I think without a doubt click fraud will be the biggest problem. If students can manipulate how much money they can make by clicking their own links, I think you’ll always have a few students doing it. Even if you were hiding the google ads from your city or province, I’m sure students can find a way around that. (i.e. ask a cousin in a different part of the world to click on the link.)

I’m not sure where this idea is going yet. Contextual ads would be great but I’d be worried that a student would mess up my own personal Google Adsense account. The other way to do it is to use affiliate links (i.e. Commission Junction) – you get a percentage commission based on sales to stores like Chapters, Amazon, eBay. You only make money when they buy something, but you don’t see immediate returns like with Google ads.

Plus, income that you make online still needs to be reported as income earned for taxes. Lots of things to consider, but I think there’s great potential.

I wonder if there are any teachers in the world who are exploring the MMO niche with their students.

Let us know if you take this idea anywhere and good luck!

As soon as I read the title, I thought there is NO way a school board would approve this. You do make some interesting arguments and seem to have all your angles covered.

I may give this a try. I assume it has NOT been done within my board so the worst that can happen is a quick “please stop” message from above ( like they do with blogs hosted offsite containing board logos, etc).

I wonder about Adsense though, since Google Docs even requires students to be 13 to use that service, unless waivers are signed – i believe.

Click fraud would be my biggest concern. Likely to happen I am sure in a classrom project setting. Maybe not so much with an extra-curricular group.

We have a rotary Media Lit teacher, and I will pass this idea on.

Good luck! Keep us posted down here in southern Ont!

Mr. Aspinall