Virtual Worlds as Learning Environments

Kevin Jarrett, Technology FacilitatorNorthfield Community School

Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/mr_biggs/215592586/

http://flickr.com/photos/circulating/273246262/

Our Focus Today

Twining, P., (2008) Controversial issues in virtual education - Perspectives on virtual worlds, unpublished manuscript, p. 13

http://iste.org/secondlife/

ISTE in Second Life

Second Life “Live Demo”

http://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/

Alternative to Second Lifetm

Based on ActiveWorlds engine

More control (private servers), totally free

Educational content pre-created and ready to use

Immersive, 3D environment users can alter

Quest Atlantishttp://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/

Project managed by Indiana University

Grant funded (NSF, MacArthur, Food Lion)

Wide variety of pre-developed “quests”

“integrated collections ... grounded in the social commitments of Quest Atlantis ... connected to educational standards.” Example: Understanding the Environment (631kb PDF).

Quest Atlantishttp://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/therefore/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/therefore/

Club Penguin, Whyville & Webkinz

“I had a heated dinner conversation with a school computer teacher this evening.

She was arguing for a specific scope and sequence of computer applications intended to prepare students for “the real world” still years away. Besides my objection to what Paolo Friere called, “the banking model - learn this now because you may need it someday,” it seems patently ridiculous to believe that one tool or sequence of skills is essential for later. If this were true then every teacher who did not plan for web-based apps is guilty of negligence.

I suggested that 5th/6th grade projects like “researching MP3 players on the web and then comparing the prices in Excel” to be examples of sugar-coated medicine and less authentic than the real mathematics preschoolers are doing naturally in Club Penguin.

Once school “math” teaches kids arithmetic tricks the construction of mathematical knowledge and sense of self as capable mathematicians kids experience in real and virtual worlds is nearly over. Club Penguin may be a more productive context for learning than math class. It’s our challenge to make formal classes much more natural and put away our crystal balls.”

Quoting Gary Stager…

Source: http://tinyurl.com/yuwkqk

ClubPenguin.comFree (limited) accounts can’t decorate or buy clothes (paid accounts $58/yr)

Socializing, recreating

Games pay in “coins” (currency)

Many safety measures

Parent’s Guide

Whyville.netKids are real citizens in a virtual space, facing social and world issues as they interact, chat, work, design, write for the Whyville newspaper, earn money (clams).

Group-based activities include science, mathematics, art, social studies, current events

Webkinz.com$12.98/pet/year

Care, feed & dress pets; decorate rooms

Games (jobs) earn Kinzcash (currency) for food, clothes, toys

Kids design their own space

What are they DOING?Learning about the value of money

Working ‘jobs’

Reading

Forming friendships

Writing

Mathematics

Dealing with commercialism

Communicating

Decorating

Thinking

Interacting

Navigating UI’s

Meet Maria KneeKindergarten teacher, Deerfield NH

Received ISTE’s Kay L. Bitter Vision Award for Excellence in Tech-Based PK–2 Education

Uses Webkinz in her classroom

Inspired Vicki Davis’ Elementary Digital Citizenship program