Simulation Game: CellCraft
CellCraft was developed by Carolina Biological Supply as a fun and interactive way to learn about the biology and functions of a cell and its organelles. The game appears to open with a lengthy training phase, hosted by mysterious creatures, possibly platypuses (platypi?). However, as the game develops, the player discovers that she is the cell the the platypuses are creating.
As the cell, the player learns how to control her cellular movements with pseudopods, how to control her metabolism with ATP and mitochondria, and how to produce RNA and enzymes with ribosomes. This sounds like pretty in depth stuff, but the game does a good job of keeping it simple, fun, and memorable.
After a while, the game takes the form of a single-player RPG. The player must manage a variety of factors to feed her cell (which is almost like an avatar in other simulation games), protect it from predators and parasites like viruses, make it grow, and make it reproduce. Like many RPGs the game's universe, rules, and possibilities are vague and confusing, but become second nature after an hour or so of gameplay; but there is the rub.
RPGs (e.g. The Sims, World of Warcraft, etc.) are appealing because 1) they offer something for all learning preferences and 2) the more one plays, the more one becomes 'addicted' her "character," to gameplay, and to the game universe. If a student became 'addicted' to this game, she would undoubtedly be able to use biological vocabulary fluently, as well as understand and explain cellular biology with ease. Unfortunately, I did not find myself becoming increasingly drawn into the game in the way that I found myself drawn into some RPGs during college. Instead, I honestly kept thinking to myself, "This is fun, but is it over yet?" Then again, I am not a high school student. If the choice was, "Memorize this vocabulary list for the test" versus "Play this game for two hours," I would choose to play the game without question.
Despite the criticism above, it seems to me that CellCraft is fun, interactive, memorable, and a very helpful tool for students and teachers of biology. From the standpoint of situative theory, the game is perfect: the player becomes an 'apprentice' cell, learns about cells by being a cell and by gradually taking over responsibility for that cell's life. A student who could really "get into" this game would have a much more thorough and long-lasting knowledge of cells than a student who had merely memorized facts for a test!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI think that this game sounds very interesting. I took a biochemistry class during my undergrad and we learned a lot about several of the items you mentioned. It would have been really helpful if I were exposed to a game like this during high school. I am assuming if a class did some work with this game, the students would remember some of the images and details, which could be elaborated on later in life.
I also agree that the students might have a hard time playing the game for two hours. If they see the game as homework, then most likely they would rather be doing something else. However, if there was a way to break the game up into shorter time periods and have a worksheet or discussion periodically on the material then the students might become more interested.
Great Job!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThe game sounds great. I will have to check it out myself. I teach ELL and and I team teach social studies, science, and math at the 7th and 8th grade level. In science we have a unit we have to teach the kids about the cell. It's a tough subject to teach with some of our students that have never touched the subject. It's almost like teaching about a foreign language in a foreign language! The content teacher and I have created a few games, but they get old for the kids! I am hoping this might be something my ELL students could us. Do you think a student with a low level of English would be okay using thing this game?
I do see what you and Lindsay say about two hours being too long for the students to play, but I would totally break it up into maybe sections if possible or into 20 - 30 minute sessions.
Thanks for the information on the game!
Maribel
That is a great point that I didn't even think about, Maribel. There are a few text-based elements to the game. However, the game itself provides its own scaffolding to make the text a bit more comprehensible. You would have to make your own professional judgement based on your students.
DeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thorough analysis of the game. When I played it, I found that the vocabulary was really difficult. I think a teacher would have to front load some of this content. Maybe it would serve as a good review. I appreciate some of the things that you know and think about that I don't. What does "single-player RPG" mean?
Michael,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your analysis, I checked the simulation out and wished that I could have used this with my freshman who took Biology this year. He passed his ECA with flying colors but all he did was read chapters, do packets, and memorize vocabulary words. I felt so sorry for him because I knew biology could be so much better. Why do you think teachers haven't gravitated towards the use of games like this? (myself included) You used the term memorable in your description and it was just that, memorable.
Lori
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYour presented a great analysis. I found your following comment very important, "I honestly kept thinking to myself, "This is fun, but is it over yet?" Then again, I am not a high school student." As teacher's we need to remember who the games are targeted for. Our opinions and judgements need to be based on objectives not for us but for our students. With this in mind we can assess the games effectiveness as a learning tool.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis! I was about to play this game but opted for the Blood Typing game instead. This sounds fun though! Def. a game that would work great in any science class setting. Also something I feel that I could use for a career research project components when my students research careers.