Games Can Make the World Better

What an interesting video! I have yet a new perspective for gaming. This type of gaming goes beyond learning in the classroom, these are games that could help solve real world problems! I have never been a gamer or very good at games, but this idea intrigues me. I find it interesting with "the world saving games" that have been developed. I will try to share the "world without oil" game with my coworker who teaches environmental science.

One thing that I am guilty of as an educator is not giving my students the adequate feedback after assignments have been given. With games, this feedback is given immediately which is extremely important in the learning process. Can games merge with learning? I think they can, but it is much easier to think than see. I have seen the effects of simple games in my classroom, but I feel as if my games make students board after long periods of time. With games that have purpose, like the world saving games, I believe the issue of interests wouldn't be a problem in this case.

Urgent Optimism, Social Fabric, Blissful Productivity, Epic Meaning

In the video below you can find Jane McGonigal's thoughts and hopes of making games the way we solve world problems. The Urgent Optimism gives us hope on how games make us optimistic we can solve difficult problems. Social Fabric was described as how gamers can play with each other and develop such an interesting relationship and have a strong bond of trust. Blissful Productivity describes users spending countless hours trying to solve problems and investing their time in their virtual achievements. Finally Epic Meaning gives gamers some satisfaction and want to keep coming back to continue to raise the bar.

With all of the points that Jane has, I think it is extremely important to take gaming seriously. It makes so much sense that we could harness the use of gaming into real world problems to make the world a better place. I have questions about this technique though. What about more complex issues such as cancer research or AIDS research? Would we only target people who are experts in the area, or anyone in the world?

Click on the picture below to go to the video!