While I have entered Second Life with my peers and stumbled around with others who are feeling their way and I still cannot walk around chairs, I walk over them, I walk on tables and appear quite clumsy, I have always been in good company. Others were very accommodating of my bumps into furniture and my calls to teleport me to another island or building because I couldn't find my way using the map. When I was in Second Life, I was learning about how to be a Second Life citizen with other immigrants who were also feeling their way around. I see great potential for the educational opportunities of Second Life. I have to work at being a Second Life citizen and I do realize the benefits. It is still a challenge, so I thought I would try an online game for younger people, it would have to be easier, right?

Jump to my next challenge. I registered for Club Penguin and blindly wandered around as a little penguin, cute little penguin, I might add. While I was looking at my igloo and furnishing it with a carpet and chair, I wondered what else there was to do. I went back out to the village and wandered near some other igloos and a park. Within seconds I was at the bottom of a penguin pile and was being pelted with snowballs. What else do penguins do? I logged out. I haven't been back. But I've read lots of articles about Club Penguin as I am sure you have. Still a challenge, off to try another online game!

I have a group of middle school bloggers and podcasters I meet with once a week. They have tried to instruct me on how to play Runescape. They have tolerated my questions, have offered to give me better weapons, shared with me how the community of players monitor cyberbullying and other parts of the Runescape community. They have freely tried to encourage me to try this part of their lives. I've not been as successful playing Runescape as I was skiing down the Mountain Dew Challenge. But I do like any community that agrees to update rules for the good of the masses. Here is a recent rule update:

"We've now expanded this to state that luring someone into the Wilderness under false pretences is definitely a scam."

I like the list of rules at Runescape, there are plenty of them, but it is a huge community so the rules help govern the masses. Here are some examples of the 15 rules at Runescape.

Rule 1 - Offensive Language
Rule 2 - Item Scamming
Rule 3 - Password Scamming
Rule 4 - Cheating/Bug Abuse

There are long lists and lots of written material about Runescape. It is well planned and written for digital immigrants. I am sure the young people don't take time to read all the information, but they know the rules because it is part of the Runescape culture. It takes a long time to learn all the rules and how to navigate the Runescape world. I am already a level 2 Woodcutter and proud of my accomplishment. This is tedious, challenging, maybe there is something easier still?

Now, another challenge. Webkinz! I had read about Webkinz and how the younger kids were flocking to the website. I thought it was an attempt to groom even younger digital natives to social networking and the business of the Web. I was further convinced when the only way to participate on the Webkinz site was to first adopt a Webkinz animal or a Lil'kinz. But, when my niece came for a ski weekend visit and had to get her 30 minute Webkinz fix, I was more intrigued. I finally ordered my Webkinz, actually Lil'kinz, pink pig, her name is Bacon.

When my Lil'kinz arrived in the mail I made arrangements to log onto the Webkinz site, then emailed my brother to give my niece my user name and to add me as a friend. I had to add her also to my friend list. All this to make a connection, a Webkinz connection! How hard can this be? I am going to play virtually with 7 year olds! Well, the first time I went onto Webkinz and set up my account I saw that I could email my niece, all canned comments, I wasn't able to type my own message. Probably a great thing when you are 7 and not a very fast typist. I had a little room to furnish, but, because I didn't have Webkinz money I had just a few items available that I could use.

However, my niece came to the rescue, she not only sent me many emails, she sent me gifts of food and games, you must keep your adopted pet fed, happy and healthy. She gave me lots of advice and directions about how to get around and how to play. She also engaged me in a battleship type game, she was winning for most of the game, until she gave me too much advice. Now, I have to give you my secret about how was I so successful in Webkinz, if you can call it that. I had a 7 year old talking me through all steps of the online Webkinz world while on the phone, and I don't mean the Webkinz phone. I had a 7 year old teaching me how to get through a Webkinz game, post office and room while she was coaching me on the phone.

I finally get it! Digital immigrants, like me, are not comfortable with this new learning because it is so foreign. It is not because we don't like online games, it is not because we don't have enough time to learn the rules and play the games, is a foreign language to us, it is hard work and the "play" is all about trial and error and making new learning. I had my tour guide coaching me and leading me through the new world of online gaming. I am fascinated by these new technologies, it wasn't easy, it was scary not being in control and not knowing what to expect next and it is hard work. However, if we are going to be prepared to teach our digital natives we need to experience this online gaming world. Find a 7 year old, or a 12 year old, have conversations, create your own avatar and learn to play an online multi-player game. The Horizon Report says we should be moving in this direction, my good friend Vicki is promoting this too, it is the right direction we should be moving in, it is the 21st Century Literacy.

Posted by Cheryl Oakes
From TechLearning