Virtual Economy Research Network

Here's a one-stop-shopping blog that provides up-to-date info on latest developments in synthetic world economic analysis

Lots of interesting threads we might follow, especially in terms of the move into Chinese market, etc. We should check this out as we move the chapter forward...

Global Kids

Found this example of global civic engagement in 2nd Life called Global Kids. Good example of the increasing potential of MMORPGs to reach beyond US...

Social Impact Games

This is a neat site as well...a clearinghouse of sorts for social impact games. The Political and Social Games link on the left is particularly well suited for social studies...

PC Games...

Check out this article from the New York Times on the rising popularity of PC games...

Learning Possibilities using Sid Meier's Civilization

This website (seems to be just beginning) is being designed with the idea of being a clearinghouse for using Civilization (or Civ, as it's called) as an educational tool to teach and learn history, geography, politics, etc.

Whyville: A Virtual Community for Middle Schoolers

Check out Whyville, a virtual community for teenagers, replete with a virtual government and currency. It also has a wikipedia entry.

More on 2nd Life and education...

Interesting overview of potential for 2nd Life.

2nd Life and Education

Some interesting threads on potential of 2nd Life for education:

GLEF piece on "The School of Second Life"
Global Kids Media Intedractive: Blog on 2nd Life
2nd Life's Education page

John Edwards' SL HQ vandalized...

Great example of government and laws...would be a great taking off point for a class. Check it out on John Edwards' blog.

"Terrorism" in SL: Fighting for Digital Rights

Wow! This you've got to see: the Second Life Liberation Army is apparently reeking havoc in some islands seeking a new form of digital rights--beyond those of the developer-client. And using in-world 'terrorism' to do it....

Hmmmmm....

Open Source blog on social impact of MMORPGs

Interesting threads here in this blog from Radio OpenSource--one that asks the question explicitly:

"Up to now, virtual worlds have evolved as entertainment, and as a way for designers to make money. But will they “grow up” and be designed to serve people instead or in addition? Will a virtual world be designed to help people with specific mental disorders treat themselves? Or in an attempt to help a citizenship restore a feeling of civic responsibility? Will some PBS-kids-like entity design an immersive Sesame Street? How about a community-designed world (Wiki-world) that evolves in response to community needs? "

"Virtual Citizen" Association

Here's something very interesting: a group lobbying within the MMORPG community for virtual citizenship rights, etc. This we have to look at and include in the chapter...citizenship education is ALREADY HAPPENING in the synthetic world environment....

2nd Life Stats, etc.

There are quite a few sites that report research/data on various aspects of life in SL. This is something to think about: how to use this to teach social studies content, etc.:

• Libraries on SL
• Economic stats in SL
• Blog on research in SL

My Virtual Life

Very interesting Business Week piece that includes some key issues on property rights. These could be translated into a civics/economics class without needing to 'be' in a MMORPG...Something for us to consider for the chapter. What is potential of this as a teaching tool without needing to be in the game....

What if civics class were an online game?

Interesting think piece from Tom Regan in the Christian Science Monitor.

Serious Gaming and the Classroom

Educause piece on intergrating serious games into the classroom...This focused on creation of a MEGA (multiplayer, educational gaming application) at NCSU...Need to quote from this??

What can school leaders learn from video games?

Interesting piece on how to get games (including some MMORPGs) into schools. Focuses on school leaders and helping them see the potential, bit also some hurdles, etc. Might be used in the 'recommendations to the field' section....

Second Life commerce by real world companies....

"When Toyota Motor Corp. wanted to promote its new Scions to young buyers, it turned to one of the growing number of digital design companies doing business in the popular online universe "Second Life." (Wired article)

Simulation Games in Classrooms

Here's a timely piece on computer simulations in classrooms by Marc Prensky. This might fit nicely with our "next steps" section of the paper. See what you think...

Second Life at Ohio University

Ohio University has made use of Second Life. Check out the article describing it.

Sloodle

Check out Sloodle. It's an online learning environment that combines Second Life with Moodle .

MMORPG and Distance Learning

Here's a NY Times piece about using 2ndLife in a college level distance learning class...

Games in Education...More General

This blog is a good summary of some of the issues presented at the 2006 Serious Games Summit
which also has some good resources...