3D World-MegaMinds Edition (3D-ME) is a collection of online spaces designed for high school students in District 75 to practice social, communication, employment, and life skills. In each of the spaces, students converse with artificial intelligence non-player characters (NPCs) in directed, focused ways, such as on decision-making, interviewing for a job, setting-up one’s first apartment, and shopping and more.

Each student is represented in 3D-ME by an avatar, a customizable, realistic-looking character that travels within the spaces and interacts with NPCs. Avatars interact with objects as well, some of which have animations and special effects. For example, avatars can rent bicycles to ride around town and clock-in to their job sites before work.

NPCs various roles in the community to facilitate social interactions, such as store clerks, bankers and waiters. After initial orientation lessons, students complete targeted learning activities within the environment to hone their conversational skills. Each week’s lesson provides an opportunity to practice appropriate communication and socialization.

3D-ME is hosted on password-protected websites, ensuring that students are in a safe and supervised environment. The program provides a full-year curriculum that culminates in a real-world gathering of all student avatars in the spring.