More on Games in Education

[avad]

Ok, now we're getting somewhere, methinks.

Regarding the thinktank project I'm involved in...and potentials for educational activities on a virtual 'Better World Island', came across something hopeful today. Don't know how many of you are familiar with The Sims ? It's like SecondLife in ways but much more 'game oriented'...you're developing/influencing the artificial life of a character you create by making specific decisions. Very popular game/pasttime given that it is touted as the 'best-selling PC game of all time'.I was looking into this before finding SL, trying to envision how the technology could be used for purposes beyond entertainment.
Personally I like the more open-ended 'game-less' format of SL much better...but when thinking of how to engage minds (especially of the younger generations), 'games' have much of a historical allure.

Now take a look at this incredible educational tool I that takes the basic concept of the Sims to awareness/consciousness raising levels!:

"Real Lives - by Educational Simulations

Experience life as a:

-Peasant farmer in Bangladesh
-Factory worker in Brazil
-Policeman in Nigeria
-Lawyer in the United States
-Computer operator in Poland
or any of thousands more ...

Real Lives is a unique, interactive life sim that enables you to live one of billions of lives in any country in the world. Through statistically accurate events, Real Lives brings to life different cultures, political systems, economic opportunities, personal decisions, health issues, family issues, schooling, jobs, religions, geography, war, peace, and more!"

I think this can be an Amazing tool for schools and interactive learning, don't you?
I wonder about how we might be able to integrate content of this sort into SecondLife.

Comments

[rosylavie.livejournal.com]

Hi avaD,

Of course, it reminds me of Buckminster Fuller's World Game

I know someone in India who is running a business in computer services/website design, 3D3world who has the project of a Virtual Planet, where every place existing in the real world will have a virtual existence, so people can take their place on this web copy of Earth (for example, I live in Tokyo, Japan, so in Tokyo, Japan on the Virtual Planet, I have a virtual house -- or I can live somewhere else, why not?)

Julie

Grand Theft Ought No

[eyeclectic.livejournal.com]

  While at a Friend's house last night, Eye observed his 5 year old grandson playing Grand Theft Auto. At first he was being chased and shot at by cops from every direction and Eye thought, sarcastically, "What a great game for a child!" However, as he saw me standing there, he said, "Hey, let me show you something beautiful!", and proceeded to run his character through town and into the water, where he exclaimed, "See, I can swim!", and as the police were still shooting at him, "I'm safe under water.", while floating in a very Waking Life sort of posture. Then he went for a drive on a motorcycle, saying, "Do you like my bike? I bought it." And since he had been happily cruising along for some time, without incident of being chased or shot at, Eye Believed him. Eye just thought it was interesting how the choice was programmed into this game to either start a negative chain or just ride the Positive and Eyexplore~> And that, while Eye was there, he chose the Positive, which really was more Eyenjoyable~>

  Positively,
  JS : )

The Sims

[(Anonymous)]

I think I'm going to download the trial version of Real Lives as the "Tour" seemed really dense. I'm also curious to see what it has to say about a country like Cuba (you are attacked by a killer cock roach in the free clinic) vs a country like the U.S. (you get really fat while sitting in front of your computer/TV playing games and eating carb-laden snacky cakes all day. GO RIDE A BIKE!!! ... sorry, that's what I'd say.)

If it checks out, I'll definitely get it for Nicholas.

By the way, you MUST read Chuck Klosterman's essay about The Sims and the "meanings" behind it. It's called Billy Sim and it's in "Sex, Drug, and Cocoa Puffs: A low culture manifesto" ... Great book about today's culture.

Ken