The panel came together to talk about the promise and pitfalls ofvirtual worldsfrom an educational and commercial viewpoint.
Thomas, for example, works with kids in an educational virtual world calledModern Prometheus.
“Particularly for teens with a drive for independence,” Kafai said.
But they would know how to find any kind of map of Iraq on the Internet, he said.
“Knowledge is changing.
“That’s going to be the single most important skill–the ability to adapt to change.”
“Bullying, racism, homophobia, every cultural ill is replicated in virtual worlds,” Thomas said.
The panelists advised parents to take an active approach with their kids in virtual worlds.
“Go into the world with them,” she said.
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