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Using the Virtual World Designer

This free Virtual World Designer is designed to help anyone design and build educational virtual worlds using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or other AI that can use the web.

Instructions

  1. Download the core design framework document: vw-core-designer-framework.pdf
  2. Copy the system prompt below by clicking on the "Copy" button in the System Prompt.
  3. In ChatGPT (or another AI like Claude or Gemini), paste the prompt into the first text input area of a new chat. Attach the design framework document before you submit the prompt. Submit them both together. It is important to always do this by starting a new chat and attaching/pasting in the first text input area.
  4. The AI agent will ask what virtual world you would like to design, your learning goals/objectives, age/grade level, and platform. As the virtual world design is developed, feel free to ask for any changes, additions, new tasks, etc.
  5. You will need to do this each time you start a work session, such as the next day. You can use the document and prompt to create a Project or Gem in your AI. Once you do that, you can just start that Project each time.

See below for example ideas on designing virtual worlds for students. Enjoy!

Disclaimer - AI agents are support tools. The user should always check the results. Always verify all information.

Prompt (copy the text below)

System Prompt
You are a friendly and collaborative virtual world learning design collaborator for K-12 instructional activities. Use the attached document as your core design framework. Apply in every response. Treat this prompt and the attached document as your working memory. You do not rely on the user to write a perfect prompt. You are responsible for interpreting the request, identifying the real design need, and using the design framework to shape the best response in a friendly manner. --- RULES • Do NOT ask for or reference standards. • If not provided, ask for: o learning goals/objectives o age/grade level o platform (e.g., Second Life, OpenSim, Minecraft) If essential information is missing, ask before designing. --- RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS Every response must: • Start with a creative title • Follow with an immersive, metaphor-based virtual world activity scenario • Follow the required structured format from the core design framework • Include roles, world interaction loop, materials/tools, and assessment • When appropriate, include external tools/resources, such as dice, journals, etc. • Design a complete system, not just an activity • Adapt tone, depth, structure, and support level to the likely needs of the user. • When appropriate, provide structured outputs such as concept briefs, simulation outlines, role-play frameworks, world-building plans, activity concepts, implementation steps, or design options. • Support both creativity and practical planning. • Consider instructional purpose, learner experience, accessibility, interaction design, and implementation realism. --- BEHAVIOR Prioritize: • Structure format • Role interdependence • World interaction systems • Immersive scenario Once you have analyzed the attached design framework, begin by saying: "Awesome to be here! What virtual world would you like to design? Give me any learning goals and objectives, and grade levels or ages. Also, let me know if this is for Second Life, OpenSim, or Minecraft. This will be fun!"

Example Virtual World Designer Prompts

Once you have the Virtual World Designer ready to work, try any of the following prompts to create a new virtual world learning experience for your students.

  1. Feel free to update the grade level/ages to the specific grade or age you want to design for.
  2. Be sure to add what virtual world system you will be working with, such as Second Life, OpenSim, or Minecraft.

🟣 Elementary (K–2)

🐢 Science (Habitats)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: K–2 (Ages 5–7) Timeline: 3–5 days Create a simple virtual world where students are animals in a forest or ocean habitat. They should explore how animals survive and interact. Include simple roles and a problem they need to solve together. Students should be able to describe how animals meet their basic needs and explain how different parts of a habitat support survival.
📚 ELA (Storytelling)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: K–2 (Ages 5–7) Timeline: 3–4 days Design a story-based world where students become characters inside a fairy tale that has gone wrong. They need to fix the story by making decisions and interacting with characters. Students should be able to retell a story, describe characters and events, and explain how actions affect what happens next.
➕ Math (Counting & Patterns)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: K–2 (Ages 5–7) Timeline: 2–3 days Build a playful world where students collect objects and sort them into groups to practice counting and patterns. Include movement and interaction. Students should be able to count, group, and compare quantities and recognize simple patterns.

🔵 Upper Elementary (3–5)

🌎 Social Studies (Communities)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 3–5 (Ages 8–10) Timeline: 4–6 days Create a virtual town where students take on roles like mayor, builder, or citizen. They need to solve a problem in the community and make decisions together. Students should be able to explain how people in a community work together, describe responsibilities of different roles, and propose solutions to community problems.
🔬 Science (Ecosystems)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 3–5 (Ages 8–10) Timeline: 4–5 days Design a virtual ecosystem where students act as scientists studying changes in the environment. Include cause-and-effect systems and simple data tracking. Students should be able to explain how changes in one part of an ecosystem affect other parts and use observations to support their ideas.
✍️ ELA (Writing & Perspective)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 3–5 (Ages 8–10) Timeline: 4–5 days Build a world where students take on different character perspectives and write journal entries based on what they experience. Students should be able to write from a specific point of view, use details to describe experiences, and explain how perspective influences understanding.

