Sitting at the intersection of technology and culture, gaming provides a context to allow players to actively seek knowledge, rather than passively receive information. This show attempts to explore, “how can we create an environment that will engage students in knowledge production? How do we move from a transfer model, to a participatory model of education?”
This exhibit provides visitors with the opportunity to experience game development technologies ability to transform the teaching and learning processes. Instead of merely computerizing existing course content, these developer/educators are embracing the affordances of the new gaming technology to radically re-envision the design of complex, effective learning environments as a place where students are no longer passive but rather active knowledge-builders, problem seekers, problem-identifiers, problem solvers and, eventually, agents of social change.
Walden, a game.
Zoom Conversation with Tracy :: Wednesday 5 September :: 5:00 p.m. Ewing Gallery
Walden, a game, simulates the experiment in living made by Henry David Thoreau at Walden Pond in 1845-47, allowing players to walk in his virtual footsteps, attend to the tasks of living a self-reliant existence, discover in the beauty of a virtual landscape the ideas and writings of this unique philosopher, and cultivate through game play their own thoughts and responses to the concepts discovered there.
The game takes place in a real-time 3D environment which replicates the geography of Walden Pond and the woods in which Thoreau made his home. Beyond the replication of a virtual environment, however, the game play itself embodies the experiment that Thoreau set for himself, reinforcing the basic messages of his work.
Walden, a game posits a new genre of play, in which reflection and insight play an important role in the player experience. While traveling the virtual world of Walden, the player applies themselves to both daily task of maintaining the basic aspects of life at Walden Pond, as well as having the opportunity to focus on the deeper meaning behind events that transpire in the world. By attending to these events, the player is able to gain insight into the natural world, and into connections that permeate the experience of life at Walden.
Walden, a game simulates both personal and environmental life, modeling the basic personal needs outlined by Thoreau, as well as some of the more experiential concepts he described. Furthermore, the game takes advantage of the detailed notes that Thoreau took about the pond, and its surrounding landscape, flora and fauna.
Zoom Conversation with Carrie :: Friday 7 September :: 4:00 p.m. Ewing Gallery
The Beatriz Lab
A JOURNEY THROUGH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD)
The learner will embody Beatriz, a middle-aged Latina woman, as she progresses through early, middle, and late stage Alzheimer’s Disease. (AD).
The Alfred Lab
The learner will embody Alfred, a 74-year old African-American man with macular degeneration and high frequency hearing loss, as he spends time with family, visits the doctor, and receives a diagnosis.
Embodied Labs works at the intersection of healthcare training and virtual reality storytelling to provide a culture shift solution that empowers every member of the care team to share their expertise and value one another.
If healthcare providers in training could step into the perspectives of the patient and other members of the care team, would this make them more effective providers?
Our Vision is to create a world where every member of the care team is heard, equipped, and valued.
Zoom Conversation w/ Peter + Kurosh :: Friday 7 September :: 3:00 p.m. Ewing Gallery
The Cat + The Coup
The Cat and the Coup is a documentary video game in which you play the cat of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. During the summer of 1953, the CIA engineered a coup to bring about his downfall. As a player, you coax Mossadegh back through significant events of his life by knocking objects off of shelves, scattering his papers, jumping on his lap and scratching him.
Zoom Conversation w/ Erika + Erik :: Friday 7 September :: 9:30 a.m. Ewing Gallery
Marrying Mr. Darcy: The Pride and Prejudice Card Game
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that lovers of Pride and Prejudice want to marry Mr. Darcy. Marrying Mr. Darcy is a strategy card game where players are one of the female characters from Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. Players work to improve themselves and attract the attention of the available Suitors. The ladies do this by attending Events and improving their Characters, but advantage can be gained by the use of Cunning. All of their efforts are in hopes of marrying well and becoming the most satisfied character at the end of the game.
Zoom Conversation with Haley + Vee :: Friday 7 September :: 8:00 a.m.* Ewing Gallery
* no grumbling, they are meeting with us from Australia, so just get here...
Good Society | A Jane Austin RPG
Good Society is a collaborative roleplaying game that seeks to capture the heart, and the countenance, of Jane Austen's work. It is a game of balls, estates, sly glances, and turns about the garden. At least on the surface. Underneath this, just as in Austen's own novels, it is a game of social ambition, family obligation and breathtaking, heart-stopping longing.
In this game, you play the type of characters that captured your imagination in Austen's books - from a wealthy heir who falls in love with the aloof new arrival, to a charming socialite bent on ruining the reputation of their rivals. Exploit your advantages, connections, and family influence to achieve your secret desire - all while jealously guarding your good name.
Not only that, players in Good Society hold the power to control the story itself, and change it in their favor. Take control of influential connections, create rumor and scandal, and spend tokens to orchestrate balls, carriage accidents, and even marriages.
It is the elegance of Austen's world, the sharpness of her wit, and the beauty of her passion that inspired us to create this system. But it is the deep and complex struggle between desire, expectation, and position that has guided its development - and we hope you will enjoy both elements.
Illustrations by Aviv Or + Raven Warner
Skype conversations will be held in Ewing Gallery:
Wednesday 5 September
5:00 p.m. Tracy Fullerton .. Walden, a game. (Philosophy, English, History + Digital Humanities interest)
Friday 7 September
8:00 a.m. Hayley Gordon + Vee Hendro .. Good Society (English, Literatures + Digital Humanities interest)
9:30 a.m. Erika Svanoe + Erik Evensen .. Marrying Mr. Darcy (English, Literatures + Digital Humanities interest)
3:00 p.m. Peter Brinson + Kurosh ValaNejad .. The Cat + The Coup (Political Science, History + Digital Humanities interest)
4:00 p.m. Carrie Shaw .. Embodied Labs (Nursing, Social Sciences)
5:00 p.m. Community of Scholars discussion
This show is being coordinated by the
Simulations + Gaming + Role-Playing (SGR) Community of Scholars
This multi-disciplinary group brings together members of the UT community who share an interest in researching the development and use of simulations, gaming, role-playing, and similar strategies for teaching and learning. Such strategies are among the latest developments in higher education, and have been shown to create interactivity and collaboration, increase engagement and retention, deepen reflection and understanding, engender positive values and thoughtful behavior, and open authentic spaces for real-world problem-solving. Games and Simulations provide players/users with the opportunity to not only visualize, but to experience the world of a problem from a variety of perspectives.
This exhibit has been made possible through the generous support of:
Graphic Design Program
Philosophy Department
Digital Humanities
Community of Scholars
College of Architecture + Design
Credits:
Sarah McFalls