We, as a planet, are experiencing an exciting time, one defined by innovation and one in which technology and globalization are reshaping our relationship with the world. However as global change accelerates, we run the risk of forgetting where we came from and losing touch with ourselves, our families and communities. While we cannot ignore or stop much of what changes in the world, our cultural and natural heritage is central to where we come from, who we are, and in helping understand and direct where we might go in the future. For most youth, our cultural and natural heritage is not a meaningful part of their everyday lives. While many have heard about Yellowstone National Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall of China, and some have heard of other cultural heritage sites like Mesa Verde National Park, for most young people these are not places through which they can better understand their history, their sense of self, and what they can become. In contrast, videogames have become one of the most significant forms of media for the enculturation of youth and adults alike. It is the focus of the World Explorations Project to leverage multi-user (online "gaming") technologies to help the world, but especially youth, develop a rich appreciation of our global heritage. As one example of this project, below is a video walkthrough of a couple of scenes from the virtual Mesa Verde National Park.
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