Chalk House: Improving Literacy Through Virtual Worlds
Target Audience: Elementary Teachers
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Suggested by Robert Bentley: This run-down mansion was once the ancient home of wealthy pioneers, now known to locals as Chalk House. The old house has a history waiting to be discovered. Students take on the role of a young reporter newly arrived at the Farewell Telegraph. This reporter investigates the strange disappearance of the last living members of the Forrester family, last seen entering this haunted place.
Based on research into problem- based learning and the use of other similar learning environments, when students solve the puzzles of the old house and file their reports with The Editor, their writing skills can be expected to improve along with critical thinking and reading comprehension. Student progress is tracked and reported to the teacher throughout the 20 hours of online content with more hours spent on writing exercises. Chalk House can be used over differing periods of time depending on classroom needs.
Link: http://created-realities.com/chalkhouse.html