MyVirtualLife
Pearson’s experiential-based simulation
Through the lifespan stages of development, this human development and learning simulation enables students to experience the growth of a virtual adult from age 18 to late adulthood.
Introducing the concept of human growth and development with MyVirtualLife
Two simulations in one, MyVirtualLife offers profound insights and a lifespan approach to human development.
After parenting a virtual child (by way of the included MyVirtualChild learning path), MyVirtualLife pivots students to the first-person perspective of a virtual adult from age 18 to late adulthood.
Growing up as young adults alongside virtual family and friends, students experience common situations and notable life milestones in their virtual human's psychosocial development.
As their virtual adult continues to develop at the next stage of life, the students make decisions which impact their virtual life journey.
A range of features students can apply to relate and identify with their virtual adult
Personalised digital avatars offer students the opportunity to
- identify with their virtual alter egos and resonate with their virtual adult in first-person
- choose from a wide range of skin, hair, eye tones and colours, facial shapes, hairstyles, and clothing accessories
A sophisticated, tailor-made and immersive virtual learning experience
- fosters a deep emotional connection, helping students develop a vivid sense of the impact of genetics, attitudes, and decisions across the whole lifespan
- provides a wide variety of trajectories in the areas of education, career, relationships, social network, health, and financial stability
- encourages students to make life-changing decisions for their virtual adult character, e.g. make financial decisions regarding a house purchase and as a result, determine their position to retire etc.
A contemporary approach to the virtual decision-making process
- ensures MyVirtualLife feels familiar to students, offering them options that could reflect their interactions with social media, or individuals coming from a different cultural background
- helps students connect what they’re learning to their own lives by closely mirroring reality
- offers a nuanced range of student responses and additional variability in areas like sociability and coping
Further features students can access include
- feedback at the end of each developmental stage, summarising what students experienced in areas such as careers, relationships, health, and financial planning – and how they responded
- writing prompts, asking students to reflect upon their real and virtual lives and apply what they’re learning in the course
A look inside MyVirtualLife, as part of Lifespan Development Psychology
Play
About the authors of MyVirtualLife
Julie Taylor-Massey, Colorado State University
Dr Julie Taylor-Massey is part of the senior teaching faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Her speciality is normative individual and family developmental functioning from birth to death. Her interests include adolescence and early adulthood, the influence of technology on well-being, and online pedagogy.
Since 2010, Dr Taylor-Massey has taught exclusively online and SES in pedagogical best practices for course design and delivery that help students effectively learn in the online format.
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.
MyVirtualLife Assignment
