Jon Cassie

This is the time when everyone creates a list of things that were or things that will be.  Normally, I do not participate in this ritual but this year I  can’t stop myself.  The reason being that the lists I am seeing are so out there in terms of predictions that I want to bring back to pragmatism to 2013.  I see 5 major trends for 2013 and here they are!

What is the value of “structured play” in the classroom? What does...

In fact, some gamers complain about too much help. Robert Yang, at the Radiator Design Blog, complained that the brilliantly designed game Dishonored failed as an immersive simulation within its first minute. Why? It asked the player if they wanted to play a tutorial.

Game scholars often distinguish between two modes of play, ludic and paidiaic. Ludic from the Latin ludos, describes structured, rule-driven, competitive games relating to play or playfulness, while paidiaic describes unstructured play in open-ended metaverses that are often co-created by their...

Civcraft - as I’m calling it - evolved from an idea I had some months ago to simulate the rise and progression of a civilization in Minecraft. In creating this game, I drew inspiration from the strategy game, Civilization, where technological and cultural advancements are introduced as time progresses. I started by looking at the tech trees in civilization and tried to figure out if a set of new game rules could be made for Minecraft to support the development of a civilization. Gradually it started falling into place and I could start imagining a game of civilization happening in Minecraft. The game starts in the stoneage with limited use of ressources and limited crafting abilities. The idea is to progress into the bronze, iron - and since we’re from Denmark - the viking age. Later on there will be the middle ages, rennaissance and industrialization - but those are still on the drawing board. Each age is divided into several rounds, where each round puts focus on specific areas of curriculum content, which is at a 5th - 7th grade level. Each area consists if a challenge or assignment, which students have to complete in order to gain the achievements needed to progress in the game. Each assignment contains a “bundle” of information about life in that period. The aim is to make students use that knowledge to successfully complete the assignment. The knowledge they need is conveyed verbally before we logon, and in written form: the first time in a virtual classroom and the second time while ingame. The game is played on a 2000x2000 unit terrain and is marked off with border blocks. I will be writing and showing more from my first test of the game in coming posts. Stay tuned!

This project appears to be something worth following. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kurt Squire and Richard Davidson…only great things can come out of this.

Emil Alzamora - Shift (2008)

How can we truly give children a seat at the table? Can we give children the seat at the head of the table?

Yaacov Hecht - What is democratic education? (by Robert Kruschel)

This creative agency thinks it can redesign Wikipedia to be more usable, and it’s on to something (via Creative Agency Launches “Wiikipedia Redefined”)