It's definitely not a flashy video production, but if you're interested in learning about a virtual world that 6.4 million kids aged 8-15 (68% girls, average age 12.5) like because it challenges them in math and science and expects them to be smart, watch this interview about Whyville.net at Discover magazine. Founder and CEO of Whyville parent Numedeon Inc., Jim Bower – who is also a professor of … [Read more...] about The learning power of a virtual world
virtual worlds
2 new kids’ social spaces: ToonsTunes, Scuttlepad
One is both feature- and media-rich, the other plain & simple. Both aimed at under-13s, they're social in different ways (one a virtual world, the other a social network site). Toonstunes.com Surfing through ToonsTunes's information pages, demo videos, and kid-created music videos indicates to me that this is a great addition to the kid virtual world lineup – especially for young music … [Read more...] about 2 new kids’ social spaces: ToonsTunes, Scuttlepad
Second Life 101 for teachers, parents
What a service University of Westminster in London provides! Even watching a little bit of this video tutorial can answer a lot of questions about what virtual worlds are like – whether you're curious about what (non-cartoony) avatars look like, want to set up an account and get started with professional development, or want to learn how to build a virtual chair or house. It's narrated in a lovely … [Read more...] about Second Life 101 for teachers, parents
A teen on kid virtual worlds: Insights
"It doesn’t matter how safe developers try to make these games, kids will still experiment with what they can say and do," says Julia Tanenbaum, who just finished her freshman year in high school and serves on the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board. Now extremely interested in anime and Japanese pop culture (she's studying Japanese), Tanenbaum looks back on her days in kids' virtual worlds. Her piece … [Read more...] about A teen on kid virtual worlds: Insights
UK child’s Farmville debt
A 12-year-old in the UK has put a new twist on farm debt. So caught up in playing Farmville this past spring, he ran through all his savings of 288 pounds (about $430), then used his mother's credit card to buy 625 pounds ($936) worth of virtual farm objects, The Guardian reports. The mother asked Zynga, Farmville's publisher, and Facebook, where her son played the game, to refund the money but … [Read more...] about UK child’s Farmville debt