Virtual Worlds for My Classroom

My assignment was to examine virtual worlds for use in my classroom. I found that some virtual worlds had more of an educational value than others. While there are some educational value in the virtual worlds that I visited, it seems like the worlds are more recreationally motivated. There are more games and fun activities than anything in the virtual worlds that I visited. The five virtual worlds that I explored were Voyager Ticket to Read, Woogi World, Whyville, Puzzle Pirates, and Mokitown. I found that Voyager Ticket to Read to be the most beneficial and educationally appropriate. I am lucky enough to work in a school district that has a paid subscription, so my students can truly benefit from this awesome virtual world.

Here is my summary of what I discovered:

Virtual World: Voyager Ticket to Read

Audience: K-6

Objective: The students will increase fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills.

Curriculum: It ties in with the Sunshine State Standards because it covers adaptive instruction in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Description: Ticket to Read is a fun and motivating online reading program. The students work independently on leveled fluency and reading skills. It sparks interest by using high-interest reading passages and activities. Ticket to Read provides instant feedback and positive reinforcement. Students earn points for prizes and can decorate a virtual clubhouse. I use Ticket to Read during literacy stations. During the computer station, the students go onto to Ticket to Read to practice all of these awesome reading skills.

Virtual World: Puzzle Pirates

Audience: 3-5

Objective: The students will increase spatial thinking skills. The students will use strategy and logic to solve puzzles.

Curriculum: This doesn’t specifically tie into a subject area under the Sunshine State Standards. I do some value to Puzzle Pirates however. The students can have fun while using logical reasoning skills.

Description: With Puzzle Pirates you earn “loot” by playing puzzles. You can play Puzzles alone or against other Pirates. You can run the Pirate economy by playing puzzles. You can build your own Pirate empire. The puzzles require the use of strategy and logic. I would use Puzzle Pirates as a free time activity. Since it does not use any specific reading skills, I would not use it during literacy stations. If a student finishes an assignment early, that would be a good time to send them to the computer.

Virtual World: Woogi World
Audience: K-6

Objective: The students will increase skills in various areas across the curriculum.

Curriculum: It ties in with the Sunshine State Standards for multiple subject areas.

Description: Woogi World is a character-building, educational, and social networking website. Students can learn about Internet safety and improve Math, Science, Music, Reading, Social Studies, Finance skills, and much more. I would use Woogi World more during Science and Social Studies than for Reading. The reason being that I find that Ticket to Read would be more effective for increasing reading comprehension than Woogi World. I would use Woogi World as a fun way to increase Science and Social Studies comprehension. I would designate a few minutes at the end of class where I would let students explore Woogi World.

Virtual World: Whyville

Audience: K-6

Objective: In Whyville, it is important to earn clams. You can use clams to buy face parts, houses, and cars. You can earn a salary of clams by playing games, participating in chats, and spending time exploring the virtual world.

Curriculum: It doesn’t really have much of a correlation to the Sunshine State Standards. There was a really great activity that was about food chains which is something I teach in Science.

Description: The students can interact with other students, play games, follow directions, and earn clams in Whyville. There is a bank where the students can learn about checking accounts, saving accounts, CDs, and transferring money. I would use Whyville as a free time activity. Since it does not use any specific reading skills, I would not use it during literacy stations. If a student finishes an assignment early, that would be a good time to send them to the computer.

Virtual World: Mokitown

Audience: 3-5

Objective: The will learn about safety in road traffic.

Curriculum: This doesn’t specifically tie into a subject area under the Sunshine State Standards.
Description: Mokitown allows the students (aka Mokis) to explore the city, chat with other Mokis, and learn about safety in road traffic. I would use Mokitown as a free time activity. Since it does not use any specific academic skills, I would not use it during literacy stations. If a student finishes an assignment early, that would be a good time to send them to the computer.