the learning-based virtual world an intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something....
TRANSCRIPT
TheLearning-BasedVirtual World
An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something.
© 2009 Numedeon, Inc. & DaVinci Minds, Inc.
Cliff ZintgraffCEO, DaVinci Minds, Inc.
www.whyville.netFind PlaneWorks
Play the activity “WingFling”
© 2009 Numedeon, Inc. & DaVinci Minds, Inc.
Whyvillians Meet a VIP forDiscussion at the Greek Theatre
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Future Virologists
Whyvillians Meet a VIP forDiscussion at the Greek Theatre
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0 clams
80 clams
20 clams
50 clams
100 clams
They progress and stay for a long time
Whyville Beach©
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Learning-based virtual world for teens and tweens
175,000 unique users a month, >5 million served since 1999.
Its own newspaper, economy, government
Educational games in math, science, journalism, art, government and economics
Our partners.
© 2007 Numedeon, Inc.
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Whyville Census - 2007
Page Views: 1 Billion
Visits: 35-40 Million
Monthly Hours Per Unique User: 3.5
Total Hours Spent: 5 Million
Chat Phrases Spoken: 500 Million
Educational games played: 8.5 million
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> 5 Million Users Served (2009)
1999 2008
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
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under 13 13-18 over 18
GirlsBoys2/3rds girls
12 1/2 AA
2008Numbers
Most Engaging.
The popular virtual world designed by Caltech scientists to give children 8 to 15 years of age a safe online spot to interact, play and learn, has caught fire. virtual world for teens and preteens allows kids to buy cool cyber-gear.
Community
Creativity
Ownership
Creating content in Whyville.
Avatar & face part design.
Avatars custom designed by users
Thriving face part industry
Millions of face parts created and sold
Users contribute to culture & history
Given tools, users ALWAYS surprise us
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Senator OrEoBaBy
“Digital Kids…researchhas shown that kidsengage deeply invirtual environments”
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Nutrition in Whyville
Healthy Diet
Not-So-Healthy Diet
“Hotwired Educational Site…Don't you wish thiskind of stuff was around when we were in school?”
587,000 requests to the Dietician.
RED TIDE
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Getty Museum
100 articles submitted each week
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Not Feeling Well?
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flu shots
infected
"Flu Shot"
Pandemic Data
Virus seeded Christmas Vacation
Detailed Metrics
In 2006, The Texas Workforce Commission funded Whyville to
help attract “tweens and teens” to Texas high-tech, high wage careers
in Biotechnology & Advanced Manufacturing.
Here’s what Whyville has done to accomplish that goal …
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Future Virologists
WhyvillePlaneworks
OUTREACH
OUTREACH
CAREERSIMULATION
Career
Pipelines
CAREERSIMULATION
Career
Pipelines
JOBS
Texas users are referred to the web sites of educational opportunities in the region they live in. We ENGAGE kids in
STEM education and we START THE PIPELINE by showing them where to continue their education.
Schools for biotechnology
Schools for advanced
manufacturing
Adoption in the Classroom – Waco ISD
• Integrated into 8th grade curriculum• Free, online lesson plans• 58 semester long classes• 1,010 students
Do We Teach the Way We Learn?
© numedeon, inc. 2006
Evaluator Cathleen Galas in Why WhyvilleStudying WhyPox Epidemiology
• a meaningful problem• collaborative • think critically about the spread• gathering data … making
hypotheses• many hours outside school• deep questions, researched
answers• took responsibility for their own
open-ended learning• productive citizens
Opening face part stores;Whyville Times articles
Designing face parts
Building airplanes
Building ion engines
Passing chat test
Chat test; tutorials
The Latest
State Government
CommunityColleges
UniversitiesWorkforce
Boards
GreenEnergy
Non-Profit
Promotion of Green Energy Education and Jobs
TheLearning-BasedVirtual World
An intrinsically interesting environment to teach kids something.
© 2009 Numedeon, Inc. & DaVinci Minds, Inc.
Cliff ZintgraffCEO, DaVinci Minds, Inc.
“Report Decision: You are muted for 3 days due to inappropriate behavior.”
City Workers = Law & Order
Underage newbies cannot chat until they….• Visit the site 3 times• Submit signed parental permission slip• Pass ‘Chat License’ test
Whyville is SafeExceeds All Standards Established by COPPA
“A Networked Town That PutsSafety and Education First”
What Is Whyville?
All in all, a proprietary 12 pronged defense
mechanism (11 of which, nobody else does!).