MyVirtualChild
MyVirtualChild
Enabling realistic application of developmental principals
Pearson
MyVirtualChild
This engaging simulation immerses students in raising a child from the prenatal period through age 18.
Students play the role of a parent and respond to realistic scenarios by choosing from among several options in this customisable virtual world. Through this they learn how parental choices combine with environmental and genetic factors to impact development.
- Students can customise their avatars, engendering a deeper connection to the student’s virtual world and their virtual child.
- A diverse cast of characters helps students create a virtual world that they recognize, which makes what they learn more resonant:
- students can indicate the gender identity of themselves and their partners, including the use of preferred pronouns
- the virtual child’s sibling may be neurotypical, or on the autism or learning disability spectrum
- side characters in the student’s virtual community — such as family members, friends, and neighbours — can vary based on immigrant and socioeconomic status, as well as cultural and ethnic background
- students can further customise the role of faith and spirituality in their virtual family.
- A new prenatal section helps students understand that development does not simply begin at birth. The addition of this content further emphasises the role that factors during pregnancy play in development.
- Contemporary cultural issues have been integrated throughout MyVirtualChild. For example, scenarios involving the virtual child’s digital literacy and the impact of social media upon development help contextualise the learning experience within today’s world.
- Sophisticated feedback delivered by virtual pediatricians, teachers, and psychologists helps students see how their decisions affect their child’s development over time.
- Reflective writing prompts help students connect MyVirtualChild to course content and informs future parenting decisions.
Access MyVirtualChild
MyVirtualChild is included within Revel® Child Development products and is also available for standalone adoption.
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About the authors
Frank Manis, University of Southern California
Dr. Manis is the creator of MyVirtualChild and MyVirtualLife. A child development instructor for over 40 years, Dr. Manis is passionate about promoting the use of technology to facilitate student learning. The major focus of his research has been on the identification of differences in cognitive profiles among children with reading difficulties.
Nancy Miodrag, California State University, Northridge
Dr. Miodrag is an associate professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development. Her research interests include psychological stress, health, and well-being in mothers and their children with various intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also interested in the psycho-educational techniques used to intervene to reduce stressors and promote adaptive coping in these families.