NeoPets

With the trouble I have been having with Second Life, I thought I would try something a little bit more simple. Since I am studying to be a teacher, I thought I could get away with joining the Neopets site, because I should be keeping in touch with what the young students are interested in, right?

The site is more complex than I first imagined, which is a good thing. It was very simple to set up the neopet, but there are many choices involved. It is nothing like Second Life in that way.

I created a little puppy named Jaxlee (a combination of my real puppies' names), and clicked around to explore. All of the characters are, ofo course, child-friendly, and the games are entertaining and can be addicting. I like the Ball Bounce game. There are some educational elements, but in my opinion, it is not meant to be an educational-site, more a fun site that incorporates a little bit of math, letters, and grammar. Though, having a virtual pet and taking care of them, as well as creating online friends, does help a student develop some character skills and communication skills, as well as helping them become more responsible.

I like this site because it does not feel as overwhelming as Second Life, but they are so completely different it really is not right to compare. I will continue exploring these sites. Any recommendations??