Multi-
User
Dimensions or Multiple User Dungeon, or Multiple User Dialogue. These are extensions of Dungeons and Dragons that seduced "adolescents" into a network world of imaginary places. Now there are serious social and education MUDs. Some of the many types are reviewed in
Basic Information About MUDs and MUDding . There are extensions such as
Multi-user, Object-Oriented MOO applications that, along with MUDs, have become serious educational experiments and applications. For example,
Conlon (1997) reports on the
MOOville writing workshop for over 2500 students per semester at the University of Florida. Click here for a summary of it in Jensen and Sandlin (1997). Another less extreme extension is the MUSH which, like a MUD, is an electronic space in which multiple persons (players, users, students) socialize, create "worlds," and interact in gaming or serious episodes. For a discussion of the history and applications of MUSHes, see
The Mush Manual by Lydia Leong. Also see
MUDs, MOOs, and Muses . The variations differ more in terms of underlying codes than in purpose and application. For an early overview of MUDs see
Germain (1993) . The addictive powers of MUDS and the fantasy world of LambdaMOO are discussed by
Hafner (1994) . MUDs and extensions such as MOOs and MUSHes are no longer viewed as merely interactive games. They have become serious paradigms for education and training. For a summary of MOOville and its outcomes see
Chapter 2 of Jensen and Sandlin (1997) . MUDs are particulary intriguing as education paradigms for reaching students who perform poorly in traditinal classroom settings. (See also
Games )
