With the arrival of ning.com, creating social networks is as easy as creating an email account. I find places like Facebook too broad in their focus for an online network. Same with LinkedIn (although as more people are joining linkedin and find me, a cohesive network is forming for me.)
Already I belong to a few ning groups, like Classroom 2.0, but I’m really excited about the latest group I’ve joined: RezEd, the MacArthur funded network for educators interested in using virtual worlds in education.
I blogged about RezEd a few months ago and have been waiting for their launch ever since. They went into a live beta earlier this week and the place is beginning to fill up nicely now (I think they’re close to 200 members at the moment.)
Being a very new network, there is much territory that needs to be defined, so I took the initiative and created the K-8 Virtual Worlds group, with the aim for it to be:
A place to discuss, challenge and explore virtual worlds for elementary learners from Kindergarten to Grade 8. Join the discussion. Share your thoughts and help shape these powerful spaces for youth.
With educational virtual worlds like Quest Atlantis and others receiving both funding and accolades from the public, I think we are at the beginning of something very important in education. If you agree or are just curious about what these spaces are or what learning they can facilitate for students, then I invite you to explore RezEd and join the discussion.
In the meantime, check out this video of Quest Atlantis in action:
Hope to see you inside.
