Thanks Eric for your reaction to my reaction. In response to your question on "What is a MUSE" I will quote from an article by Billie Hughes and Jim Walters at Phoenix College who have pioneered all the work with the MUSE. (I am just a newcomer to this fascinating learning environment.)
"MUSE (Multi-User Simulation Environment) is a networked community residing on a computer connected to the Internet. ... It has been described as a 'text-based virtual world' where you can build and explore rooms, objects, and all sorts of places as well as meet people from all around the world." People enter rooms and encounter other people or objects via their keyboard. Everything is created by the user... your character, your room, your objects. "Community norms call for sharing and respecting others." Other similar environments that have captured the attention of our young people are MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons and Dragons) and MOOs (MUD Object Oriented). While many of these are game like in nature creating futuristic environments, there are some that are educational oriented. For example, there is a University MOO that uses a college campus metaphor with interactive classrooms, student commons with a unique multilevel fishtank, a school newspaper, bulletin boards, and extensive help. Other educational institutions are proposing or currently being funded to investigate the use of these environments for science and math.
What is my opinion of playing?
I think that all learning should be fun. If we enjoy and are motivated to learn it can be fun. I think that once again it has to do with the constructivist paradigm--when learning is meaningful and relevant, then we are more interested in learning. Perhaps the better word would be "interest" and motivation
.Another question... HOW DO WE ASSESS THESE NEW LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND WHAT IF ANY LEARNING HAS OCCURRED?