Today we’ve been discussing a great idea for a Seven Up! style web-tv series following a group of kids through the current curriculum reforms. There’s just one problem: how do you capture the authentic experiences that provide the essential insight and interest you need, while at the same time protecting the identities of the schools, the teachers, and above all, the kids themselves? Many school uniforms alone are emblazoned with the name of the school, before anyone even opens their mouth.

Overcoming issues of security is one of the constant challenges faced by those of us in the business of developing innovative online learning. The greatest ideas can only see the light of day where there’s no possibility of compromising the online safety of children and young people. So big congratulations are in order to colleagues in Twofour Digital for the new MyCBBC site (MyCBBC), which went live this month. It’s one of the first completely safe social networking sites for under-12s, avoiding the need for free texting, or the exchange of personal data, by providing a wide range of menu-based choices. And anyone’s welcome to register – so long as you’re 12 or under!

Also, I recommend reading Richard Deverell’s post on MyCBBC here.

Welcome to the brand new TwoFour Learning Blog!
This is where you will find up-to-date information on all current projects and activities of TwoFour Learning.
Stay tuned.

Today was the launch of the Twofour Learning blog, click here. The blog aims to keep an informal eye on the education sector, documenting the thoughts, concerns and ideas of Twofour’s Learning Team.

I will be one of the contributing bloggers to the blog, documenting my travels through the metaverse. But don’t worry if you miss my posts there I will also be documenting my thoughts here.

I saw this post over at massively, and I thought i’d put a few random thoughts together and blog it!

I very much come from a very different background, originally a Digital Arts student I have also been playing computer games since my first Amega. I can totally see the addictive element of MMORPG technologies and virtual environments in general.

I would be the first to hold up my hand up and say I was addicted to playing World of Warcraft for a total of two years. For two main reasons; player experience, Blizzard have managed to capture and understand why people are draw to play these games (player motivations), coupled with seamless graphics and complete game play smoothness, you are never reminded that you are in a virtual world. So you can easily get immersed in the technology. Hence the very long nights and mind set of wanting to hand in “just one more quest”.

However these games also present something else; social obligation, when I did get more and more immersed in Wow I found my “in-game friends” would worry if I wasn’t online at a particular time. Also to push your progress in a community or guild you “had” to be online to participate in events and what is know as end game instances (going to dungeons) to improve your equipment and gain experience.

In regards to Second Life, it has the social aspects granted, but you’re always re-minded of being in a virtual environment with lag, constantly greyed out graphics and lack of smoothness. This all comes from “what second life is and does” the content is ever changing and has to be re-loaded constantly because its all user created and not predetermined or pre-rendered graphics. (This isn’t a negative; it’s in fact a huge benefit).

In the future I do feel UK legislation needs to follow suit to many Eastern and now European countries, with the introduction of game addiction clinics. Understanding is needed of the technology and behaviour of players in this now “digital society”.

I know this doesn’t detail all the reasons for gaming addiction but feel free to have your say!