I did a quick post yesterday on SuperStruct. I spent some time yesterday exploring the site in some detail and looking over the various features and facilities. There’s a lot there - video, text - organized in a variety of ways. I’m looking at this site from two perspectives — one as a game, and the other as an educational setting. There’s a LOT of stuff that’s available to the public (that is, non-members) and even more that registered players can see.
As a game, the scoring is perhaps a bit arbitrary. As an educational environment, it’s probably best described as “problem based learning.” It’s particularly intriguing from that perspective because the problems are hypothetical but based on dystopian extrapolations of the present. Finally, the “game play” is probably best described as “interactive fiction” because discussions, stories, and user contributions are intended to visualize what our real lives might be in 10 years’ time. It’s a sort of “imagine what you’ll be then based on what you are now and what you’d like to do between now and then” scenario. It’s a kind of ‘predict the future’ game based around the six threats.
While the threats are speculative, they aren’t that far out. Based on food, climate, energy, politics, and health, the roots of these challenges are already with us. The game, while speculative, may well provide some interesting ideas for charting a future where these catastrophes might not happen.
So, for the gamers (688? You know who you are), what do you think of this as a “game”? Does it work? Is there a place here for educational application? Either in this game, or as a derivational idea?
For the distance ed people, what do you think of this environment as as an educational environment? A learning environment?
October 8th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I definitely think this is an interesting site. I can see how this being a useful tool in the classroom. I have set up most of my profile but I have to finish researching the GEAs then we will be in business.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I really like this site too. I am really into inquiry (or problem based) learning right now. I think that the students would enjoy the reality with a touch of fiction aspect of the game as well.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I can see a course designed in this way. The goals to be taught can be taught with in the game. The game of course would last the length of the semester and the levels can be added by a timeline. I thought the format was futuristic and appealing. The commentary along with text gave two ways to view the information. The pictures of real people and real photo graphs gave it an appeal of real life. The goals were clear. I didn’t go in and play the full game but is seems to be very challenging.
October 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I guess this could be somewhat like an educational or learning environment. This is a “game” based on what you think the world will be like in 2019. It certainly gets people thinking about what things will be in the future. I haven’t set up a profile yet. From what I have seen so far, this looks like its going to be very challenging. Like I said, it is set up for people to think. It is also a bit on the realistic side. I think it could be real interesting playing through. I can’t wait to have more time to work through it.
October 12th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I think that this game would give students ideas about how to use good problem solving skills to save the game world implied. I think children would be able to relate to the game in a realistic way.