Virtual Worlds and learning

 Wondering how virtual 3D worlds are being used in Education?

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Users create an avatar - a named 3D personalised character. Through this avatar they then interact with others within the virtual world. Check out:

• British Council's Second Life Island for ESL students
  
• Teen Second Life Educators Working with Teens
  

Players pay approximately $20 per month to play.

This is what Angus (16 yr old Yr 11 student) wrote when asked what skills he was delepoping while playing WoW:

“Initially organisational skills are imperative. A team needs to consist of the right balance of players; each player’s role needs to be clearly negotiated from the start. It’s important that every player does their part and communicates clearly. A good team will act like one and social and task skills come into play.

Teamwork is a major part of WoW, for several strangers to get together and complete a task together requires trust, not only in other people’s abilities to get the task at hand done but also trust in yourself as a player to use your abilities when required. Playing in a team makes you feel valued and builds your reputation as a good team player.”

Quest Atlantis
Quest Atlantis (QA) is an educational 3D world designed specifically for students aged 9-12 years. QA is an innovative, values-based curriculum that combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research on learning and motivation.

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

The teachers Toolkit provides tools to monitor students, find, assign and review Quests, utilise Trading Post, Bulletin Boards and access records/student work.

For more information about how to get your students online in QA contact Bronwyn Stuckey bstuckey@intraceptives.com.au