"Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other." - Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

1. The Vision
· To re-build a historical monument in cyberspace
· Establish an international academy in Madeira based on the concepts of Connected Intelligence
· Develop collaborative programs with schools in Madeira
· Restore a historical monument to its former glory

2. Monte - A Virtual Restoration
Imagine an educational establishment that is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. An establishment that exists predominately in people's minds and in the growing electronic network of the Internet. Imagine the manifestation and symbol of this establishment as a derelict monument steeped in history and now re-built in another dimension called cyberspace. Imagine the process of re-constructing this monument as a focal point for people all over the world to experience a pedagogical revolution that will employ the idea of Connected Intelligence as a method of knowledge engineering and transfer. This virtual monument will be modelled on the emperor of Austria's Palace in Madeira called Monte that is now in ruins and which stands as a symbol of times gone by.

3. Monte - Global Collaboration
Picture this monument high up on a virtual mountain, surrounded by a swarm of avatars who are painstakingly rebuilding it, together with avatars who are observing. Some of the avatars are from the island of Madeira, maybe students or teachers. Others are from distant parts of the world, watching or participating in this exciting project, while at the same time interacting and exchanging ideas with the island's inhabitants.

4. Monte - A Pedagogical Revolution
Moving down the mountain away from the main building activity you would experience a different scene. Here spread out over the shores of virtual Madeira you would see structures being built that come straight from the imaginations of people of all ages. Many of these people are students, building replicas of their schools or re-constructing their schools in ways the original architects would never have dreamt. They may be designing their own virtual dwellings where they would be able to invite people from anywhere in the world with whom they could exchange ideas or practice their second language. They may be gathering in a virtual classroom to jointly develop and present their school projects to students from other schools on the island or to students visiting from distant parts of the globe.

5. Monte - Madeira Organisation for Networked Technology environments
Although initially founded in the educational system of Madeira, Monte would develop into an international academy. Using the concepts of Connected Intelligence it would offer training and general education to any individuals or groups in the world who have such requirements. Acting as a hub for knowledge transfer, and using established network technologies, Monte's brief would be to create knowledge conduits between people who require certain knowledge or skills, and people who possess them. Employing project rather than curriculum based methods, Monte would satisfy the growing need for just-in-time education. This would suit the increasing population of people for whom early-life learning is inadequate or ineffective due to changing work patterns and nomadic life styles.

6. Monte - An Achievable Concept
The concept of virtual Monte is achievable now. It's creation can put Madeira on the European and world map in a way that would be have been impossible only a few years earlier. Using the technologies now available, Monte's reputation as a centre for networked learning using Connected Intelligence, would be able to spread, unhindered by barriers of geography such as size or location. The re-built palace of Monte in cyberspace would be an easily recognisable trademark that would serve to inspire the local and wider community.

7. Monte - Restoration of the Palace
The logical conclusion to this vision is for the physical restoration of the Palace of Monte itself. This is already the wish of the people of Madeira who see the palace as an important icon from their past. However before this happens the reputation of Virtual Monte will be established worldwide. Thousands in cyberspace will already have visited the virtual replica of Monte through the Internet and will have observed the meticulous construction taking shape. Having been realised in cyberspace and seen as a beacon for a wider pedagogical revolution, the restored Monte will become a retreat for selected workshops associated with the academy. It will be a place open to only a limited number of visitors in order to keep the environmental impact to a minimum. Monte will maintain a mystique that will attract the world to visit Madeira either physically or in cyberspace. Rather than becoming a museum, the palace will be seen as a living building. Spanning across and existing in two separate dimensions, physical space and cyberspace, it will embody the past, present and future. It will symbolise the meeting of reality and virtual reality on a grand scale. End © 2000 Digital Space Commons, All Rights Reserved

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