BP3_iGoogleScreenShots

BP2_MoshiMonsters

My exploration into Web 2.0 was super fun. I chose to explore a tool called Moshi Monsters. This tool would require a sign up for each student with an email attached. The adoption of a monster is free, however they do have an optional membership which requires a fee and gets a person a couple of extra perks.

For my students I would have to help them through the free sign up. But once registered and signed in the student can pick a monster and then color it how they would like and name it what they want.

Once a student is through the basic steps their monster is placed in its own house. You are awarded a few items to get you going. If these are not enough for you, you can go out and explore "Monstro City". In the city you can visit some shops to buy stuff for your house, or food, or some clothing for your pet. In among the shops there are also some game sites to visit and play.

In order to buy items you need to collect "Roks". This is the Moshi equivalent to dollars. To earn Roks, you must play games. They have a game of the day which will earn you the most Roks at a time. You can however play any game in the hall of games and earn Roks depending on how well you do. Each game is timed and you try to answer as many questions correctly as you can within that time. Games range to many different skills; some math, some spatial, some color, some spelling. The more games you play and things that you buy, your monster levels up. The higher level your monster is the more things you are allowed to buy for your monster.

You can have your entire class friend each other within the site so that the students can visit each others homes and monsters. You must watch out though that you watch your students so that they dont friend random strangers. When out on the streets visiting the shops you see many of the other monsters wandering  around.

This site would be great for younger kids especially, I think the best ages would be 7-12, but could be used for older kids too as even I could find myself addicted to a game like this. It will help teach them responsibility, as they have to keep their pets healthy by feeding them and keeping them happy. The games are also challenging to the students as they try to get higher and higher scores each time. Being able to pick them games also allows them to either pick what they like and are good at or allows you have them work on a skill they may need more work on. Also this really works on a students reading abilities, as the monsters talk to you but do not talk in english, they have their own language which you can not understand by listening to, but they have speech bubbles in english to read what it is they are saying.

(All picture and video were taken off the Moshi Monsters website by Erica Adkins)

BP1_Welcome to my blog

Hey everyone. Welcome to my blog area here. Wow guys, into month 4. So far things are just flying by. Lets hope that keeps up for the rest of the year right? :) Things have been going good so far for me, I hope they have been for you all too. Not sure what I expected out of a masters program but this has completely surpassed any expectation I might have had about one. It makes me so happy to hear about other teachers at my school talk about all the papers they have to write or book reviews or some other boring assignment, and I get to fill them in on (or rub it in) about all the exciting and unique stuff I get to do for my classes. With the exception of this upcoming literature review. Not quite as excited about that, especially after not doing quite the best on the first short one. But I suppose the lit review along with the CBR project is still way better than having to write an entire thesis. I am super excited to see what the rest of this year together has to bring and what other programs we get to learn about and explore. Its been great so far guys, lets keep rockin' on through the year together. :)