The Use of Multi User Educational Environments in Real Life Classrooms Mike Phillips. Tintern Schools. [email_address]

What are these Multi User Virtual Environments you speak of ? A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars. These avatars are usually depicted as textual, two-dimensional, or three dimensional graphical representations. Some, but not all, virtual worlds allow for multiple users.

A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars.

These avatars are usually depicted as textual, two-dimensional, or three dimensional graphical representations.

Some, but not all, virtual worlds allow for multiple users.

What are our kids doing in their spare time? How are they interacting in a digital environment? Why do I need to know about this stuff?

What are our kids doing in their spare time?

How are they interacting in a digital environment?

What are our kids doing in their spare time? Well, I can tell you what they aren’t doing …

Well, I can tell you what they aren’t doing …

Music: Last year, sales were down 21% from their peak in 1999 Television: Network TV’s audience share has fallen by a third since 1985 Newspapers: Circulation peaked in 1987, and the decline is accelerating Magazines: Total circulation peaked in 2000 and is now back to 1994 levels (with a few exceptions) Books: sales growth is lagging as is the whole economy

Music: Last year, sales were down 21% from their peak in 1999

Television: Network TV’s audience share has fallen by a third since 1985

Newspapers: Circulation peaked in 1987, and the decline is accelerating

Magazines: Total circulation peaked in 2000 and is now back to 1994 levels (with a few exceptions)

Books: sales growth is lagging as is the whole economy

Nielsen Online

So what is going on with Internet usage?

Peer to Peer, Web 3.0, Avatar Representations … where are we now? Here is one example …

Gartner says 80 Percent of active Internet users will have a "Second Life" in the Virtual World by the end of 2011. STAMFORD, Conn., April 24, 2007

Gartner says 80 Percent of active Internet users will have a "Second Life" in the Virtual World by the end of 2011.

STAMFORD, Conn., April 24, 2007

Some SL statistics

Other virtual worlds inhabited by our digital natives.