Youth today spend much of their time gaming…video games, computer games, all kinds of games! Because gaming is so engaging, many educational “games” have been developed to teach young people while they “play.” Online simulations are part of this endeavor, as witnessed by the popularity of Second Life.
Elf Island is an online virtual world that allows kids to “Play Games, Do Good.” In the section of the Elf Island website that is “Gaming for Good,” there is a “Polar Bear GoodQuest” where students can make a positive difference in the real world through “Mirrored Gaming.”
The Elf Island website states:
“Working with our non-profit partners, Elf Island identifies real world projects to support. We create online games called GoodQuests™ , which are focused on these initiatives to bring the projects to life in the virtual world.
Through Mirrored Gaming, kids learn about non-profit projects and, by completing a GoodQuest, they help real people, animals and the earth.
- Planting a tree in our virtual world causes trees to be planted in the real world.
- Building a home in our virtual world causes real homes to be built in the real world.
- Helping sharks in our virtual world helps sharks in the real world.
Kids feel the empowerment and become inspired to see the results.”
What a great way to effect change in the world by educating students in a fun and engaging process that is meaningful!! Be sure to share this website with the youth in your world, and see what powerful things they can do through this experience!
Note: The Polar Bear GoodQuest will be launching the first week of March 2009.
