8
You find yourself in a world with limited resources. You are responsible for your
people’s destiny, and you are equipped with tools that can help you assume
control over significant tracts of land. Time is short and there are other nations
involved in the game. Can you guarantee that you will act according to your
foundational values?
Emotions are the key
Interactive games as means to learning
stem from the principles of non-formal
education, and aim to encourage a deeper
reflection around the topic at hand. We, in
the project group “Borderline Boardgames”,
experience this method as very effective.
- We stage a simulation of the world to
which we wish to bring the participants in,
to great (to create?) effect, explains Joakim
Arnøy, project manager of the Norwegian
coordinating organisation, Narviksenteret.
- Even though it is a game, the enthusiasm,
anger, frustration and attitudes we observe
among the participants are often real. The
range of emotions that is lured out of the
participants are the key to the learning.
Most of them understand that some of
their actions towards another nation go too
far, but it is mainly when you realise it on
an emotional level that such learning really
takes a hold, Arnøy says.
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The Portuguese project partner, Sérgio
Gonçalves elaborates those games as a
method that can yield very good results,
as the participants learn while having fun.
They are active throughout the whole
process and reach their own conclusions
through self-reflection and discussions
after the game.
“Mission Z” tests us in thought versus
action, and lures out our human character
when under pressure – whether we like it
or not, explains a 25-year old test participant.