In my search to find a Web 2.0 Tool that I can use in conjunction with my CBR project I located an AWESOME tool called Electro City. This is a FREE learning tool that can be used by teachers and students to help teach the concept of energy, sustainability, and environmental management. The students can create their own city and decide on various aspects such as tourism, budget, coal and gas production, supply and demand, and much, much more!
This tool comes with teacher resources and Fact Sheets that give more direction to potential projects. For example in teaching about the Ocean this tool can be used to show how the ocean produces energy.
They give teacher ideas on how to use the tool in the class. It is web based, but for schools that may have an issue with connection there is a downloadable limited version that runs on ANY computer without Internet access. In the life of a teacher FREE is always good, but FREE, EFFECTIVE, and INTERACTIVE… even better!
Registration as a teacher gives a Teacher’s Code to be used by the students. Whenever the students finish a game they enter the code to associate the game with you!
Okay… So I tried it and I LOVE IT!!!! I actually got a grade on how well my city ran… AMAZING. I mean think about you give the assignment, the kids work on making a bustling city in “150 turns”, the site grades the city, and lastly the kids can compete against others in the school and even throughout the website.
Electro City http://www.electrocity.co.nz