Joe Beckmann (joeb@oekos.org)
Wed, 9 Dec 1998 16:48:37 -0500
From: "Joe Beckmann" <joeb@oekos.org> Subject: RE: [ifets] Using computer simulations in the classroom Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 16:48:37 -0500
the Sim series evolved from a series of courses at Berkeley on city
planning, and clearly has educational applications. Just because they can't
or won't find educational markets doesn't foreclose that option to anybody
else, both by re-engineering the software itself or, and probably much
better, developing guides and selling them or giving them away on the net.
If you want entertainment companies to pay for it, you've got to find the
right entertainment companies - like Lucas, Viacom or Disney - and pitch
them with the right approach. Most of the industry is simply too quick-buck
to spend much on teacher guides, and, besides that, there's not a lot of
evidence that teacher guides guide teachers.
Joe B
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-ifets@omega.gmd.de [mailto:owner-ifets@omega.gmd.de]On
> Behalf Of Mary Harrsch
> Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 7:59 PM
> To: KCStarguy@aol.com; ifets@gmd.de
> Subject: [ifets] Using computer simulations in the classroom
>
>
> Eric, I was particularly interested in the focus of your research into the
> value of incorporating computer simulations into your curriculum.
>
> >I am currently starting a project to upgrade the use of simulations
> >(SimCity2000, Life etc) in the classroom and will have a website up soon.
>
> We have discussed the possibilities of improving educational software and
> classroom learning experiences with the introduction of commercial gaming
> techniques in this forum before. In fact, I have contacted such software
> publishers as Microprose (Civilization II), Electronic Arts (SimCity,
> SimLife, etc.), and TalonSoft (Waterloo, Shiloh, etc.) to ask if they have
> considered producing teacher guidelines or sample classroom scenarios to
> accompany their products for use in education. Although I am hopeful that
> upper level administration at Microprose may at least consider my
> suggestion
> my initial response from them was:
>
> "You offered excellent input, however, we are an entertainment company not
> an educational company. Although many of our history simulations
> are quite
> accurate, I'm specualtive that we would begin to publish material specific
> to education."
>
> I tried to appeal to their capitalist nature with the following reply:
>
> "I realize you are an entertainment company but your Civilization-based
> products utilize game play strategies that can teach valuable historical,
> political, and economic theories in a dynamic environment. I am
> really not
> suggesting that your company radically
> change the product so much as consider providing teaching guides
> based upon
> your programmed game logic to provide the opportunity for innovative
> teachers to incorporate your products into an engaging learning
> environment. I find it a little ironic that when I talk with traditional
> educators they seem to draw a distinct line between "entertainment" and
> "education" as if learning should not be enjoyable. But likewise, I think
> entertainment companies should also be open minded about the potential
> educational value of some of their products. I read a report
> recently that
> educational institutions will spend $6 billion this next year on so-called
> educational software. That's a pretty healthy sum in anyone's
> book. I would
> like to suggest that your management team at least consider the
> possibilities of tapping into this market with relatively little
> development
> cost because of the extensive game engine they have already produced."
>
> Did you develop your own classroom exercises for SimLife,
> SimCity, etc. from
> becoming familiar with the games yourself or did you study the software
> hints and participate in user discussion forums? Did you receive any
> assistance from the software developers of these titles?
>
> Mary Harrsch
> Network and Information Systems Manager
> College of Education
> 102-K Education
> University of Oregon
> Eugene, OR 97403
> (541) 346-3554
> http://oregon.uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/index.htm
>
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