Category Archives: Uncategorized

Using Social Networks to Engage Community

Great piece discussing how 4 universities are using social networks to do community outreach:

4 Universities Use Social Networks to Engage Community

Gets me thinking about how we can use gamed-up social networks to build community WITHIN the university.  Imagine a system where students have avatars, ability meters, and levels, take on “quests” on and off campus, can form impromptu “guilds” to complete assignments, and have a constant leaderboard to monitor each other’s performance.  If you’re interesting in working on such a project, contact me!  (frankcrocco@gmail.com)

iCivics: Sandra Day O’Connor’s Vision for Citizenship

iCivics is the suite of games Sandra Day O’Connor, working with James Gee, has sponsored in order to try and inspire a generation of students about how America works. It’s one of the most high-profile educational games out there, and one that therefore bears careful scrutiny as a model.

So I would like to put out a call to CUNY Game Networks members: follow the link above, play a few of the games, and tell us what you think in the comments section.

I have a few ideas of my own, but I’ll keep mum for now. For now….

For Crown or Colony?: The Revolutionary War, Your Way

Leah Potter has served as educational and historical consultant for Mission U.S., a series of games meant to teach middle-school students about American history. The first episode, “For Crown or Colony?” is now live and ready to play. Early reviews are favorable, including this one from storied game designer Greg Costikyan at Play This Thing!, where the byline says it all: “It sucketh not”!