Worldbuilder Update
I have two main roles within our organisation. To tell stories within our game-world and to tell the stories of our game, to connect with people and let them know how our game could impact theirs, or their children’s lives. They in-turn tell me stories. Stories I then turn around, and tell to people like you. Normally in this column I talk about our in-game world of Aethasia. This time however, I want to tell you about the world our game is going to impact. Specifically in Education as Carl and I have just got back from the BeyondU conference in Brisbane, Australia.
Mary works with special-needs students in a Christian school. Sure, they may be older than our target audience, but their reading isn’t great and she wants to find a way to introduce them to the Bible. Did I mention they are wild about gaming? Mary is excited to test the game with her learners. She is excited to be sharing her passion to connect her students with the bible, using their passion for gaming. A win win situation.
Stella is a primary school teacher. Every week her class explores the Bible, and whilst the role play and flannelgraph (yes, flannelgraph) are great, the boys especially aren’t connecting. She hears them talk about crafting in minecraft and other games. You can imagine then how excited she is when we talk about giving her learners crafting experience within a biblical game. Not only teaching them the narrative of scripture but inviting them to bring their imagination along for the ride.
Mike likes games. In fact, he loves them. He also loves Jesus and wants to find a way to combine his loves through a lunchtime program for students. He appreciates the fact that ‘The Aetherlight’ has such an emphasis on making a great, fun game – balanced with its heart to bring the Bible to life. In this way, he knows that the students he invites into his program, whether Christian or not, will enjoy themselves.
Wayne is wild about technology and utilizing cutting edge learning techniques in his classroom. He wants to teach not just through technology for technology’s sake, but for the fact that young people connect with it better – because it’s their world. He won’t just take any technology and implement it. He’ll let the young people drive the technology, framing activities into the spaces his learner are already in. Need I say more.
These are stories from an education conference we’ve just presented at. These are people’s stories and you can view my message to the conference here.
We need to get this game to these people! I haven’t even mentioned the Sunday school teachers, the families who can’t connect scripture to their kids or the ones who just can’t get to their churches regularly. This is for them.
Until next time, let’s build a world worth saving!
Tim Cleary
Worldbuilder
