Archive for December, 2009

Homeschooling by definition has the potential to be more interesting than traditional schooling. Unless parents are completely intent on schooling in the same way as a traditional classroom, and most homeschooling parents are not at all into that, homeschooling gives the student a lot of autonomy and encourages independent work.

But not all homeschooling programs are created equally, and some are certainly more engaging than others. Homeschooling CAN be dry and repetitive – unless educators and parents are set on making it fun and interactive.

WiloStar3D is an online homeschool that prides itself on using technology, namely 3D virtual worlds, to make learning fun. We think that students should be excited about learning. They should love going to school. We refuse to accept that children must spend 12 precious years doing something they hate, and learning very little in the process.

Our fully accredited homeschooling program is interesting to students because to them, it feels just like playing a video game. They get to develop virtual worlds, use highly expressive avatars and create collaborative projects with other students. Our 3D online homeschool takes learning from “passive” to “active” and from “boring” to “interesting.”

Parents love our school because it is fully accredited and because it is perfect for their intelligent, curious children. They see the spark in their kids’ eyes when they “go” to school (our 3D virtual school does in fact makes it feel as if they are going to school) and they see that their kids are being constantly challenged.

A 3D approach to home schooling adapts to different learning styles, promotes higher order thinking skill, helps retain materials learned and enhances problem-solving abilities. Most importantly, it keeps students engaged, motivates them to excel and results in higher achievement levels.

I’m not sure why traditional schooling has such great difficulty when it comes to adopting new technology. I taught in the public school system for many years. I’ve always loved technology and was one of those teachers who wanted to incorporate technology into learning as much as possible – I saw the spark in kids’ eyes when it was time to go to the computer lab!

Technology has always been a love of mine and it was very hard to see the resistance in traditional education when it came to trying new things or creating projects for students using the computer.

That’s why I decided to create a new kind of online home school – one that would appeal to intelligent, highly creative students who love technology. WiloStar3D is an interactive, techie, FUN way to homeschool – an online homeschool where technology is not feared or avoided, but is leveraged to help students learn, have fun and feel excited about learning.

Over the years, as the Internet grew, we constantly evolved to keep up with the technologies that would allow students to create immersive spaces and educational worlds as part of their learning experience. In fact, we are the world leaders in this area and have pioneered 3D virtual worlds for education.

Technology is a big part of modern life. It can be a great tool for enhancing the learning experience and making it interesting and challenging. Our children have already embraced technology – they see it as an integral part of their lives and use it every day, whether by emailing, texting, playing video games or surfing the Web.

Embracing technology as a wonderful way to teach rather than seeing it as something to be suspicious of makes learning fun for our students and transforms the learning experience from boring to engaging. 3D online homeschooling is the perfect learning system for techies – and as we all know, most of the younger generation can be defined as “techies.”

One of the things I love most about 3D virtual learning is that it encourages students to be creative. 3D virtual education allows and encourages students to manipulate, change, and create their worlds – their way.

The best part of an immersive virtual learning environment is to see the doors of imagination blast wide open. To see students once again get excited about learning. We all remember our own traditional school education, and many of us not very fondly. The intense boredom, looking at the clock every 10 minutes, impatiently waiting for the bell to FINALLY ring, living for the weekend (and for recess) – how sad!

Learning is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be challenging and engaging and creative. Taking a bunch of kids and having them sit quietly in a classroom taking notes while a teacher lectures – this is NOT what education is about. Education is about being curious, asking questions, researching a subject because it tickles your imagination and creating your own worlds and characters and plays.

3D virtual education makes sure learning is all that, and more. It is never about being passive, quiet or restrained. On the contrary: while students at WiloStar3D are required to sign a Code of Conduct to ensure appropriate behavior is respected and upheld, and are supervised at all times while online, we love to see our students have fun and get excited about learning.

WiloStar3D students role-play historical characters, put on plays for other students, and create interactive games. Our creative approach to learning prompts students’ pursuit of connections among ideas and concepts. Students who frame questions and issues and then go about answering and analyzing them take responsibility for their own learning and become problem solvers and, perhaps more importantly, problem finders. Our students love going to school – we wouldn’t have it any other way.