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The Federation of American Scientist is an independent think tank that is committed to helping education policymakers, the public, and the next generation of science leaders. Their purpose is to create a secure and better science educated world. To accomplish this, the organization has collected in a Wiki, 167 virtual worlds on a variety of subjects.
Like web4study.com, the Federation of American Scientist believes in supporting 21st Century education philosophies. Its Virtual World Almanac site features a specific virtual world. A table lists subject areas with links to the sites. Another table classifies sites by level such as elementary, junior high, or higher education.
Anyone can add a virtual world to the site, and these scientists welcome people across the globe to refine and edit its web pages. They provide a set of properties and templates to make the job easier. Besides the open invite and the list of virtual worlds, the scientists provide a way to search for the worlds, list what software engines run the worlds, a white paper reviewing research and evidence of why educators should be using these tools, and a semantic table.
All educators are taught that both simulation and real-life activities are the best methods to ensure maximum student potential and learning. While some parents prevent their children from watching too many shows on direct star tv, virtual worlds can actually be effective tools of learning. The Federation of American Scientist has collected and classified these virtual worlds to make educators’ jobs much easier and more engaging. The site provides a perfect example of what collaboration between different disciplines is supposed to be. Collaboration is a core value of science. Twenty first century education requires collaborative learning and teaching.