About 20 years ago my daugther Jennifer and I went to Cape Cod to watch whales. Having just read Summerhill, A.S. Neill’s important book on schools, Jennifer and I talked about “integrative education” and on the long drive home we discussed inventing a game based on how to save whales from getting caught in fishing nets.
I was reminded of that discussion while watching the inspirational TED talk by Jane McGongial on “how gaming can change the world.” If games are so motivating to solve problems in virtual worlds, she argues, why not develop games for solving real problems? Jane has done just that – with a PhD. in gaming theory, and several games invented to learn about and solve real issues. Some of the games that Jane McGonigal has had a hand in developing are:
World without Oil (2007)
SuperStruct (2008)
Evoke (2010)
Jane’s bio on the TED site adds that “McGonigal also works with global companies to develop games that build on our collective-intelligence infrastructure — like The Lost Ring, a mystery game for McDonald’s that became the world’s biggest alternate reality game, played by more than 5 million people.”
Check the video below, and be inspired!
If you like what you hear, there is lots more Jane McGonical on the Internet:
Jane’s Blog – AvantGame
Jane’s Doctoral Dissertation
An article about Jane in Wired
Jane at the Institute of the Future
We need a lot more Jane McGonigals in the world…(GW)
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I wanted to mention Jane McGonigal’s talk on the new NASAGA ning site. But reading this recap looks either better. Can I point them here to see all these links?
Greg, Feel free to copy any or all of this post on the new NASAGA site.
I didn’t know about Jane McGonigal.
Nice inspirational talk
Alex´s last blog ..Super Mario Crossover