessons entitled [http://hsao.net/lessonsbree.html Lesson from Bree.] HSA became sponsored by a charitable foundation called [http://continue.to/tiko TiKO.] This foundation is rather mysterious as its sponsors choose to remain anonymous and work under the TiKO name. TiKO demanded that HSA hold a very [http://continue.to/openhouse/ public] Open House so the sponsors could see the work of the school. Some paperwork in Ms. Kelly’s [http://hsao.net/hsaoffice.html | + | Students spent the term focused on examining technology and art, as well as learning from the examples set by lonelygirl15 in a series of lessons entitled [http://hsao.net/lessonsbree.html Lesson from Bree.] HSA became sponsored by a charitable foundation called [http://continue.to/tiko TiKO.] This foundation is rather mysterious as its sponsors choose to remain anonymous and work under the TiKO name. TiKO demanded that HSA hold a very [http://continue.to/openhouse/ public] Open House so the sponsors could see the work of the school. Some paperwork in Ms. Kelly’s [http://hsao.net/hsaoffice.html office]alluded to some conflict between TiKO’s intentions and Ms. Kelly’s curriculum. Professor Boone also seemed to doing some secretive work for TiKO as stated in some [http://hsao.net/email.jpg emails]found on [http://technologicalaspectsofart.blogspot.com/ his site.] Ms. Kelly explained to her current class that she was concerned about continued funding for her non-profit school. As graduation neared, Ms. Kelly solicited some of her friends to contribute their words of wisdom for the graduation [http://one.revver.com/watch/129924/flv/affiliate/29920 video.] Contributing friends included [[ApotheosisAZ]], Dr.[[Immant]], [[Jonas]], [[Nikki Bower]], [[TWJaniak]], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkCp39x1IYI Simian Liberation Front], [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=GuillotineCalamity Sister] and Daniel's friend [http://one.revver.com/watch/130116/flv/affiliate/29920 Paul]. Students’ final [http://hsao.net/final.html projects] were displayed on the [http://hsao.net/ HSA website.] |
<br> <br> | <br> <br> | ||
The graduates were for this term were as follows:<ref>[http://hsao.net/final.html HSA Final Student Exhibition 2006]</ref> <br><br> | The graduates were for this term were as follows:<ref>[http://hsao.net/final.html HSA Final Student Exhibition 2006]</ref> <br><br> | ||
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− | [[Image:tiko.jpg|left|thumbnail|<center> HSA receives funding from anonymous sponsors through [http://continue.to/tiko the TiKO Foundation]]]</center>Students were busy at work completing a variety of [http://hsao.net/kindness.html exercises] and receiving help with class notebook passwords from [http://technologicalaspectsofart.blogspot.com Professor Boone.] However, students noticed Ms. Kelly’s absence in responding to students about their class work. Professor Boone shared some information with students in the form of a [http://hsao.net/jan30notice.jpg notice]. A [http://one.revver.com/watch/155179/flv/affiliate/29920 video] credited to The Executive Director of the [http://continue.to/tiko TiKO Foundation] explained some concern over Ms. Kelly’s last [http://one.revver.com/collections/show/113424 few video lessons], which seemed to be targeting [[Bree]] and her current situation. The video did not give specific information other than to say that Ms. Kelly needed to learn how to better serve her students. Along with the text, the video also showed firefighters battling a blazing building and an unknown man engaged in actions that appeared to be suspicious. Professor Cedric Boone, left to run the school in Ms. Kelly’s absence, discusses his concerns with the students. Suspicious of the sponsors, [http://one.revver.com/watch/157804/flv/affiliate/29920 | + | [[Image:tiko.jpg|left|thumbnail|<center> HSA receives funding from anonymous sponsors through [http://continue.to/tiko the TiKO Foundation]]]</center>Students were busy at work completing a variety of [http://hsao.net/kindness.html exercises] and receiving help with class notebook passwords from [http://technologicalaspectsofart.blogspot.com Professor Boone.] However, students noticed Ms. Kelly’s absence in responding to students about their class work. Professor Boone shared some information with students in the form of a [http://hsao.net/jan30notice.jpg notice]. A [http://one.revver.com/watch/155179/flv/affiliate/29920 video] credited to The Executive Director of the [http://continue.to/tiko TiKO Foundation] explained some concern over Ms. Kelly’s last [http://one.revver.com/collections/show/113424 few video lessons], which seemed to be targeting [[Bree]] and her current situation. The video did not give specific information other than to say that Ms. Kelly needed to learn how to better serve her students. Along with the text, the video also showed firefighters battling a blazing building and an unknown man engaged in actions that appeared to be suspicious. Professor Cedric Boone, left to run the school in Ms. Kelly’s absence, discusses his concerns with the students. Suspicious of the sponsors, [http://one.revver.com/watch/157804/flv/affiliate/29920 TiKO’s public relations video] and Rose’s plight in the hands of these individuals, he leaves [http://hsao.net/listen.html copies of sensitive material] that he had delivered as his time as a go-between for TiKO and the sponsors, and [http://one.revver.com/watch/159866/flv/affiliate/29920 posts a lesson] involving pieces of art that allude to sinister behavior on the part of those holding Ms. Kelly. Surprisingly, a new [http://one.revver.com/watch/162990/flv/affiliate/29920 video] is released, credited to both HSA and TiKO. It includes a calm voice mail message from Ms. Kelly, who states that the seminar has “opened [her] eyes.” Professor Boone and the class are left to wonder if Ms. Kelly willfully joined forces with her captors or if she was influenced through more sinister means. After [[Daniel]] appears on camera [http://www.lonelygirl15.com/?p=168 under the influence of his captors], convincing [[Bree]] to do the [[ceremony]], Ms. Kelly offers a new lesson, suggesting that [[the Order]] could provide a helpful career boost for [[Bree]] and her friends. <br><br><br> |
