Virtual Reality Worlds

in Elementary Schools

Presented By: Elizabeth Burr

Is there a place for virtual reality worlds

in educational settings?

Yes.

Elementary Students

www.webkinz.com

Webkinz pets are lovable plush pets that each come with a unique Secret Code. With it, you enter Webkinz World where you care for your virtual pet, answer trivia, earn KinzCash, and play the best kids games on the net!

Classroom Pets

Puddin’ HunterFlippy

• Your child can learn lots of fun facts at Quizzy's. The questions at Quizzy's are age-appropriate, and most are educationally based.

• We also have several arcade games that promote learning: – Lunch Letters helps children to learn how to type

and spell – Quizzy's Word Challenge aids in spelling – Operation Gumball encourages children to think

logically

• Webkinz Newz and the W Tales encourage reading, and they many contests which encourage writing, creativity, and problem-solving.

• Children learn about money in Webkinz World; by earning KinzCash, children learn how to save, spend and manage money.

• Webkinz World also helps to teach children about responsibility, caring for a pet, and getting along with others.

Is it safe for children?

Involves…• Working and sensory memory• Multimedia instructional message• Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning

(CTML)• Multimedia principle

Involves…• Modality principle• Coherence principle• Listening, reading and sound comprehension• Picture-text sequencing principle• Sensory register

Involves…• Elaboration• Learning Task• Procedural Information

Educators

www.secondlife.com

What is Second Life?

Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its residents.

www.secondlife.com

Virtual Environments Enable New Models

of Learning•Used by leading universities and school systems around the world

•Connects them with educational peers active in Second Life, and showcase their inworld projects and communities

www.secondlife.com

Virtual Environments Enable New Models

of Learning•Large, active education community within Second Life

•Second Life has proven to be a valuable professional development medium for educators

www.secondlife.com

Virtual Environments Enable New Models

of Learning

www.secondlife.com

Take Field Trips into Virtual Reality

• It’s free• Easy • Effective use of time, can take

them anytime• Create your own or use one that

already exists

Virtual Field Trip Resourcesfor Educators

• http://www.techtrekers.com/virtualft.htm• http://www.uen.org/tours/fieldtrips2.shtml • http://www.efieldtrips.org/Schedules/

searchResults.cfm?searchType=all • http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic35.htm • http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/

globaltrek/index.htm (Student Travel Journal)

Resources:

• www.webkinz.com• www.secondlife.com• http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Webkinz-

Pets-in-the-Classroom---Turning-Toys-Into-Tools---Teaching-With-Technology&id=1312884