The Straad Players

Since I began thinking about this the owner of Cedar Island (an educational software developer) had expressed some enthusiasm and has offered to make a space on Sea Turtle Island available to experiment with the idea.(Sea Turtle Island is an adjoining research based area) He has also offered to make it restricted access thus avoiding strangers wandering in whilst children are watching.

• A policeman avatar warns of “stranger danger”.
• A fireman avatar talks about the danger of playing with matches.
• A dragon tells stories of times gone by.

Other ideas:

• Citizenship classes
• Virtual Crime Scene Investigation

Because the Avatar is a real person in real time, interaction and on the fly change to the program is possible. Other puzzles could be set about the place like a virtual quest or treasure hunt or a virtual crime scene to solve.

It seems to me this is most appropriate for younger children who are unable/not allowed to navigate such places. It could also be used for other participants who do not have the ability to navigate a virtual word but who may be happy to become a virtual tourist.