I was curious to see what types of wikis exist, so I did a google search simply using the work “wiki.” The results were disappointing as I searched through pages of poorly organized work. However, I finally came across the StoryTellingWiki, which is a compilation of stories, fairy tales and myths from around the world. [...]

The Disaster Dynamics project is dedicated to preparing policy makers, academics, students, etc. to make informed and analytical decisions during a disaster. In order to achieve this goal, the project is seeking to create effective learning environments for the unique challenges surrounding natural disasters. At this time, the chief focus is on creating games and [...]

Now that the semester is almost over, you may be ready to take a break from this far too busy world and chill out in a virtual one. Virtual Worlds Review has links and commentary on 18 different virtual spaces where you can don an avatar and be someone else somewhere else for awhile.

The Polar Husky site is an example of simulations being used with e-learning opportunities. It is set up like the Iditarod sites where teachers, students and regular folks can monitor, interact and learn from a dog sled team as it travels the tundra for 3,000 miles. I was expecially drawn to this when the opening [...]

Matthew Baldwin, author of the very funny Defective Yeti blog, has a very good list of suggested board games for the gifting season.

For those of you who enjoyed the Wiki project, here is an application that allows users to create a local wiki on your own computer. The Voodoo pad allows users to link to files on the computer or internet. There is a free demo version at flyingmeat.com This product recently won the O’Reilly Innovator’s award [...]

Design News, a respected trade journal for engineering types has initiated a new feature on their website – a game designed to challenge reader’s knowledge of engineering. Participants can see how they rank among their peers or just test their knowledge with what appears to be a Flash-based game. Users need to register to access [...]

In my first posting I made reference to an essay by Frank Oppenheimer about play and learning (this Blog, Oct 22). Frank raises an issue that I must always remember: it takes discipline to play. The pressure to produce makes it hard to work creatively and playfully. The more I view a program like Flash [...]

“The uDevGame Contest is an effective process for equipping novice and veteran game developers alike with the knowledge they need to create great Mac games. The competitive nature and short development time of the contest forces entrants to develop an appreciation of good game design. uDevGame also helps to teach developers how to pace themselves [...]

This is a good website for people, especially young people, interested in Physics. It contains a number of interactive games and simulations. For example, there is a Periodic Table game where you line up tiles to match the periodic table. There is also a Wafer Maker game in which you grow silicon crystals to make [...]

In mid-November, local students and their teachers were given the opportunity to participate in the first annual Red-Eye Video Shoot Out sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education’s iVIEawards.org (Innovative Video in Education). While video production is not typically considered a game or simulation, this event was a competition with set rules and [...]

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). They provide ratings to help you choose games that are appropriate for you and your family. They rate games with symbols that indicate the suggested age group of game users for a particular game, and they [...]

I am totally fascinated with Military simulations. I find the thought of fighting terrorists from my living room to be the only function of support I can offer. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women fighting for our country and often feel somewhat helpless in the fact that I am [...]

In researching one of my Wiki topics, I came across an article by Howard Tomlinson in the September, 2003 edition of the T.H.E. Journal about the increased use of PDAs in the classroom. The PDAs are seen as a less expensive alternative to laptop or desktop PCs for each student. They can be used by [...]