Alliance Members: Dan, Priscilla, Autumn

Let’s Play !

https://youtu.be/L7Vn4JPQQFg

While WoW is widely popular, there are many barriers that might make it difficult to access and it requires some preliminary technical and gaming knowledge in order for new or inexperienced players to feel comfortable playing.

Technical Barriers:

1. Players who have an older graphics card or bad internet connectivity may not get the “immersive” experience that makes the game enjoyable.
2. Accessing the game is difficult unless equipped with a gaming computer. One needs at least 100 GB of storage space available on their hard drive and 8 GB of RAM.
3. Even with adequate storage and memory, the game is interrupted by frequent updates and tends to continually lag or stop working altogether.

Account Barriers:

1. Players have to download WoW in order to create an account through Battle.net
2. Priscilla was using a new gaming laptop and it still needed countless updates to the graphics cards and miscellaneous settings after being downloaded. One would think that whatever needed updating would be included in the automatic updates list on the laptop, but it was necessary to track down random driver updates on outside websites. Luckily, the game did provide a link to the sites. Otherwise, it might never have worked. It was quite labor-intensive and wasted a lot of time before the gaming could even start. New players might have just given up due to the amount of effort involved.
3. Non-tech-savvy wannabe players will likely struggle to get going and stay motivated.

Gameplay Interaction / Controls Barriers:

1. The game requires a lot of time to set up and learn how to use it. Gameplay is fun and engaging but requires several hours of continuous play in order to accomplish anything significant.
2. People who are relatively new/inexperienced could be confused about how to play effectively within the game. They are taught to use the buttons to move forwards, backward, left, and right (see screenshots), but not how to change the detailed settings and action shortcuts. One ends up struggling with unnecessary things like the camera suddenly panning or zooming in/out while running or fighting. The camera constantly changing the point-of-view was disorientating. Figuring out how to manually change it by zooming in/out in the settings was a life-saver. It took additional effort searching outside sources on Google to finally figure it out. Confusion about how to operate the controls effectively during gameplay can be frustrating and might make someone give up entirely.

Who might be excluded?

1. Anyone who does not have access to high-speed internet or a modern computer with ample storage space will be excluded from playing this game.
2. However, those who are in possession of the technology necessary to play the game are provided with numerous settings to complement their preferences for sound, view, and playing speed.
3. People who can’t afford the subscriptions cannot continue playing after level 20 and the mobile app can only be used with a pre-paid subscription.
4. Due to the specialized knowledge it takes of computers (in general) to get started (driver updates, downloads, settings, etc.) – people who are not tech-savvy could be excluded. WoW does make every effort for inclusion after the tech barrier is breached. There are numerous settings to remedy/control motion sickness, color-blindness, hearing issues, etc.
5. Players can change their character’s physical appearance in the beginning. They can be male/female but not any other genders (e.g. nonbinary). Players can choose their skin tone, eye color and even scar color.
6. People with visual challenges or other sensory disabilities may not be able to participate in WoW due to its constant movement and auditory indicators, etc. WoW does have additional settings for adjusting these, but it requires specialized knowledge or research to set it up correctly before playing. They likely would need assistance with the set up before playing.
7. People with mobility issues may not be able to use a standard game controller/laptop keyboard when playing WoW, they may need to purchase specialized equipment in order to participate.
8. Players must commit a lot of time to playing WoW to take full advantage of newly acquired skills and items and remember how to apply them to the next quest. Players who do not have several hours a day to play (which is required to make any substantial progress) might lose interest resulting in slow advancement up the levels.

How does the game foster creativity and critical thinking?

https://youtu.be/dCChRjVYoRY

Creativity within WoW:

WoW is a roleplaying fantasy game that provides players with a lot of choices, which in turn, sets the stage for players to be creative. Starting from the beginning, players choose their character and their traits and are then set free into the world of Azeroth. They can choose which realm they want to play in. Within each realm are different towns and cities, forests, deserts, valleys, and even entire continents and oceans, which are populated by real players. The opportunity for creativity exists everywhere as players interact with WoW’s own economy, politics, professions, climatic regions, biodiversity, conflict, organizations, and culture.

