Group items tagged

Link to many games about social change. All appear to be free.

Links to a multitude of games on social change.

A site featuring dozens of games with social impact. Organized well by grade level.

Ran across this as I was reading about the Serious Games meeting in Houston. Looks interesting.

good simulations including alien juice jar

This is a fantastic web-based game for ages 11+ to understand urban planning, neighborhood dynamics, and diversity. Players are one of 12 characters in Boston's Chinatown, navigating the city and trying to find a place to live, a livelihood, recreation, and cultural expression. The game helps learners develop a broader view of all the factors that form community and how different communities interact with each other and larger social forces. From the website: "Participatory Chinatown is a 3-D immersive game designed to be part of the master planning process for Boston's Chinatown. You assume the role of one of 15 virtual residents and you work to complete their assigned quest - finding a job, housing, or place to socialize. But look out! Sometimes language skills, income level, or other circumstances can make your task more challenging. Whatever your experience, you'll then be tasked with considering the future of the neighborhood by walking through and commenting on proposed development sites. Every one of your comments and decisions will be shared with real life decision-makers. "

I got lost in Boston's Chinatown one time.

Useful ages 11+ this free, online simulation game allows learners to play the role of an "Oiligarch" an oil baron, building profits but also causing environmental and economic problems. It is useful for natural sciences, social sciences, environmental science, and economics courses.

This is a 14+ game for use in teaching and understanding addiction, useful in health and psychology education. It's in English and free to download (PC only) From the site: Akrasia is a single-player game that challenges game conventions and is intended to make the player think and reflect. It is based on the abstract concept of addiction, which is expressed metaphorically throughout the game.

This is a free simulation game for 12+ where learners are able to virtually "live" the lives of someone across the globe. They make choices and face circumstances faced by people in those parts of the world, choice available jobs, battle diseases, navigate unstable political terrain. The program is based on all current data from the United Nations, World Health Organization, and other international aid organizations and links with Google maps as well. This game would be useful for middle school or high school world cultures or politics courses, and also in different enrichment or afterschool activities. From the website:"Experience life as a: * Peasant farmer in Bangladesh * Factory worker in Brazil * Policeman in Nigeria * Lawyer in the United States * Computer operator in Poland or any of thousands more ... Through statistically accurate events, Real Lives brings to life different cultures, political systems, economic opportunities, personal decisions, health issues, family issues, schooling, jobs, religions, geography, war, peace, and more. As your students make decisions for their characters and experience the consequences of those decisions they will learn about the world and gain an increased appreciation of their own culture and the cultures of other peoples."

A video game for young people with cancer. They choose tools and battle unhealthy cells. Downloadable, in English, Spanish, and French.