tags: moon, lunar geology, NASA, astronomy, computer games, learning through computer games
NASA researchers are learning how to design video games and they're looking for high school students to help. They want students between the ages of 13-18 to play an online computer game about lunar geology and they want high school teachers to help recruit the students.
What's in it for the students?
Players are guided through Selene by the director of the Center for Educational Technologies, Chuck Wood, an internationally known lunar geologist who writes a monthly column on the moon for Sky and Telescope and who is the author of The Modern Moon: My Personal View. The game features excitement of gameplay - but with an opportunity to learn plenty about Earth's glowing satellite and how planets and moons are formed. As one student who tested the game said, "It made me want to get out my telescope!"
How can teachers help out?
By recruiting students between the ages of 13 and 18 to play Selene. Teachers are being asked to e-mail selene@cet.edu and give your name, school address, and a phone number where you can be reached.
Background information on the project:
From the Selene website:
NASA believes games can prepare people with just the right knowledge to be successful at learning, but it needs to conduct research to see if this is true. The Selene game introduces players ages 13-18 to concepts about the moon's geology. Researchers will track players' gameplay to study how the Selene game helps players to learn about the geology of the moon.
Learn more at the Selene website, http://selene.cet.edu.
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As someone who is older than 18, I feel a little left out.
... I wanna play too.
I know! I thought the game looked like a lot of fun, too!
I guess you could always write to the researchers and see if they'll let you try it out.
I just emailed my son's Jr. High Science teacher to sign him up, so thank you for the link.
Some games really have a positive effect, however, how to prevent children from addiction to games?
That's a good question.
I know this is a bit flip, but the only answer I can come up with is from that old classic joke.
"How do you stop an elephant from charging? "