Creativity During Gameplay:

1. From the moment the game starts, the player must figure out what to do and how to do it.
2. During gameplay, the character sets off on a quest and the game gives small clues (an arrow to guide them, punctuation marks above the heads of crucial characters providing further information or rewards, and a map with suggested destinations). Despite all this assistance, the outcome is not predetermined as characters can – and do (personal experience here…) – get lost in this world.
3. Not all quests are compulsory and there are choices as to how to proceed with the game. There are, however, various battles, quests, etc. which are required to overcome on the path towards the ultimate goal of saving the realm.
4. There is constant experimentation and innovative strategizing to determine the best way to attack an enemy, while simultaneously figuring out how to work together as a team amid frequent technical difficulties. Just finding the enemy can force one to come up with an original plan when previous attempts failed. Almost every challenge that players face in WoW takes more than one attempt and requires creative thinking.

Critical Thinking within WoW:

1. Critical thinking skills are an essential part of gameplay in WoW and are relied upon to complete all of the tasks within each quest.
2. Players must analyze a situation, evaluate previous strategies, use reasoning based on unsuccessful attempts, and then decide on a new course of action. This cycle continues until players are finally able to solve the problem.

What content is handled? What skills are being activated in the game?

https://youtu.be/HW2iuvUAS00

Content Covered within WoW:

1. History – The story behind the world of Azeroth has a complex history that players will come to know through extended gameplay. It has parallels with human history too.
2. Reading and comprehension – It is intended that players read and comprehend quest instructions and their application before embarking on quests. They will likely need to do independent research outside of the game when they become confused or are unable to complete a task.
3. Mythology and Writing – Many of the creatures, characters, and weapons in WoW are based on medieval mythology.
   • Implementation – Students could use the mythical creatures, their character, and their knowledge of the world of Azeroth to write a quest.
     • Example: Students can choose a character from the game that they are familiar with and design a quest in the world of Azeroth. They would need to follow the structure of a quest (i.e., multiple steps using descriptive language) and create a story about their character and the adventures they have while solving the quest. Emphasis would be placed on the use of WoW vocabulary and a detailed description of the characters/creatures, the environment and the events as they unfold.
4. Coding – Clues, map icons, powers, etc. are all represented by images that players need to recall and access at a moment’s notice. “Codespeak” can also be typed into the chat bar to have the character do an action such as dancing or waving.
5. Math – Players must continually count and keep track of money, items, and certain quotas required by each of the quests. For example, counting the number of crystals collected to use when freeing a prisoner, keeping track of how many prisoners have been saved and how many more still need saving, calculating how many ogres need to be killed to earn enough copper or silver to buy a new weapon, etc. There are also higher-order math problems, such as percentages and statistical data that could be used in the classroom.
   • Implementation – There are many possibilities for implementing the math content (anything from counting to statistical analysis) in WoW into a lesson in the classroom.
     • Example: Student players select two different weapons used by their character and use the target dummies found at the beginning of a new realm to find the average damage over time of each weapon. Students can then make a graph based on the data. The experiment can be tested again using different gear that affects the character’s strength and weapon capability. They can then graph the new data and compare the results.
6. Computer Science – To access and play the game one must know how to register for and operate the program and manage all the updates required for it to function smoothly.

Skills Activated within WoW:

1. Self-Awareness – Players have to learn how to utilize and apply the particular skills, strengths, and weaponry possessed by their character for each specific task. This involves constant situational assessment, reflection of previous failures, and a rethinking of their strategy. WoW is designed so that players develop a “self-awareness” of their character through interactions with their environment. Through gameplay, students can develop a similar understanding and self-awareness of their own personal strengths and skills that they are equipped with and develop strategies that utilize these abilities to tackle specific academic quests.
2. Motor skills and Coordination – players constantly need to use various keys and the mouse simultaneously in order to play the game.
3. Executive Functions – Players develop skills in task initiation, problem-solving, organizing, planning, prioritizing, the ability to stay focused and on task, flexibility, stress tolerance, self-monitoring, working memory, and how to manage their time.
4. Geography – Map reading and navigation skills.
5. Communication and Interpersonal Skills – Communication is a necessary skill, as the players must read and understand the computer-generated dialogue and instructions, as well as chat live with other players during collaborative missions, negotiate group quests/battles, and trade items with them.
6. Teamwork and Cooperation – To achieve goals in the quest, players often help numerous other players (most of whom they don’t know) and work together cooperatively.
7. Empathy and a Sense of Community Responsibility – The game revolves around us helping a Captain to rescue his team members who are being held captive. Characters can acquire pets and must learn to look after them so the pet can help the player successfully complete missions.
8. Delayed Gratification, Persistence, and Tenacity – For extended gameplay, players must develop patience and accept that delayed gratification is just part of the game. They must be persistent and tenacious when facing new challenges and be willing to learn from their past mistakes.
9. Memory Skills – Players must be able to remember the various shortcuts that exist within the game, which abilities are most useful and in what situations, and the weaknesses of their enemies, and then apply correctly them when necessary.
10. Vocabulary – There is a lot of vocabulary related to the middle ages, specifically around the fantasy genre, including weaponry, buildings, mythical creatures, and sorcery.

