Virtual_Worlds

 **Virtual World Libraries: Challenges & Strategies ** [] This site has links to a presentation by Timothy Greig on his master project on libraries in virtual worlds. In his presentation, he gives an overview of libraries in virtual worlds and includes challenges and solutions for this newer technology. Susan Pratt
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Whyville ** [] Not only is this a cool virtual world where tweens can create a character, meet others, and play games, but it has wonderful educational aspects, as well! Teachers can even use it in the classroom. It was specifically created to help middle school students improve in the areas of math and science -- especially girls. From the website: "We launched Whyville as a virtual city, which engages young people in constructive educational activities while promoting socially responsible behavior. It is an outgrowth of the company's extensive research and practical experience related to learner-centered, hands-on, inquiry-based education. Inside Whyville, citizens learn about art history, science, journalism, civics, economics, and really so, so much more. Whyville works directly with the Getty, NASA, the School Nutrition Association, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (to name just a few) to bring incredible educational content to kids in an incredibly engaging manner." -Glenda Alberti

[] Created and run by Disney, this virtual penguin world allows kids to communicate with other kids and penguins, furnish their penguin homes, purchase new clothing and toys, earn coins by playing games, and take care of fuzzy little pets that they buy for their penguin. It is a very safe, secure world -- virtually predator free, by design. Penguins are given names and genders, but there is no way to gain information on the child using the game. My 7-year-old daughter loves it, as do many of her friends! -Glenda Alberti
 * Club Penguin**

Second Life [] In this highly informative article, the reader learns what SL is, how it is used, and where it can go. It defends the use of SL in classrooms, but also does a good job to define how to make it successful. It claims teachers can use SL to engage students, assess their understanding, teach and have collaborative work. Overall a helpful introduction to the world of SL in the classroom or as the classroom. [] This article outlines what second life is and mentions ways it is being used to help students across a variety of needs. It focuses on teens. The article hones in on the social aspect of SL that draws teens in where teachers can take advantage of a world already created. This suggestion seemed helpful, “and when a math teacher approached Sheehy, asking for help with his geometry unit, she proposed a “geo gallery” of 3-D rays, angles, and other concepts, all rendered by students. “Imagine walking around an intersecting line,” says Sheehy.” [|http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~mpepper/slbib] I really like this website, because the creator lists many different sites about SL. He has a brief explanation on the content of each link. Hence it’s name Bibliography of Second Life Education. I especially liked http://www.cxknowledge.com/Intro_SL.html geared toward me, an educator! All in all the bibliography site is a one stop shop for Second Life information.

As a fourth grade teacher, I think this would be a great thing to explore with my students. I am considering introducing it to the class and then discovering right along with them what we could do to learn and have fun on SL. Right now we are learning about predator prey relationships. It would be neat to create a place they could go to ‘see’ this happen in SL. The education would be there with less of the gore. This is my first time to hear of SL and I have never used it… so I am very curious to spend time learning the ropes! Rachel Lawson

Teen Second Life: __[|http://teen.secondlife.com]__ Teens can join other teens from all over the globe in Teen Second Life. It is a 3D virtual world created by teens and for teens. They can be creative, learn new skills, start businesses, and meet new people in this virtual world. It is their virtual world created by their imagination. All Teen Second Life features are designed to offer its users the most open-ended, customizable experience of any online world on the market. No restrictions or arbitrary guidelines imposed by the developers Students can take the skills that they are learn at school and apply them in their virtual world to see if what they think will make them a success is going to be true. Students can build what they like, explore as they prefer, communicate across platforms with whom they choose. They can fashion a persona to their exact specifications. They are only given the tools and resources to build their own vision of a better world.--Lolita Mora

Marapets: __[|http://www.marapets.com] __ Pets Games is a pet site that has dress up games, where you customize your doll with dress up clothing and accessories, flash games that you can earn points from, web games that you can play and pets that you can care for. When you join our virtual pet site, your dress up doll is born and you have three currencies - MP, BP and RP. MP is the main currency of Marada, the virtual world you are exploring. You need Mara points to do most things on the pet site, such as look after your online pets and buy clothing to dress up your doll. Visit our games section for free online games that will earn you MP, including arcade games, puzzle games, card games, casino games, virtual games, quest games, mission games, sports games, shooting games, luck games, strategy games, dress up games, flash games and more.

Mara Pets Games is a pet site that has dress up games, where you customize your doll with dress up clothing and accessories, flash games that you can earn points from, web games that you can play and pets that you can care for. When you join our virtual pet site, your dress up doll is born and you have three currencies - MP, BP and RP. MP is the main currency of Marada, the virtual world you are exploring. You need Mara points to do most things on the pet site, such as look after your online pets and buy clothing to dress up your doll. Visit our games section for free online games that will earn you MP, including arcade games, puzzle games, card games, casino games, virtual games, quest games, mission games, sports games, shooting games, luck games, strategy games, dress up games, flash games and more. Students visit to play games, make friends, and take part in our active online community events. They can practice their social skill in a virtual world and see what is acceptable in society. The virtual social environment allows each player to customize their own profile, create their own free website and be individuals with their own personality, by dressing up their own cartoon doll. Students can practice using the main currency of the site for buy clothing for their online pets and they will also be able to explore all 16 virtual worlds.-- Lolita Mora

Second Life [|http://secondlife.com] Second Life is a virtual world created for many different purposes. On the educational side it hosts events where guest authors may appear and students are able to ask questions and discuss certain books. There are book discussions that are held which is a great use of online literature circles. Second Life also has certain exhibits that students can learn about such as a World War II Collection. [] This article discusses the rising popularity of Second Life. It talks about how important it has become for different individuals and companies. It includes great references to how Second Life can be used in an educational setting. I think these ideas are more geared to high school and college students. Students can create themed projects using avatars, learn how politicians use the site to campaign, and learn a lot about the world of business. It is a great "forum for interaction." [] This site has ideas for younger grades as well as older grades. My 5th graders would love it. It discusses using virtual worlds as a learning tool. Rather than reading information from a book, students can live it in their virtual world; an online version of a field trip. "**This summer, as many as a million virtual kids could catch an infectious virus known as Whypox, causing them to break out in red welts and spout "Achoo" whenever chatting with friends.**Meanwhile, at the beach, crowds of "tweens," 8- to 12-year-olds, will see their popular hangout beset with so-called red tides, as the seashore changes from blue to red with phytoplankton blossoms." Kids could learn so much through this type of interaction. Brandi Witherspoon