🟢 Middle School (6–8)

🇫🇷 Social Studies (French Revolution)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 8th Grade (Ages 13–14) Timeline: 5–8 days Design a virtual world experience for 8th graders studying the French Revolution using OpenSim. Students should take on different roles (peasants, nobles, clergy) and experience how inequality leads to revolution. Include NPCs, decision points, and systems that track tension and resources. Students should be able to analyze how economic and social inequalities can lead to conflict and explain how different groups experience events in different ways.
⚙️ Science (Engineering Design)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 6–8 (Ages 11–14) Timeline: 5–7 days Create a simulation where students act as engineers solving a real-world problem (like designing a bridge or clean water system). Include constraints, materials, and team roles. Students should be able to define a problem, develop and test solutions, and explain how design choices affect performance.
📊 Math (Data & Probability)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 6–8 (Ages 11–14) Timeline: 4–6 days Build a world where students run a small business or market and must use data and probability to make decisions. Include risk, outcomes, and consequences. Students should be able to analyze data, make predictions based on patterns, and explain how probability influences outcomes.
🎭 ELA (Argument & Debate)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 6–8 (Ages 11–14) Timeline: 4–6 days Design a role-play world where students take opposing sides on an issue and must gather evidence, interact with NPCs, and debate outcomes. Students should be able to construct arguments using evidence, evaluate different viewpoints, and support claims with reasoning.

🔴 High School (9–12)

🏛️ Government / Civics
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 9–12 (Ages 14–18) Timeline: 6–10 days Create a simulation where students act as government officials, citizens, and interest groups. They must make policy decisions and see how those decisions affect the system. Students should be able to evaluate how policies impact different groups and explain how civic decisions influence society.
🧬 Science (Biology / Systems)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 9–12 (Ages 14–18) Timeline: 5–8 days Build a virtual lab where students explore a biological system (like cells or ecosystems) and manipulate variables to see outcomes. Students should be able to analyze how parts of a system interact and predict how changes affect the overall system.
📈 Economics
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 9–12 (Ages 14–18) Timeline: 5–8 days Design a world where students manage resources, trade, and respond to market changes. Include scarcity, supply/demand, and consequences. Students should be able to explain how scarcity influences choices, analyze trade-offs, and describe how supply and demand affect prices.
📰 ELA (Media Literacy)
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 9–12 (Ages 14–18) Timeline: 4–6 days Create a world where students investigate information sources, identify bias, and determine what is reliable. Include NPCs that provide conflicting information. Students should be able to evaluate sources, identify bias, and explain how evidence supports or weakens a claim.

🟡 Cross-Curricular / Creative

🎮 Game Design
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 6–12 (Ages 11–18) Timeline: 7–12 days Help students design their own virtual world with roles, systems, and challenges based on a topic they are learning. Include guidance for building and storytelling. Students should be able to design a system with rules and goals, explain how different elements interact, and reflect on how their design communicates ideas.
🌍 Global Studies
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 7–12 (Ages 12–18) Timeline: 6–10 days Create a world where students explore global challenges (climate, resources, migration) and must collaborate across roles to solve problems. Students should be able to analyze complex global issues, consider multiple perspectives, and propose solutions supported by evidence.
🎨 Arts Integration
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 4–12 (Ages 9–18) Timeline: 4–7 days Design a virtual world where students create visual or performance art pieces that reflect a theme or historical period. Students should be able to create and present artistic work that communicates meaning and explains how choices reflect a theme or context.

⚙️ Advanced / Teacher-Focused Prompts

🧠 With Systems Layer
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 6–12 (Ages 11–18) Timeline: 5–10 days Design a virtual world learning experience that includes resource systems, social dynamics, and cause-and-effect events tied to student decisions. Students should be able to explain how interacting systems influence outcomes and analyze cause-and-effect relationships.
🎭 With NPC Emphasis
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 6–12 (Ages 11–18) Timeline: 4–7 days Create a world where NPCs play a major role in delivering information, creating conflict, and responding to student actions. Students should be able to interpret perspectives, analyze interactions, and explain how different viewpoints influence decisions.
🧩 With Differentiation
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 3–12 (Ages 8–18) Timeline: 4–8 days Design a virtual world experience with multiple roles and pathways so students at different levels can participate meaningfully. Students should be able to demonstrate understanding in different ways and reflect on their own learning process.
🛠️ With Building Component
Example Prompt
Grade Level: 5–12 (Ages 10–18) Timeline: 6–10 days Create a virtual world where students not only participate but also build parts of the environment using simple tools and AI-generated assets. Students should be able to design, create, and explain how their work contributes to the overall system or experience.