How will assessment of learning happen?

https://youtu.be/wqmKO26tDQA

The game uses scaffolding and builds upon the experiences and skills that the players acquire throughout the levels. Each subsequent challenge relies on the skills, resources, and overall know-how received through the successful completion of previous quests.

The objectives of each quest are clear and the game offers enough guidance so that the player is able to explore and experiment with their environment.  Learning takes place through trial and error and players receive feedback when they make a successful attempt as well as when their attempts fail. Throughout the game, the player must be creative in how they approach a new or unsolved problem. They are initially given the opportunity to try as many times as it takes to successfully complete the task, but in advanced levels failures (like death) result in score penalties.

Is there progression through the levels?

To move up a level, the player must learn how to solve the problems and challenges in each quest. There is a gauge at the bottom right of the screen to show progress compared with others in the game. Are students on par with the percentage of others?

Does the player’s movements and onscreen behavior become more fluid and natural?

As learning takes place, the character will move and interact with the gaming environment more naturally and will be positioned in such a manner that makes it easier to engage with the enemy or complete a task.

Does it become easier to understand the objectives and how to reach them using the various buttons and weapons/spells provided?

As a new player, the objectives of each quest clearly list what is need to successfully complete the mission. However, interpretation can be difficult at first due to unfamiliar vocabulary, so players must experiment and interact with their environment before knowing how they are supposed to accomplish certain tasks. Through experience, the operational meaning of objectives becomes easier to understand and players are able to translate them into plans of action.

Are new weapons used together with older ones in the right order to create more damaging effects on the enemy?

At first, players can only use their weapons for simple, one-step movements. As they become proficient at executing the basic movement(s) of their weapon, the game recognizes this and awards experience points. If they earn enough experience, they move up a level and acquire new, more complex movements for their character’s weapon. As they continue to gain more experience, opportunities for finding or buying new weapons, spells, and armor are presented.

As players progress, they become equipped with a variety of weapons, spells, and potions, which they can learn to use in tandem, and are able to strategize the utility of each weapon or combination based on its application to a new challenge.

WoW allows players to see their statistical progression in terms of kills, deaths, wealth, etc. so players can see the areas that are in need of improvement.

Through gameplay, do players come to understand that mistakes and failures are integral to learning how to complete the quests?

The game is designed so that players need to make multiple attempts before they are able to finish a challenge.  The game provides enough information to ensure that players clearly understand the objective of the quest. However, players must come up with their own strategies to accomplish each task, learning through experimentation, exploration, and trial and error until they discover an approach that is successful.  

Are players able to isolate what’s not working and master the difficult area before they are permitted to move on? 

Making mistakes is part of the game and provides evidence that the player is trying. Without making failed attempts at something, then they are certainly not growing or learning. Players are allowed to make as many failed attempts as they need to successfully accomplish their tasks. This is a significant improvement over games from the 1990s where players were only given a set number of lives, and when they were gone, they had to start from the very beginning again.

Group Consensus:

1. After having played WoW for many hours independently and as a group, we were surprised at how many learning opportunities it presented us with that could be utilized in an age-appropriate classroom setting.
2. The game is more than just a story because it lets players interact within the plot in a virtual world where they are the protagonists. This gives them a vested interest and a personal stake in what happens, how it transpires, and how it will end. This is a fundamental and preliminary step in the learning process: engagement.
3. There are skills that are explicitly and implicitly learned through gameplay. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for learning by designing a lesson and using gameplay as the learning platform.
   • For example: there are many ways that the game can be used as a reference or topic for different types of writing. For math: students could use the statistics from the game to figure out the fraction of ogres they killed with a spell versus a weapon. There are also social and intrapersonal skills that the game can help students to develop by encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and clear communication.

Sources:

World of Warcraft in the World of Education

https://edurealms.com/a-new-project-world-of-warcraft-in-school/

World of Warcraft in the Classroom

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/27428/world-of-warcraft-finds-its-way-into-class