virtual worlds | Liam O'Donnell

UK schools teach literacy via virtual world

by liam | Feb 13, 2008 | education, gaming, literacy, media, virtual worlds

This is unbelievably cool and exactly the kind of educational potential I see in virtual worlds for kids [via Computer Weekly]: Schools in Barnsley are using virtual world software to teach children writing and comprehension skills. The borough council has implemented...

MinyanLand to sell free-market gospel to kids

by liam | Feb 6, 2008 | education, gaming, literacy, media, virtual worlds

In the wake of the sub-prime mortgage disasters in the US, the crashing of stock markets around the world, and the already upon us, I mean, approaching recession, it’s refreshing to know that those kooky free market, pull yourself up from your bootstraps,...

NASA seeking info on educational mmos

by liam | Jan 18, 2008 | education, gaming, literacy, media, virtual worlds

[via Virtual World News] NASA sees potential for virtual worlds as learning environments. The organization has just announced a Request for Information about developing an massively multiplayer online learning game. This is what I was talking about when I asked...

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...