Where in the World is the Science in Whyville? Informal Science in a Multi-User Virtual Community

Authors

Y. B. Kafai
D. Feldon
Deborah A. Fields, Utah State UniversityFollow
M. Giang
K. Peppler
M. Quintero

Document Type

Presentation

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Where in the World is the Science in Whyville? Informal Science in Multi-User Virtual Community

Publication Date

2007

Abstract

This symposium presents the results of the first comprehensive study of participation in science activities in a large scale Multi-User Virtual Community, called Whyville.net, with over 1.2 million registered users. The study sample is comprised of over 595 online players ages 8 - 16 including two sixth grade classes and 42 after school participants. Data from log files, chat transcripts, surveys, interviews, observations, and cheat sites were analyzed to evaluate science engagement and learning in casual science games and collaborative simulations that immersed the whole community in a virtual epidemic. Results address the learning value of collaborative science simulations, the design of online inquiry tools for informal settings, and issues integrating MUVEs within classroom settings.

Comments

Presentation at the Symposium Conducted at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL

Recommended Citation

Kafai, Y. B., Feldon, D., Fields, D. A., Giang, M., Peppler, K. & Quintero, M. (2007, April). Where in the world is the science in Whyville? Informal science in a multi-user virtual community. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.