Frontline- Learning in Virtual Worlds

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/resources/virtuallearning/

A very interesting take on the virtual gaming debate. As the number of students who are involved in online and interactive gaming continues to grow, it becomes more and more important for us as educators to familiarize ourselves with this virtual world. While this may help us connect and relate to our students, it is even more important that we look at the learning potential in these forums. This video raises some valid points about the opportunities created by online gaming for students to learn about themselves, how to successfully develop cooperative social skills, and other relevant real-life applications. This site provides some great questions for thought and discussion, which encourage students to examine the role virtual worlds can have in their real- world lives. There are also several online resources for teachers and students, as well as workshops and activities that can be taken into the classroom. Frontline even provides a forum for students and educators to share their thoughts on this topic. PBS.org is a powerful tool for educators that can help us keep our students up to date on current events, as well as challenge them to consider social issues as they affect our world.