Educational value of “Zoo World” in Facebook
What amazing fun I’ve had with my son (Year 3/Grade 2 age) on Facebook via the Zoo World this weekend.
We have worked together on developing our business and economics skills in bringing a Zoo worth $0 to being worth $1.5M. Along the way we have worked through challenges (each steadily harder and longer), and spent time working our the various permutations as to what to do next. My son has also been improving his literacy and numercy skills as he had to tell me what the messages were, how much we’d made, how much we still had to make (and time it would take) to get another animal/staff/equipment etc. He’s also learnt a great deal about animals, as there are notes on the 80+ animals we have our zoo, and also in developing a systematic approach to sorting through ensuring that the same types of animals are in the same area of a zoo.
What an amazing game – and best of it is free!! Also as a father is was so good to see my son engrossed in his learning (without always appreciating the skills he was displaying) and I felt good in having spent so much quality time with him.
I can remember wanting to get the likes of Civilization into my school many years ago, but it a) just cost too much, and b) took too long to accomplish something worthwhile. Here the programme is free, and it’s simple, but in a sophisticated simple way. There are still enough permutations to ensure that those playing can enjoy the challenge, but also few enough so that you can see the success of your achievements.
My son appreciated at the end of the weekend how you don’t magically create a business – you have to work hard, juggle lots of possible options, and before you make those decisions go through all the options and select one you feel is right. Oh and if you like the topic (he likes animals) you get to learn some great facts too!
Well done RockYou!, I can see understand they recently received $50M in venture funding (article) – a very educationally appealing game for students from 6ish upwards (and as we’re all life-long learners which includes us all), and also to facebook.