26 Learning Games to Change the World

Mission to Learn Blog Features Article:
"26 Learning Games to Change the World"
By jtcobb on Apr 29, 2008 in Games & Widgets

Jeff Cobb has a fantastic web site called Mission to Learn.  Among the myriad of useful articles and discussions featured on Mission to Learn is an article that lists 26 educational video games you can get for free online (only one costs money).  The amazing thing about these games is that they're largely focused on solving real problems facing our globe.  Whether you're a video game advocate or not, these video games empower kids to make positive global change in ways most classrooms cannot. Arguably, visual learning utilizing electronic media and tools has become a prevalent learning option, especially for the below 40 set.  Most of these video games offer a positive ethical approach to a deeper understanding of issues such as world hunger, nuclear threat and disarmament,  Global Warming, Darfur Devastation, 3rd World Farmer, and many, many more.

These video games have an interactive appeal that gives the player a chance to stave off disaster and repair our man made mistakes. This form of learning can be more effective in some ways than a documentary presentation of the same issue(s). In fact, like so many video games, they have a tendancy to keep your attention for longer than you might have anticipated, so if you try any of them at work, you might want to wait until you have a break before you get immersed.

Below are short summaries of a few of the 26 games to give you an idea of what you may choose from:

Stop Disasters!
“The on-line game aims at teaching children how to build safer villages and cities against disasters. Children will learn playing how the location and the construction materials of houses can make a difference when disasters strike and how early warning systems, evacuation plans and education can save lives.” From the United Nation/International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Multiple languages. Good teacher resources.

Nuclear Weapons
“Take on the mission to disarm the world of nuclear weapons with the help of eight “Peace Doves!”” There are also five other educational games at this site. From NobelPrize.org.

Summit Outcomes: Connect Africa - The Summit

Provided by the International Telecommunications Union, the following information about Connect Africa Summit is insightful and worth reviewing. Go to the link at the bottom of the linked page to read a PDF of the Summit Outcomes. As host of the Summit, the Government of Rwanda welcomed over a 1000 participants, including Heads of State/Government. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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Fast Internet in Ghana using the iBurst Africa Wireless Broadband Modem

Fast Internet in Ghana using the iBurst Africa Wireless Broadband Modem iBurst Africa iBLink 2 Mb/s modem: Ghana’s fastest growing industry just got faster! The world-first launch of iBurst Africa’s iBlink 2Mb/s happened here in Ghana on the 14th of March 2008. Be the first to own the fastest wireless broadband modem and have access to fast i. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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Article: iBURST: The Future of Wireless Broadband in Africa?

Max, The IT Pro, contributes to Open Source Software Proliferation with his article on iBurst that follows here: This blog is my personal area in cyber space where I can discuss and share tips (or news) on numerous topics & issues relating to the fast-paced world of Information Technology such as: PDAs, Linux, Python, databases, Windows, Pocket PC. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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Run Virtual Machines on your PC for Free

Run virtual machines on your Windows or Linux PC with VMware Player 2.0. This free desktop virtualization software application makes it easy to operate any virtual machine created by VMware Workstation, VMware Server or VMware ESX, as well as Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disks. You can also use Player to evaluate one o. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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FREE Relational Database System: PostgreSQL 8.3.1 and 8.2.7 released

About PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source relational database system. It has more than 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness. It runs on all major operating systems, including Linux, UNIX (AIX, BSD, HP-UX, SGI IRIX, Mac OS X, Solaris, Tru64. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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Call for Papers: Beyond Sustainability, the heart of technology and technology education

The conference will be held near the Laos border in Thailand. These are research papers, either pure research or advanced practice, that offer substantiated solutions or alternatives. Papers may be up to 5000 words. All papers will be double-blind peer reviewed. Email papers to hearttech08@unitec.ac.nz by 30 July 2008. The aim of this conf. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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FM Quickstart Guide

Welcome to the FlashMeeting project QuickStart Guide FM is a web-based, one-click video conferencing tool. It allows a dispersed group of people to meet from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, running in a standard web browser window. If you have an Internet connection, the Adobe Flash 'plug in' version 8 and above, a properly ins. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 12, 2008
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Digital World Forum: Low Cost Laptop and Low Cost Broadband

PC computers have been the vector of deployment of Internet and Web access for most people and families of the Developed World. However, for a long time, it was not an affordable option for people in the Developing World. In order to tackle this problem, lots of initiatives have focused on starting telecenters. While these telecenters have been ext. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 11, 2008
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ebooks and information 4 free

Eldis, a development portal, hosts this group which is intended to provide links to good places to go to access a number of resources on ebooks and online resources, such as Eldis itself. This space is partly to complement the work of Book Aid International’s physical book donation program, enabling BAI's partners and group members to share their k. . .

Added by  John Daly  May 11, 2008
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5th annual Games for Change Festival

This June, the only festival dedicated to the exciting new movement using Digital Games for Social Change will explore real-world impact, the latest games and funding strategies. Hosted in New York City by Parsons The New School for Design, the 5th annual Games for Change Festival will take place on June 2 - 4, 2008. Expert practitioners -- academ. . .

Added by  Cally Robyn Wolk  May 9, 2008
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