It's interesting to hear a dissenting voice on thi...

2010-01-14T20:49:22.347-05:00

It's interesting to hear a dissenting voice on this. Thanks for posting!

I have a broad disagreement with your premise, but I think it focuses around this line:

"Why would I simulate a real world encounter when they can experience the real thing first-hand?"

You're right in noting that a "discussion group" in SL isn't inherently more valuable than something in-class. That said, SL (or any networked space) discussions obviously offer a number of opportunities that can't be reproduced without tech.

So look for those areas. MMO's offer really fascinating mini-economies, where students can make real choices as full actors, with far more consequences than a classroom Monopoly simulation or the like. When you dismiss using virtual spaces for student interactions, I think you miss the personas kids can inhabit in those world an be significantly different than who they are in class. From simple backchanneling, globally expansive conversations through social media, to long-term character development in persistent worlds, there are multitude of things available through those resources that have no match in a traditional classroom.

I'll up your shoe metaphor - there's things you can do in cleats, and things you can do in heels, that aren't possibly in sneakers. But it's be silly for those to be your only footwear.

Comments on Classroom in the Cloud: Amazing New Teaching Resource

It's interesting to hear a dissenting voice on thi...