MiniMonos+Review,+Bree+Mobley

Module Review: Planet Connect, MiniMonos

1. What organization developed the curriculum module you are evaluating? Planet Connection, a component of Classroom Earth, developed the games. Classroom Earth is run by the Nation Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). 2. What is the mission of the organization? Planet Connection is an online tool for high school students to learn about current environmental issues, funding opportunities, and green college experiences and careers. 3. What is the educational mission and philosophy of the organization? Planet Connection aims to create an atmosphere for high school students to share and exchange ideas about how they are playing a critical role in solving environmental problems. The goal of NEEF is to work with professional in health, education, public lands, and media to connect the environment to everyday life choices. The curriculum, Minimonos, is a virtual world for children to take on the role of a monkey avatar and practice generosity, sustainability, and community. Actions are shown a direct environmental effect: when the lagoon is not clean, there are no more fish. Environmental activism is normalized in this virtual world. I think the curriculum is appropriately designed to generate a sense of community, sustainability, and environmental awareness. When emerged in an environment where such things are not only expected, but highly encouraged, players can learn to implement that in a non-virtual setting. Targeting children and their imaginative characteristics, this game can easily be translated into an important part of these children’s lives and households. Yes, long-lasting environmental activism and awareness is the number one goal of EcoEd, in my opinion. I think that if parents are willing to pay the charge for this game and if that child is interested in playing computer games, this could be a strong tool in changing a small portion of the generation. The game could emphasize the importance of not just an individual’s actions, but the collective effects of a community’s actions. Because it’s not just one person that causes irreversible environmental damage.
 * 1) What does the curriculum module aim to teach? In other words: what are the learning outcomes supposed to be?
 * 1) Do you think the curriculum is appropriately designed to produce the intended learning outcomes?
 * 1) Does this curriculum teach the kind of literacies the EcoEd Research Group advocates?
 * 1) What could be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that the EcoEd Group advocates?