Serious Games: Games that Educate, Train, and Inform

I wanted to recommend a book I picked up recently at my local Barnes and Noble. It's called Serious Games: Games that Educate, Train, and Inform. This is a great conceptual document to highlight the potential of games for social change, but also illustrates how games are being used in the military, government, educational institutions, coportations, healthcare, religious institutions, and in the artworld.

The book is based on a movement of game-designers, social workers, military folk etc. who are tapping into, and maximizing the potential of this new medium. Check out the Serious Games Summit in Washington D.C.

Also, check out the book Developing Serious Games. This looks great.

I still am convinced that this is something that community-based youthworkers NEED to get into. I see so much redemptive possibility in this new medium.

I recognize that video games are often perceived of as 'mindless entertainment', and something that fuels moral panics... and this type of technophobia prompts us to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I also recognize that there are many technophiles out there who think that video games should be uncritically embraced. I am not arguing (or supporting) this point of view either. I am rather arguing for a critical approach similar to what these 'serious game developers' are talking about.

What are your thoughts?

Creative Infusion Conference May 18-19, 2006

I just read about the Creative Infusion Conference being hosted by Daybreak Church this spring. It looks really good for people interested in using media in churches.

It's described as "A window to a world of creativity, emerging technology and modern ministry. Your creative soul will be energized and prepared for another year of ministry as you experience provoking ideas and innovations."

Check it out.

Steve

Integrating New Media in Youthwork: February 27 - 28, 2005

Schedule

Monday, February 27 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Overview of Different Multimedia

Tuesday, February 28, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Podcasting

Animation

Web-design basics

Putting it all Together

Richard Brown shot his first movie footage at the age of 6, and got his first computer, an Apple II+, as a senior in high school. Since then, he's worked as a multi-image technician, a video editor for a summer camp, organized the first three-camera video setup for a youth councils, designed and put together a complete video studio, produced and programmed multimedia for DC/LA and Youth Specialties conferences, and designed and developed the multimedia presentation software known as MediaShout. He currently serves as the consultant to the Multimedia Team at the Western Territorial Headquarters of the Salvation Army, and is especially proud of his most recent title, dad.

Josh Cowing graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Communications and a minor in Cinema/Television Production. After a few jobs in unrelated fields, including at a children's hospital and as an assistant to columnist and political pundit Arianna Huffington, he finally landed his dream job as an assistant to a major motion picture producer in 1999. When the luster of Hollywood faded, however, Josh began to look for other avenues to put his visual and written communications background to good use. In 2003 he found just that, and currently works as the Multimedia Project Director at the Western Territorial Headquarters of the Salvation Army as part of the Multimedia Team.

monkeypunk.com

the media moment podcast

For more information, please call Project 1:17 @ 845-368-7242

Reviewing Software/Websites Resources for Youthwork

I would like to invite participants to post reviews of software and websites which they think might be useful in after-school programming/youthwork. This can be games, homework tools, social networking sites etc.

The reason why I am doing this is because I would like to have a space where we can draw on the distributed experience of youthworkers who have tried and tested (or think it would be good to test) these games/sites. This would also help to create a working-list of new software and games that we could submit to be approved to be used in Salvation Army after-school settings.

Don't post these reviews in this comments section, rather create a post - putting "Review: (Name of site/software) in the title. When someone has posted a new review, additional discussion on that particular review can take place in the comments section.

I would also suggest the following format:

1. Title (add a hyperlink to this).
2. Rating out of 10 (this would help for quick evaluation)
3. Identify the cost (even if free)
4. Add a link to where this could be purchased (if software) e.g. Best Buy, Amazon etc.
5. What type of resource this is (e.g. game, MMO, homework aid, literacy device, resource site etc.)
6. Offer a short description of what the site is about
7. Which demographic you think this would appeal to (age, gender, ethnicity - this might not be applicable with all sites/games/MMOs, but only if it is specifically targeting a particular group).
8. Benefits. In what ways does the site/game promote positive social and/or cognitive a/o emotional a/o moral a/o spiritual change/possibilities in at-risk youth?
9. Pitfalls. What concerns/weaknesses does the site/game present?
10. Add couple of photos (to illustrate how it looks)

You don't have to be a youthworker to do this, just someone who is interested in sharing ideas/materials that would be useful to helping at-risk children/teens through new media (Particularly computers with internet connections).

