Image
credit: K20 Center at the University of Oklahoma
Get a Life is one
of the two games developed by the K20 Center at the University of Oklahoma, that were selected as finalists in
the 2019 Serious Games
Showcase and Challenge in the Business/Nonprofit Category. (The other
game, Functions of the Machine, was
object of my prior post Serious Game Builds Covariational Reasoning Through
Dynamic Visualizations and Adaptive Feedback).
Designed for 7-12 graders, the game is a playful way for students to
learn about the cost of college, the education requirements of careers, how
education can affect income, and how to deal with debt and other setbacks. Students
are in charge as they help their character “get a life” in this 10-15 minute,
narrative-driven college and career readiness game.
According to the developers, “the game is meant to plant a seed, not to
answer all questions about college and career awareness.” Their ultimate goal
is that middle school student start imagining their possible future.”
Image
credit: K20 Center at the University of Oklahoma
Each level of education graduates into a different career, each with
its own difficulties, challenges, and opportunities that students will have to navigate
to help their character live a comfortable life.
Players get to try their hand at multiple educational options and
careers, even some that they have not contemplated. Once they successfully lead
their character to retirement, they’ll get a look back at the life they
created: the total income they made over their career, their ending level of
comfort and their impact on society, and the amount of retirement funds they’ll
have to live off of in the future. And when they’re done, they can start again
with a new character, pick another interest (or the same one), try a different
level of education, and check out another career option.
Image
credit: K20 Center at the University of Oklahoma
The game
encourages experimentation through multiple plays. Students receive immediate
feedback on the outcome of their decisions and an overall assessment at the end
of every play.
With over 96 different careers to experience, Get
a Life gives students the chance to learn about the jobs they’re interested
in and discover jobs they’ve never heard of before.