Ekoloko

Ekoloko's goal is to provide a safe, fun environment for kids that enables gaming integrating ecological and conservationist themes. It also features a public chat system. It appears to be targeted at younger children (elementary level).

Resources and links
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Articles and tutorials
[|Ekoloko's "About Us" Page] [|Ekoloko's FAQ]

Strengths:

 * Interesting games
 * Free (for basic services)
 * Structured as safe environment for children
 * Responsible environmental themes integrated
 * Multilingual support (various languages) in games and chat

Weaknesses:

 * Games only tangentially address issues of education (mostly setting, such as a "recycling factory")
 * Payment required to access certain features of the game system
 * Chat system opens up possibility of abuse.

Opportunities:

 * Teachers could use the site to reinforce responsible behavior with respect to ecological issues.
 * Students could engage is chat with other children interested in the environment.

Threats:

 * Payment system can direct students to purchase game "money" to buy in-game goods. This can take advantage of a lack of understanding by young children who do not understand that they are using "real" money (and perhaps even some adults.)
 * Even assuming that children understand that the in-game goods cost money, it is potentially ethically precarious to put students in a position, at a young age, where they might spend money on services that, in other sectors of the game industry, are considered predatory. "Freemium" games frequently use gambling establishment tactics to encourage spending, and it is particularly dangerous to expose young children to this model before they are capable of understanding its ramifications.

Ideas:
The teacher could establish a short period of time where students could be exposed to environmental issues through playing particular games on Ekoloko. The teacher could instruct students to select an environmental topic and research it, using the chat system to engage other children in the topic to explore related issues or the views of others.