Edusim is a free opensource 3D virtual world specifically for your classroom interactive whiteboard. Edusim is a powerful way to engage your students by bringing a 3D virtual environment that allows direct haptic manipulation of the 3D virtual learning objects directly from the interactive whiteboard surface. Edusim is extendable allowing multiple classrooms to connect their interactive whiteboards for collaborative learning session. Read more
Archive for Imaginary Worlds and Education
Metaplace Specifics, Challenges
Raph Koster, President of Areae, and his company’s lead programmer Sean Riley talk about what went right and what went wrong on the MetaPlace project – Read article
In-world 3D modeling tool for Croquet
This is an interesting new development in Croquet and will add huge potentials to the building capabilities in Croquet.
An excerpt -
Aik-Siong Koh and other Malaysian programmers are developing an in-world 3D modeling tool for Croquet. As a first step, they are porting freeCAD into Croquet. freeCAD is a basic 3D CAD with advanced motion simulation capabilities. freeCAD was developed as a tool for teaching and learning geometry, kinematics, dynamics, vibrations, mechanisms, linkages, cams, machine design and physics. It offers users the ability to create and manipulate assemblies of simple 3D solids that can be connected by joints, constraints, contacts, motors, actuators, springs, dampers, forces, torques or gravity. Read more
Immersive Education Initiative Selects Croquet as Next Generation Immersive Education Platform
News article on www.croquetconsortium.org -
On January 12th, it was announced at The Boston Media-Grid Summit that the Immersive Education Initiative has selected Croquet as one of three official “next generation” immersive education platforms. The Immersive Education Initiative is an international collaboration of universities, colleges, research institutes, consortia companies, and foundations that are working together to define and develop open standards, best practices, platforms, and communities of support for virtual reality and game-based learning and training systems. Read more
Using role-play to activate students’ imaginations
This is an interesting ‘how to’ on ways to get kids in the classroom fully immersed in the role they take on for a role-playing exercise.
Bringing the Classroom to Life with Role-Play
By Lenore Blank Kelner
Anything is possible with role-play. Don’t worry if you are not an actor—all you need are a few props and your imagination. Try changing your voice, pitch, pace, or accent. The more you or your students look and/or sound like someone else, the more exciting the role-play. Read More
Research and academic papers on Whyville
Funded by the National Science Foundation, UCLA researcher Yasmin Kafai and her team study many different aspects of Whyville including science learning, avatar creation and virtual identity, the role of cheating, and flirting and dating through Whyville. Read More
Academic papers (all pdfs can be found under the blog post Community Dynamic Reports) -
1. Your Second Selves: Avatar Designs and Identity Play in a Teen Virtual World
This paper addresses the “role of avatars in identity play and self-representation as well as the social issues that arise within the game world.”
Key ideas:
> Avatars are a form of self-representation in the online world.
> Avatar design is guided by 1) Resources i.e. tools available to create the avatar 2) Individual agency i.e. personal motivations and reasons behind avatars being made to look a certain way 3) Social constraints i.e. what the community deems as acceptable or not acceptable.
2. Synthetic Play: Girls and Boys Gaming Together and Apart in Teen Virtual Worlds
This paper brings out the idea that “gaming experiences could not only create a synthesis between the online and offline world but also bridge the gap between girls and boys who are often seen at playing apart and not together in the gaming world.”
This study was conducted by setting up an after-school Whyville club consisting of 10 boys and 10 girls.
Key ideas:
> A hybrid form of social interaction arises in the space where the online world meets the offline world.
> Gaming bridges the gap between boys and girls.
Learning about loans in Whyville
President of Numedeon (Whyville’s parent company), Dr Jen Sun commented:
“Whyville Scion Solutions is a perfect example of motivated, engaged learning. The Scions are a huge hit with our kids. They want cars! But most citizens just don’t have
enough clams. We’ve set up the motivation for them to learn what it means to take out a loan. They’ll learn about interest rates, down payment, credit history, and, perhaps most important of all, being responsible. If you default on your loan, you’ll lose your car, and your credit history will be ruined so that you can’t take out another loan. Educators and researchers know that students learn best when they really care about the topic. That’s exactly what we try to do in Whyville.” Read More
The process works by visiting the Scion Solutions Office and meeting Eric, the loan officer. Eric then explains the loan process to interested Whyvillians. Read More
Relevant blog post – Real Car, Virtual Car – Same ANNOYANCE!
Testimonials for Whyville
This page contains a few testimonials from parents, teachers and kids saying what they like about Whyville and why they like being there.
Key points extracted from the above link -
Kids:
Making friends
Meeting kids from around the world
Fun learning experience
Lots to do
Safe place
Love the games
Education and fun
Parents:
Safe and fun chat room
Education has been more valuable than the formal public school education
Safe environment for kids to chat in
Educators:
Generate interest in science among girls
Science learning has become fun
Inquiry based educational environment
Contains the kinds of interaction kids seek while learning and having fun
In 2006, Whyville received iParenting’s award as the best Web site for kids and best on the Web for its safety features. Read the article – Why is Whyville a hit? It’s safe, fun – by Linda Knapp to know more about what makes Whyville safer than other online communities, which organizations are funding projects in Whyville, what kinds of activities members are involved in and why a growing number of educators are supporting this style of learning.
