Games Can Make the World Better

   Can students learn to solve the world’s problems by playing games?  In her podcast "Gaming Can Make a Better World” Jane McGonigal poses the idea that gaming can teach students real world skills.  McGonigal states there are four ways that games motivate gamers to solve problems.  

·        Urgent optimism is immediate, positive reinforcement that makes the gamer believe they can achieve anything.  

·        Social Fabric refers to the collaborative community gamers build as they work together.  

·        Blissful Productivity argues that people love to work hard and that when gamers are working to solve problems they feel very satisfied.  

·        Epic meaning gives purpose to the game as the gamer feels they are really solving problems. 

   I can see these traits as I watch students play games on their phones! I don't usually see these traits flow into other aspects of their lives, however.  There is such a disconnect between their game world and the real world.  This is where the challenge lies for those of us as educators.  How do we harness that creative, engaging spirit our students have for games and teach them how to use it in the classroom and eventually the real world?  

   As an educator I would love to see that spirit and excitement in my classroom.  As a novice with technology I have absolutely no clue how make a game that would do just that.  However, I do have one unit I would like to try this idea with.  I teach culinary arts and one of our most important content standards is based on food safety.  We have a ServSafe credential that is available for our students through the National Restaurant Association.  This material is very detailed and the test is extremely difficult.  And to teach it in the traditional manner is very boring!  I would love to have a game developed as they work through the information and earn levels towards their ultimate goal of receiving their credential.  I am hoping through this class I will learn how to create one!