If you are not a contributing member of my blog, e-mail me and I'll send you an invite.

Steve

Discussion on Bullying in MUVEs and Milbrey McLaughlin's "Community Counts"

One of the hot topics which have come out of the exploration into a MUVE for at-risk teens is the issue of bullying.

On an earlier posting, Melissa was commenting on the fear of bullying. This emerged out of a mini-debate we had in class about whether or not bullying in a virtual environment could be likened to bullying in a real environment (e.g. school playground etc.)

This discussion was part of a larger discussion of whether or not a virtual environment can be a 'safe space.'

With all of the fears and paranoia about internet predators, why would a person want to use a virtual game environment as medium for working with at-risk youth?

This is where the distinction between a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) and a Multi User Virtual Environment (MUVE) is important to distinguish. I don't think it would be wise to have anybody going online with teens from our afterschool programs. This would be like saying that anybody can come into a community center; or that any kids can play basketball - Of course we don't do this!

Milbrey McLaughlin's seminal report called Community Counts: How Youth Organizations Matter for Youth Development (ANYBODY in youthwork needs to read this doc.) illustrates this clearly. She says, "Urban youth, especially, put security at the top of the list of requirements for a community-based youth organization they would attend with confidence. Adult leaders of the urban youth organizations we studied understand that the 'boundaries' most significant to their members are not census tracks or attendance areas but gang boundaries. They take special care to ensure the safety of their members." (Mclaughlin, 15)

I think that it is possible to create a secure space which helps to ensure safety without regimenting the activities which take place in the virtual space. I think that it is important that this game design be structured in a way that it encourages youth to play out their moral decisions so that they can experience the full consequence of the decisions which they make in life.

What do you think?

Developing a Format for Dialogue on MMOG/MUVE Design for At-Risk Youth

Thank you for everyone who has begun to respond to my bizarre request to identify game developers who are interested in youthwork. There is so much more to discuss around this topic. It represents a massive project which will take place over a long time and will require MANY conversations which will probably incorporate many different people who will participate with different levels of commitment...

That being said, I think that it would be important to address different issues being raised in the responses in separate postings. I'll try to deliniate these so that we can hash out these subjects one at a time. Hopefully this will allow for folks to concentrate the subjects being addressed.

So - If you have an issue which you'd like to talk about related to developing a MUVE/MMORPG for after-school programs/at-risk youth, post your question here and if it is a new subject, I'll create a new post which can facilitate that conversation.

Thanks,
Steve

Any Game Designers Out There Interested in Youthwork?

I have been thinking over the past few months about the potential of the internet to serve as a medium for collaborative youthwork media design. The big idea which has been of great interest to me is the development of a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game which is specifically designed to be a catalyst for serious reflection on the real-life choices at-risk youth are making. I think that this is something which could be used to amplify the purpose of computer centers from being merely tools for homework or gameplay, to being a medium which serves as an agent for social apprenticeship.

I have several ideas on this based on studies which I have been doing both at New York University and here at Project 1:17. The greatest challenge for me is both the time and the know-how of how to pull off such an idea. However, I have great trust in the resolve of people who are interested in doing something great without any expectation of personal compensation (!)

So, this is an experiment which I am doing - Who's interested in talking about developing a game for at-risk youth that will help to provide imaginative strategies for coping with the challenges of living in marginal communities???

KidsCount: Get to Know the Kids in Your Community

I recently came across the 2004 KidsCount State-Level Data site where you can find out particulars about the kids who live in your state.

This is a good resource for youthworkers to be aware of. It includes info on the economic conditions of families, child health, education, demographics etc.

Steve

Cynthia Willard-Lewis - On the Rebuilding of New Orleans Post-Katrina

Last night, I was driving home from a class at NYU. I turned on the radio and did a random search. I came across this channel called WBAI. On the station was Cynthia Willard-Lewis, who is on the New Orleans City Council.

I'm not normally all that impressed with what I hear on the radio, but Cynthia's speech captivated me! She was discussing the tragedy of New Orleans, the struggle of those who are from marginal communities, and their need for continued assistance.

On a rhetorical level, her argument was brilliant. On an oratorical level, the delivery was masterful. I just emotionally and intellectually connected with what she was saying.

I couldn't help but think of the "seek justice" part of our 1:17 creed when listening. I continue to hope that we can all do our part to aid in helping those who have been left destitute by this natural disaster.

