Sustainable Engagement Economy:
As I continue to play Settler's, I'm more convinced that this is a game that I could use with my students. Admittedly, I was nervous about even thinking about introducing them to a game like this, because, quite frankly, I didn't know or understand the whole scope of the game. In reflecting about the readings this week, I can say that Settler's encourages the "good" in people! As I've mentioned before, I've had people sharing with me, offering advice, suggestions, and materials to help make my settlement better. I can see on the smaller scale of Settler's how the aspect of sustainable engagement economy, as McGonigal mentions is a "competitive engagement—the kind of engagement that increases our personal and collective participation bandwidth by motivating us to do more, for longer, toward collective ends." (Kindle Locations 3974-3975). As I've continued to play the game, the search for the XP to move up levels are harder to come by, but, I'm getting more and more interaction with other players. The community aspect of this game is probably what has kept my interest (aside from the requirement) and will keep my interest after the class is over.
More Epic Wins:
The word "epic" has become common in the language of tweens and teens. I hear my own kids using it to describe a variety of situations. I know that from their experience with video gaming that it's a term they've assimilated into their vocabulary. They would tell you it "sounds weird" when I use it to describe something happening to me in Settler's. I guess there is an age game that no video game is going to bridge!!!
In playing the game, I do wonder what other games are out there and if I would like them more or less than Settler's. I wish I had more time to spend trying to get those "epic" moments in the game, though I think I've had a few! I know when I spent a great deal of time getting from level 30 to 31, I never thought I would get to 32! When I did achieve that level, I was very excited! It was my "epic" moment for sure!
Crowdsourcing:
This was an interesting concept for me to learn more about. I've heard the term before, but never really thought much about it's implications. My students, a long time ago, played Free Rice as a Lenten project in school. They would come to the computer lab and for the first ten minutes of every computer class they would play and earn rice for the game. They were highly engaged. They researched where the rice was going. As McGonigal states, they experienced, "a clear sense that you’re a part of something bigger."(Kindle Location 3836) We had difficulty with the site and we stopped playing! I'll have to check and see if the site is still up and running.
The crowdsourcing project that I've read about is "Donor's Choose". It was started by a school teacher in the Bronx, New York, who wanted a way to provide the crucial supplies that teachers and students needed for their classrooms, but didn't have the funding for. Teachers can create an account and write a proposal for something that they need and then the visitors to the site can decide to fund specific projects. Initially, Charles Best, the teacher and founder, contacted some high impact potential donors and funded some of the projects himself to get started. Since that time, he's put together a board of directors with some famous people who have helped keep the funding coming.
I've seen this personally in action as a relative has a child attending school in Chicago. His teacher wanted to buy some additional math manipulatives for her classroom at a cost of $480 dollars. The family took to Facebook and shared the status of the teacher and within a couple of hours several family members donated and the project was funded.
Donor's Choose is more of a "crowdfunding" program, but it still takes many people working together to achieve the goals of the teachers participating in the program!
I admit I was a little confused with the game at first too. I knew I had to build a settlement up but I did not know to what extent or why. I was also nervous about attacking other settlements...I thought we would be against each other and tearing down other settlements of real people. If this was the case then my settlement would be gone already. I am glad that this game revolves more around helping each other than hurting each other. I agree that it portrays a good sense of community, which I really like.
ReplyDeleteI too wonder what other games are out there but I know I would not want to stop playing Settlers at this moment. I feel I have worked so hard to get where I am and I plan on getting even further. I will definitely be playing after the class is over and continue trying to build my settlement! I enjoy this game, sometimes I think a little too much! :) My husband has been commenting about how much I play sometimes. We were late to dinner with friends one time because I HAD to finish my guild quest before we left so everyone wasn't waiting on me to have it completed. My friends thought it was funny because I have never been a "gaming" person. He likes to play video games occasionally and I would always say how he could be doing more productive things...I disagree now!
I have heard of the "crowdfunding" program you mentioned. My husband was actually mentioning something to me a few weeks ago about it. I am always telling him how I would like more technology in my room, specifically devices for my students. I just know it is not feasible for me to purchase these so he did a little research and found that program. He said I could write something up and see where it goes from there. I have to admit I haven't started it yet but it is something worth trying! I also heard of another program called GoFundMe that is also a form of "crowdfunding". I made a donation to a student in my district who was trying to make it to a beauty pageant out of state. I think these are good concepts and if people are willing to help out then why not use these sites. :)