liam | Liam O'Donnell

Can educational virtual worlds for kids work?

by liam | Jan 15, 2008 | education, gaming, literacy, media, virtual worlds

Since the proven success of Club Penguin, there’s been a wave of new virtual worlds for kids going into beta or being announced. Lego just announced they’re planning one for 2009. Buildabear.com hauled in a million users in just a month. Planet Cazmo is in...

Getting epistemic with your games

by liam | Jan 11, 2008 | education, gaming, literacy, media, virtual worlds

As many teachers will tell you, one of the biggest challenges of teaching is keeping students engaged in the stuff they’re supposed to be learning. Students get bored, drift off, the learning ceases and classroom management begins. There are many valid reasons...

08 is here and so am I

by liam | Jan 4, 2008 | education, life, writing news

2008 is four days old, so I think it’s safe to say that the new year is here. I wish you all a very happy and prosperous one. Judging from the turkey bones, wrapping paper and empty wine bottles, I also think it’s safe to say that the holidays are...

Happy Holidays

by liam | Dec 23, 2007 | writing news

I have been more than awol around here lately, but I will at least wish everyone a great holiday season. Eat, drink and be merry. We will see you after the break most definitely. You might also enjoy: Have an Xtremely Happy Holiday anticipation: it’s all I got left...

Nunavut travels

by liam | Dec 2, 2007 | appearances, comics, literacy, writing news

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I flew out of Ottawa, heading due north to Baffin Island last week. I had seen plenty of images of Nunavut and the Arctic on TV but they had not prepared me for the vastness and coldness of it all. Through the foggy plane...