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5 2012 Youth Challenge Getting Started Guide
5 2012 Youth Challenge Getting Started Guide
Choose the global issue you want to focus on. Remember, you can work with up to three teammates!
Consider the questions: What global issue interests you most? What global issue do you think needs more
awareness? Which global issue do you want to learn more about?
Look below under Choosing a Global Issue for general topic ideas. Talk to parents, friends, and teachers for
ideas. Also use online resources, books, and magazines.
2) Next, think of a game model that would best fit the issue.
A board game? Video game? Card game? Think about which of these models best conveys the important
concepts related to your global issue. It may help to think of some games you already enjoy and use those as
models. Check out the different game examples listed under Game Ideas below for ideas.
3) Brainstorm a rough outline about how the game will work. Then decide whether you want to begin with the
visual or written portion.
4) To start working on the visuals, scroll down to the Resources for Developing Game Visuals/Storyboard section
for resources specific to the game model you chose.
5) Make sure and follow the Submission Guidelines
*Note to Teachers: Using This Resource Guide
This resource list is meant as a guide for teachers, students, and parents. This guide is not a comprehensive list,
nor is it meant to limit students as they identify their global topics and their game models.
We suggest using this resource guide as part of a classroom or small group brainstorming session.
We suggest all students read our Judging Rubric before starting their game design, and again before making final
revisions to their design. The rubric provides clear, detailed, guidance on how designs will be graded by judges.
1)
Game topics may include geography, migration, travel, and international cultures; or global issues such as climate
change, global health, violent conflict, the global economy, or international development.
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals are a good place to start. The goals include: End Poverty and
Hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/Aids, Environmental
Sustainability, and Global Partnership.
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Our online resource packets also contain many global issues: The Bottom Billion, YCA Packet, and GYLI Resource
Packet.
2) Game Ideas:
Explore and play the games below. For more examples, download: How Internet Games and Virtual Worlds Can
Help you Deliver More Global Education, a Teachers Resource Guide from our website.
Global Health
Medmyst: Medical Mysteries on the Web
http://medmyst.rice.edu/index.html
Educational Issues: Health, Science
Description: MedMyst is an Internet-based adventure in which you are on a mission to discover the
causes of diseases. As you follow clues to solve the mystery, you are also given the opportunity to
explore chemistry, pharmacology, neuroscience, medicine, public policy, history, and more.
Developer: Rice University, Adobe Flash
Developer: Globaria Games, educational web games made by students
Pathogen Panic!
http://www.bioquestacademy.org/
*Scroll to the right side bottom of the page
Educational Issue: Health
Description: Cholera is on the attack! These bacteria are extracellular pathogens that produce nasty chemicals
that make people feel sick. Help the good cells get rid of the bad ones, and be careful to avoid the HIV virus!
Developer: Bioquest Academy
Environment
The Garbage Dreams Game
http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/the-garbage-dreams-game/
Educational Issue: Garbage, Recycling
Description: The Garbage Dreams Recycling game invites players to take on the role of the Zaballeen, who
impressively recycle 80% of the trash they collect. Start with one neighborhood, one factory, and one hungry
goat. You have 8 months to build your recycling empire and get Cairos total recycling as high as you can. Can you
be as eco-savvy as the Zaballeen?
Developer: Duane Dunfield, Mai Iskander, Jeremy Bernstein
Keep Cool Board Game
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14698/keep-cool
Educational Issue: Global Climate Politics
Description: Each player takes on a role in the world of global climate politics. Players represent their countrys
interests, whether they are the USA or a developing country, and must also consider actors like the oil industry
and environmental organizations who help determine if the players efforts are successful or not. In each round of
the game you have to decide between taking measures for climate protection that are good for all, or ones that
might benefit your role more than others. The risk: catastrophes like droughts, floods, or pandemics. The goal:
welfare and a stable global climate. Whoever reaches his or her targets first wins, yet if you are not cooperative
enough all players might lose due to a collapse of the world climate.
Poverty
AYITI: The Cost of Life
http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_3142.html
*Games 4 Change Award Winner
Educational Issues: Human Rights, Poverty
Description: This game challenges players to manage a rural family of five in Haiti. Over four years, players
struggle to keep their family healthy, educated, and alive.
Developer: Youth-Produced, Global Kids & GameLab
Inside the Haiti Earthquake:
http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/inside-the-haiti-earthquake/
*This game may not be suitable for younger students
Educational Issue: Relief work in disaster situations.
Description: Inside the Haiti Earthquake is an online simulation that allows users to play the role of an aid worker,
a journalist, or a survivor. You will be given the opportunity to commit to various strategies and experience their
consequences.
MDG Matters: Get the 8 straight
http://www.tigweb.org/themes/mdg/game/index.html
Educational Issue: Millennium Development Goals
Description: Test your knowledge on the Millennium Development Goals by matching the cards and answering
trivia questions. Accumulate points based on your speed and accuracy.
Developer: Taking It Global
Peace Corps Challenge Online Game
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/
Educational Issues: Water Contamination, Sanitation and Disease, Microfinance, Agriculture,
Agroforestry, Education, Womens Issues
Description: Students navigate through the tiny town of Wazunu to solve problems.
Developer: Peace Corps
International Diplomacy
Crisis of Nations
http://www.icivics.org/games/crisis-nations
Education Issue: International Politics
Description: Take the helm of your own country and work together with others to solve international problems! In
this game of diplomacy, four nations must work together to solve crises, but each has a hidden agenda: to collect
15 resources of a certain type and win the game. Whether you cooperate in the interest of global harmony or
deceive your way to victory, only the shrewdest of leaders will come out on top.
Developer: Justice Sandra Day OConner, iCivics
Connect with Haji Kamal
http://www.kinection.com/projects/project-connect-with-haji-kamal/
*This game may not be suitable for younger students
Education Issue: Cross-Cultural Communication
Description: Guide your Lieutenant on how to behave in a meeting with an important community leader in
Afghanistan.
Developer: Kinection
Other
Phone Story
https://market.android.com/details?id=air.org.molleindustria.phonestory2
*This game may not be suitable for younger students
Educational Issue: Technology and the Environment
Read about the design process of the company behind Connect with Haji Kamal (see above)
http://www.kinection.com/design-process/
Kodu
http://www.kodugamelab.com/
http://fuse.microsoft.com/page/kodu
Kodu is a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be
accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The visual nature of the language allows for rapid design
iteration using only an Xbox game controller for input (mouse/keyboard input is also supported).
The following resources may be too complex for the Youth Challenge but are for students who are further
interested in eLearning:
Elearning samples:
http://blog.cathy-moore.com/elearning-samples/
This page links to samples of interactive graphics, simulations, and other materials from many different
sources. Maybe theyll give you ideas for your own projects.
Kodu Cup
http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoftupblog/archive/2011/06/13/kodu-cup-winners-announced.aspx
A competition that challenged kids across the United States (from the age of 9 to 17) to use Kodu a free
game development tool from Microsoft to create their own video game for the chance to win great prizes
and the chance to attend the Imagine Cup World finals in New York City in July.