EDUCATION BLOG

I have been researching multi-user virtual environments and I stumbled upon the River City Research Project, another virtual learning platform developed by Active Worlds The developers at Active Worlds have created an interactive computer simulation for grades 6 through 9 science students to learn scientific inquiry and 21st century skills. River City Project content was developed from National Science Education Standards, National Educational Technology Standards, and 21st Century Skills. Check out the presentation from the project web site. Click here

River City provides a virtual environment where students travel back in time to a 19th century town that has been besieged with health problems, bringing their 21st century skills and technology with them to help form and test hypotheses about the causes of the illnesses. Navigating an environment that is based upon authentic sociological, historical, and geographical conditions, the students use technology to test their hypotheses from clues and information gathered within the town. There are three different variants of the River City curriculum, guided social constructivism, expert modeling and coaching, and legitimate peripheral participation. Here is the web site.