In this week's RezEd Podcast Episode 43 Dr. James Paul Gee discusses his thoughts on assessment and opportunities for Learning in Virtual Worlds & Gaming. Professor Gee's most recent books deal with video games, language, and learning. What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy (2003, Second Edition 2007) argues that good video games are designed to enhance learning through effective learning principles supported by research in the Learning Sciences. Situated Language and Learning (2004) places video games within an overall theory of learning and literacy and shows how they can help us in thinking about the reform of schools. His most recent book is Good Video Games and Good Learning: Collected Essays (2007).

This week's featured discussion, "Getting over the Cost Issue" is posted by Dave Hammers.

Smallworlds launches on RezEd!!! We are happy to announce that RezEd members can meet virtually at any time within the virtual world of Small Worlds, which starting today is officially partnering with Ning.
Every member of RezEd can easily join and log-in to the web-based Small Worlds environment from within the RezEd site.
We will be announcing soon other opportunities to meet up within Small Worlds for specific events and dialogues. In the meanwhile, check out our "RezEd Educator's Zone" in Small World, and explore the rest of the world!

RezEd is delighted to be recognized by the American Association of School Librarians as one of the top 25 "Best Websites for Teaching and Learning" and honored to be on a list which includes Facebook, Ning, Skype, Twitter, Wikispaces, and Second Life.

According to their site, "The Best Websites for Teaching and Learning honors websites, tools, and resources of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the American Association of School Librarians' Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.
Read more here.

The 2nd RezEd Review is now available!
This review highlights the diverse perspectives of over two dozen experts who have spoken to the RezEd community in its bi-weekly podcast series.

The review gives insight in to the research, public policy, and educational change across virtual worlds. Interviews include experts covering a range of virtual worlds, including Quest Atlantis, Dizzywood, There.com, Panwapa, Club Penguin, Project Wonderland, River City, Google’s Lively, and BarbieGirls.

To download a pdf copy of the RezEd Review join the RezEd Review group.