Help Wanted in SL: Sheriff and Taxman to Watch Casinos

Looks like SL is dealing with some "real life" issues with the land rush / frontier town mentality - all the bad habits and tendencies of people without oversight or law enforcement come out in full force - gambling, adult content / promiscuity - I guess you can say that there's one redeeming feature, in that avatars can't drink or do drugs (yet).

I refer to my previous posts in class discussion and on this blog about the inevitability of regulation and law enforcement and formal rules appearing in a "new world".

Perhaps this whole SL experience is an interesting experiment in repeating history, demonstrating what is so universal in the human condition, and why just being in the audience and watching this phenom play out is like watching a soap opera, a documentary, or an existential drama. Perhaps there is learning possible if you compare the trials and tribulations of SL with RL historical events. No doubt, someone will make the comparison and get a PhD studying it, very soon I would guess.

Donors Choose

This is sort of an educational game — if you choose a very loose interpretation.  It definitely is a cool idea though and I highly recommend taking a look at it.  Also, if you have an American Express card, you've a chance to gain another $5M for them by voting for the project.

Take a look!

Low Tech. is cool too!

Most of this course has, so far, focused on high tech, digital simulations and games, but, despite being a computer programmer by (former) profession, I'm almost more interested in the low tech options available.

For example, ropes courses are a fantastic and exceptionally effective tool — and I say that as a former ropes course director. One of the best experiences is having a bunch of campers come to me in the morning and leave in the afternoon as a cohesive group. I was really able to see the change in the group and it was significant each and every time!

The big draw for them was usually the high elements (forty foot traverses, rock walls, suicide rappells, etc.) because they were sort of more glamorous, but my favorites were the ground elements. The ones where you have a suspended tire and have to get all your students through it or something similar. The leadership they elicit is nice to see, but what I loved was how it truly gives everyone an opportunity to shine because you need a story and strong role-play component as well. I've had students project a concert hall filled with screaming fans and dangling electric cables onto a piece of rope and a tire. And it gives campers the opportunity to role-play as well and to shine and show off skills of all kinds.

After the experience of that summer, I seriously considered doing that sort of corporate training, but it's too much of a pain to drum up business…

As an teacher I've tried to implement some of these techniques wherever possible and when I've been able to, it really engages the students.

PowerSet - the new search

This new search technology seems to be promising — have any of you seen this already?  Just reading the blogs alone is educational!  Unless, of course, you aren't an English-freak…

I know this isn't really a game in and of itself, but I wonder if it couldn't be used to teach effective English sentence construction?

Augmented Reality

The next step? How good is simulation for learning now?

I'm being converted. But still a skeptic.

; )

tc