This Video Games as Learning Engines presentation is starting to rock. I had to do it in 45 minutes at NCAECT, but it still rolled along. One of the best things about it is that I get to play a lot of media with some great music. It’s a good session to present right after lunch.
One of the videos that I play is a commercial for Sid Meirs’ Civilization IV. I originally found this commercial on a Video Games web site, so it is obviously pitched to young gamers, who aren’t watching all that much television. It’s compelling and who can say, “no,” to President Bartlett.
Several weeks ago, while I was playing it at a conference and got to thinking about how this video is selling the game to its viewers, it occurred to me that if I had a commercial for my history textbook, it wouldn’t be much different from this.
So!
What if you had a commercial for your text book? What if you made a commercial for your textbook? Could You?
What if you had a commercial for your class? What ifyou made a commercial for your class? Could You?
Yeah, we make commercials.
Listen to them here
http://www.class326.com/hear-our-commercials/
Chris Craft
Yes, I have done this! I managed to find one to share, and your topic stimulated and entire blog post for me. Thanks.
http://nhokanson.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/classroom-commercials/
Yes – but do you play Civilization IV?
Try playing one of the **** Tycoon games. I had a former student that handed me Roller Coaster Tycoon and I couldn’t put it down. Talk about addicting! The critical thinking skills necessary to create from scratch a theme park and add items that will increase profits/bring in more people is pretty intense. Just another thing to look out for and add to your arsenal of games to talk about.
I’m afraid to play them for the reason that Tom mentions. I’m having too much fun doing my job 😉
Good point…hence one of the reasons I have pretty much given up on the MMORPG genre. After addictions to both Evercrack and World of Warcrack I am DONE. But again, there are definite advantages to the use of FPS/RTS genre games for our students.
Yes, I need a commercial — but not for a textbook. I need a commercial for my discipline, for my classes. And in this horizontal world of School 2.0, I need my students to collaboratively create it (and upload it). It could be a legacy project for graduating seniors. The shelf life would be brief, so in keeping with 21st C supply chaining, each class would create their version of the ad.