What Kind of World are You Living in?

The chapter in Brooks-Young's book today was over Virtual Worlds.  I have not really had much experience with virtual worlds and as I was reading this chapter I was trying to think back and think about why virtual worlds are as big as they are.  I think at one point in my life I had a neopet, which was like a free virtual pet that you could get stuff for.  I never really wanted to use it to interact with others online and I never did any of the things that you had to pay for, but I remember thinking that it was cool that I had my very own pet of sorts.  It was exciting knowing that when I got online something would be there waiting for me to play with it, and also knowing that it was like this imaginary pet that I could play with.  I think I discovered this when I was around 9 or 10, but I also remember quickly losing interest with it and then never going back to play with it.  Virtual worlds are okay for a short time, but I think at least in my case I get bored with them, because I want to do things bigger than what is happening on my computer screen.

As far as utilizing virtual worlds in a classroom setting, I'm not too convinced of the benefits of using them.  I think that some children like having a way to escape and become whoever they want to be in a virtual world, but I think that can also be a dangerous thing.  I do like the idea where they can share written work like poetry on a website, without actually having to let people know who they are, that allows them to not feel as exposed to those around.  Also I think that the online safety skills that the children can gain as the teacher prepares them for something like an online world are valuable, but I am just not convinced that it is something I see extending the learning from the classroom.  I guess without taking time to explore virtual worlds I will not really know, but as of right now I'm not really sure that this technology will have a place in my classroom especially if I end up working with younger children.