We have been working in virtual worlds in both 6th and 7th grade this month and it has been a roaring success. It is a sign that you’ve hit it right on, when kids don’t want to leave a lesson and groan when the bell rings, and this is usually what happens when we teach with virtual worlds.
This is the first year we have used PoraOra virtual world with any of our classes. Prior to this we had always used WhyVille to introduce our students to educational virtual worlds and to teach web safety and netiquette. The people at PoraOra have worked hard to build educational in-world activities that are linked to the British Key Skills for KS2. PoraOra is full of fun games that help students review and build their skills across subjects. For our 6th graders most of it is review and practice, and they have great fun doing it.
In 7th grade we are working with Reaction Grid for the second year running. Our 7th grade students are having a great time learning how to get around, exploring different regions and learning how to build in 3D with their avatars. We have even found a bit of time for shopping at Gridizen’s market and customising avatars.
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