− | <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:indigo;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:white;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Term | + | <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:indigo;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:white;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Un-Term 2007: Examining Ms. Kelly</h2> |
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− | Term 1 2007, [http://hsao.net/2007term.html ends] with neither fanfare nor a special graduation ceremony as Ms. Kelly seems too preoccupied by her recent experiences to focus on lessons. Ms. Kelly’s weekly [http://one.revver.com/watch/167922/flv/affiliate/29920 visit] to her therapist is presented as a voice-over | + | Term 1 2007, [http://hsao.net/2007term.html ends] with neither fanfare nor a special graduation ceremony as Ms. Kelly seems too preoccupied by her recent experiences to focus on lessons. Ms. Kelly’s weekly [http://one.revver.com/watch/167922/flv/affiliate/29920 visit] to her therapist is presented as a voice-over, unlike her previous videos, which are presented through frames of text. The [http://one.revver.com/watch/171028/flv/affiliate/29920 continuation] of this visit sheds no real light on the dreams that seem to plague her. It still remains to be seen whether or not Ms. Kelly accepts the seemingly sinister intentions of the [http://continue.to/tiko TiKO Foundation.]Ms. Kelly steps away from her self-reflection to share a lesson called [http://one.revver.com/watch/174258/flv/affiliate/29920 Perception Vs. Reality] that alludes to the family issues that afflict [[Daniel]]. Again, Ms. Kelly allows her voice to be heard as she suggests ways to approach the future. |
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− | *[http://hsao.net | + | *[http://hsao.net Homeschoolers Aggregate Online Homepage]<br> |
*[http://technologicalaspectsofart.blogspot.com/ Professor Boone’s Classroom]<br> | *[http://technologicalaspectsofart.blogspot.com/ Professor Boone’s Classroom]<br> | ||
*[http://one.revver.com/account/show/mskelly Ms. Kelly’s Video Collection on Revver]<br> | *[http://one.revver.com/account/show/mskelly Ms. Kelly’s Video Collection on Revver]<br> |
Revision as of 02:25, 16 February 2007
Contents
HSA: The Immersive Fiction Game
Website:The Homeschoolers Aggregate
We play by the rules. And yet information wants to be free.
Students find the assignments posted on the website. Videos either reinforce a lesson’s focus, provide insight to an area of examination or offer clues to the participants to figure out the assignment’s password. At HSA, when students solve the password and are ready to post their answer in the notebook, they are said to “Bring It” to the notebook. Students who are interested are free to post their own in-character blogs that link off the HSA website.
The head of school is a woman known as Rose Marie Crandall Crowley Kelly, who is married to Phillip Crowley (no relation to Aleister). She is a very strict, yet supportive instructor who encourages her students to do their best. She expects students to follow her rules without question, and those who have questioned her have had their IP addresses banned from the site. Assignments receive responses from Ms. Kelly and student work is exhibited on the website.
Throughout each term, a back story emerges involving Ms. Kelly’s exploits and those who seem to trying to undo for reasons that remain unclear. The website offers clues, additional character blogs and links. At the end of the term, students are treated to a graduation ceremony video, an on-line yearbook and a certificate of completion. HSA has a small group of followers who seem to enjoy the intellectual stimulation of this game.
This is the first time that HSA’s creator has ever been involved in such a pursuit. Participants have been forgiving and patient as her stories unfold and her skills improve.
For an explanation of this game for potential participants, see How to Play: HSA<ref>How to Play: HSA</ref> from the HSAO website.
HSA: On the Lonelygirl15 Forum
The Homeschoolers Aggregate appears to be a secular forum for gifted homeschoolers to receive informal assignments in and to discuss Literary Theory, Poetry, Art, and Moral and Ethical Philosophy. Whether the Aggregate is an accredited institution, and whether it supports other subjects outside the liberal arts, is unknown.
Internet fans of Bree stumbled across the HSAOnline introductory and training videos hosted on YouTube. The source of the lonelyfans' speculation that Bree is/was a student of the Homeschoolers Aggregate is unknown, but several participants of the Tribute to Lonelygirl15 Phorum flocked to register in a new session to be administered by HSAOnline's strict but supportive educator, Ms. Kelly, who continually exhorts the students to "Study up!"
Ms. Kelly and the HSAOnline administrators seem very solicitous regarding the online privacy of their student families. HSAOnline appears to be recovering from some sort of major recent hack, based on some oblique comments from Ms. Kelly.
Many of the new HSAOnline students, like many of the fans of the lonelygirl15-inspired internet game cassieiswatching, use Bukanator's forum as a secondary clubhouse to discuss the mysterious Aggregate.
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