Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Teaching kids reality with virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/teaching-kids-reality-with-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/teaching-kids-reality-with-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/teaching-kids-reality-with-virtual-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There seems to be an increased awareness of educational gaming lately, and the positive effect virtual worlds can have on children. For example, we've heard about how gaming can actually improve a child's "mental performance for both verbal and scientific tasks." This is certainly an about-face from what most of us were taught as youngsters playing our Nintendos and Segas.

In the latest issue of Science magazine, educators suggest something that we gamers have known for a while: using virtual worlds to stimulate real-world situations in the classroom will actually help students develop useful skills that may aid them later in life or even a future technology-based career. This issue cites many education-based virtual worlds created solely to aid students, such as River City, Alien Contact!, Food Force, Whyville and more. If you have a school-aged child and would like to get them into one of these educational programs, check out this article at Scientific American, or the latest issue of Science magazine for more info.

MassivelyTeaching kids reality with virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alien-contactchildreneducationfood-forcekidsriver-cityscience-magazinescientific-americanwhyvilleMon, 05 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What EVE's virtual economy can teach us about real economies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/what-eves-virtual-economy-can-teach-us-about-real-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/what-eves-virtual-economy-can-teach-us-about-real-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/what-eves-virtual-economy-can-teach-us-about-real-economies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The work of Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson has been discussed quite a bit online, but offline citizens of our planet have probably never heard of his work monitoring EVE Online's incredible economy. Scientific American aims to change that with an article entitled "What Can Virtual-World Economists Tell Us about Real-World Economies?" Dr. Guðmundsson lays out the basics of his work for folks unfamiliar with online economies, explaining how the vagaries of spaceflight can effect the price of, say, light drones or mining lasers.

It's probably a bit low-key for hardcore EVE players, and even folks who have played a fantasy title's Auction House will have the gist. Still, it's always interesting to listen to 'Eyjó' hold forth on online economics. The passion the people behind EVE feel for their micro-world is tangible, and it's great to see some of that passion being made available to the masses.

MassivelyWhat EVE's virtual economy can teach us about real economies originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeconomyeveeve-onlineeyjoscientific-americanSun, 23 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST