Second Life vs. World of Warcraft « Educational Games Research

Second Life vs. World of Warcraft « Educational Games Research: "Two virtual worlds are out there which have grabbed the attention of the literati, the technorati, and most everybody else. One world has been subject to endless speculation on how it might shape the future of academia, society, and the very fabric of our daily existence. The other has been duly noted by elitists and pundits for its success and popularity, but largely ignored as a source of social significance. The world that is the darling of academic pundits is Second Life. The huge commercial success is World of Warcraft."

World of Warcraft

One of the most interesting topics in the educational circles today is the use of gaming and simulation techniques for instruction. We have created a society of children and adults who are growing up in an environment where continued stimulation is the norm. Look at students who are in need of staying in touch through their cell phones, laptops, instant messaging, text messaging, and email. This stimulation and constant bombardment of communication plays a significant role in their learning. Traditional methods of teaching this new generation of children and young adults are going to have minimal effect on their learning if not augmented by the use of and inclusion of various other stimulations that can keep them engaged.

The Ultimate Distance Learning - New York Times

The Ultimate Distance Learning - New York Times: "Scores of colleges and universities have set up campuses on islands, where classes meet and students interact in real time. They can hold chat discussions and create multimedia presentations from virtual building blocks called prims. The laws of physics don’t necessarily apply."