We won’t be able to create an environment where people won’t play games, but what we can do is think about what kind of games we want to contribute to. Last year,
I participated in the Israeli Ministry of Education’s Department of Technological Educational Innovation. Their goal was to develop games, and they faced a significant question: What to do with it? I led a few international brainstorming groups to define pedagogical criteria and select the historical periods that we could discuss. One conclusion I reached is that it is problematic to create content about the hardcore aspects of the Holocaust. In my opinion, we can use the Nazi Germany period
in the 1930s as a prelude. What can be included and what can't? We cannot simply opt out, but we must clearly define what we are developing, how we are developing it,
and how we are marketing it. Hopefully, by taking this approach, we can influence this market and change the nature of the discussions it generates. – Orit Margaliot
Anonymous participant: Where is the balance between engaging participants, creating
the most immersive experience, and addressing the limitations as well as potential risks
of the medium?
Again, once I define the pedagogical criteria, I can maintain that balance. […] It’s
an ongoing effort. Each new technology raises new questions for the different groups we encounter, and new challenges emerge. We don't need to fear the limitations
of the mediums. We need to acknowledge them and develop the tools we require
to enhance our educational efforts. – Orit Margaliot
While our goal is to convey a message about the war and the Holocaust, targeting young people from different generations, we also need to involve their educators and parents. What we're discussing is what we've chosen and built, but 90% of the market is flooded with games over which we have no influence, which highlights the importance
of educating parents. […] If you're interested, for the last two years, we have been organizing the Immersion Festival, focusing on all aspects of XR technologies
and welcoming different companies from around the world. This event offers
an opportunity to test, discuss, and observe how people worldwide are using these technologies. - Anna Osiadacz
Conference participant, photo: Press Office