You can listen by clicking on this link. Fast forward the realplayer to about 1:05 hr. into the presentation to hear her speech.

Bono Speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast

This is an amazing 'sermon' given by Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. It sounds like he could easily be a youthworker at Project 1:17!

Crash - Reflections from the Film

This past week, we also watched the Oscar-nominated film Crash during our media studies class (Written & Directed by fellow Canadian Paul Haggis). We have been looking at the representation of race in the media for this past week.

The movie's tagline is: "You think you know who you are. You have no idea." Are we all racists? Do we all have prejudice in ourselves? These are the questions which are explored in the film.
When we crash into one another, we conflict with one another; but out of that crisis can come an opportunity to learn about someone who is different than us.

What are your thoughts on this movie? Is it a fair reflection of reality? What did it say to you about how we relate to one another? Do you think racism is a system which we all participate in? Did you resonate with any of the charactars in the film?

Check out this clip from Oprah with the cast of Crash. Also, explore these reviews.

Finding Teenagers Online: A Step-by-Step Approach to Navigating Their Online World

I got an e-mail from a friends in Southern California asking for information about youth and blogging. I thought this article from Walt Mueller offers some practical tips on how an outsider can get the 'inside scoop' on the My-Space generation.

I just received an Associated Press report from TechMission entitled, Teens Putting Themselves At Risk Online. This further highlights the shift in our conceptual understanding of what is private and public space.

Educational Video Center - A Dynamic Model for Teaching Youth Media

As part of this semester's media studies class at Project 1:17, we are reading a book by Steve Goodman, the founder and director of Educational Video Center. It's called Teaching Youth Media: A Critical Guide to Literacy, Video Production and Social Change.

I had the opportunity to come in contact with EVC while taking a class at New York University on media literacy in school and community work. While I was sitting in the class listening to the theories and methodology of this program, I was amazed at how practical a model this is for youthworkers; and immediately began to think of what we are doing at 117.

I had the opportunity to meet Steve Goodman and many of the employees and volunteers that are a part of this fantastic program. They take teens who are a part of second chance schools and get teach them video production skills. However, what's REALLY incredible about this program is that the video camera (and the process of making a documentary about an issue in their local community) serves as a mirror - a way of helping at-risk youth gain perspective on their lives, their communities, and possible solutions/strategies for positive change.

In the book, he presents the challenges of being an inner-city teen, the limitations of traditional educational strategies, and the presentation of youth in mainstream media. The rest of the book addresses aspects of the actual production process.

For after-school program coordinators, this is an excellent resource - and comes HIGHLY recommended.

Also, check out this interview Goodman had with media literacy scholar, Kathleen Tyner; and this interview with youth media reporter. Here's another one!

Project 117 visits the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City

On Monday night, Project 1:17 had the opportunity to go to the initial screening of TV Land's latest documentary series on African Americans on television called, "That's What I'm Talking About." This was part of their Introduction to Media Studies class.

This took place at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City.

After watching the first episode, there was a panel discussion with Spike Lee, Wayne Brady and others. Each of the students received a free DVD of the documentary - which many of them got autographed by Wayne Brady!

Here's a place where they can offer their own reflections on the experience.

Steve

Fist Stick Knife Gun - A Personal History of Violence in America" by Geoffrey Canada

Last week, our students at Project 1:17 received a copy of Geoffrey Canada's Fist Stick Knife Gun. This is an incredible book which addresses the challenge of growing up in a violent neighborhood. This memoir is a MUST READ for youthworkers.

Canada is the CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone; and the East Coast regional coordinator for the Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC), a nationwide effort coordinated by Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund to make saving black children the number-one priority in the black community.

He was the first recipient of the Heinz Award; and the 2004 Harold W. McGraw winner.

Here's an excerpt from the backcover of his amazing book:

"I remember being small, vulnerable, and scared. I remember growing up in the South Bronx." So begins Geoffrey Canada's shattering story of his childhood. It was a world in which the 'sidewalk' boys learned the codes of the block from their elders and were ranked - and to some degree protected - through the rituals of fist, stick, and knife. But then, through an unforseen chain of consequences set in motion in the 1960s by New York Governor Rockefeller's drug laws, the streets changed: The stakes got higher."

If Canada's book is of great interest to you, then also be sure to pick up Elijah Anderson's Code of the Street.