EDUQUEST
MORE ABOUT US, QUESTS, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
- Introduction
- Branding
- Concept
- Business Tool
- Schools and Team Play
- How it comes together
- Resource Information
- Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
A growing stigma is being attaching to education and learning methodologies. People see the process as boring and unimaginative labour they would love to “skip”, even knowing the benefits.
Let’s face it, education needs a facelift! In a world dominated by technological comforts, people have developed uncanny abilities for finding activities more exciting than opening up a book to study.
There has been huge growth within the gaming and entertainment industry with the advent of PC and Console gaming. This is where the action is, there’s no doubt about it. Few would choose to sit in front of a book or computer screen studying when a favourite game is calling to them.
Although there has been a drive to create games which are more educational and stimulating, they have by large failed, as none can match the intensity offered by mainstream games. What people are looking for is an immersive world where they can hide-out in and explore, solving in-game quests which lead them on an adventure, eventually achieving some revered status within the game.
We believe that with eduQuest, we have bridged the gap between reality and cyber-space, enabling education through adventure.
BRANDING
“edu” stands for “Education” and is the fundamental aspect of the concept. The significance of “Quest” in the branding pertains to the methods we use to deliver educational content:
What we have essentially done in developing the concept behind EduQuest is marry internet and communication technology with the “real world”, using a mixture of real world environments and objects with the incredible knowledge base the internet has to offer.
When looking at how PC/Console and online games are modeled, we have identified that in fact, and not surprisingly, the most immersive and interesting of all possible gaming worlds can only be the “real world”. With its immense resource base and flexibility we see it as the perfect catalyst for our EduQuest technology.
CONCEPT
The basic concept behind our questing tools is that of a central online database and website through which “learners” (possibly located anywhere in the world), are steered and guided through real-world “quests” by educators/narrators. Educators use the site to create educational scenarios (real-world/online), built around their own unique requirements and syllabus.
Learners embark on these quests, solving various problems, clues and riddles using the help of both real-world and online environments. Solving clues lets you progress further in the game, reaching the next levels, or unlocking important new clues which lead to the eventual goal or scenario solution.
To explain the idea of “quests” further we will use a simple scenario:
- Jack decides to join the online EduQuest community.
- He logs on to the internet, visits the EduQuest website and creates and online profile and account for himself.
- Jack is now able to participate in one of any number of quests currently available.
- After scanning through the various categories available he makes his choice and joins one of the quests.
- He is presented with his first clue or riddle to get him started.
- From here on, it is up to Jack to decide where he goes from here and where he is going to find the answers he needs.
- Clues given may require Jack to visit various real-world locations (museums, libraries, well-known sites, or just about anywhere) in order to find out more information which will help him solve the problem.
- Just as likely Jack may need to research further using the internet and its large knowledge base. The possibilities here are endless as to where and what the “player” could be guided through.
Essentially what EduQuest does is appeal to the treasure seeker in all of us, engaging players in adventurous and immersive real life quests in order to solve problems and subsequently learn from them.
That these problems can form part of a larger storyline makes it that much more interesting, leaving you guessing where the game will take you next and what further challenges await you.
The real power behind EduQuest comes from its ability to meld and combine so many layers and educational subjects into one flexible quest or scenario.
To give another example:
- John has been puzzled with his latest clue.
- It was a mathematical related clue which, because of its wording, lead him to do some research around a prominent mathematician and his theorems, which John believed held the answer to the riddle.
- The problem is that now, having come to an answer; John is presented with a confusing 10 digit number which at first glance means nothing to him.
- Pondering over the number, John realizes humorously that the first 3 integers represent the same prefix as one of their local cellular providers.
- More curious than anything John picks up his cell and dials the number.
- To his surprise John is answered by a pre-recorded voice which repeats a new clue along with the string: n240000 in mc; w0780000 in mc.
- John has no idea what this means, but after doing a bit of research on the net using Google, John finds out that these are in fact geographical map coordinates.
- John gets out one of his geography map text books, surprised he’s actually going to use them, and he starts trying to place the coordinates. Unfortunately this has never been his strong point so he needs to read through a few of the sections in order to properly understand and read the map.
- John doesn’t know if any of the other players are at the same point in the game as him or further. Because of the competitive spirit of the game, he is spurred onwards.
- Finally he places the coordinates. Ah ha, the local museum. And the rest of the clue now makes sense. He needs to get some on-site information regarding this historical figure.
- John organizes a trip to the museum. He needs the next clue in this treasure hunt. He needs to know where the game will lead him next.
This example is rather simplified but represents a possible scenario which includes within it aspects of mathematics, general knowledge, geography and history. This scenario would probably be best suited for a high-school environment.
Each quest within the EduQuest environment is classed according to a skill level. These include Primary School, High School, Tertiary and Corporate to mention a few.
BUSINESS TOOL
One of the key features of our Tools are, because they are web-based and accessible throughout the world, is its ability to be adopted into any business, educational or recreational environment.
In the above scenarios we’ve seen how EduQuest can stimulate learning within the bounds of a purely educational surrounding (i.e. schools, universities, technikons etc).
However, only when we start looking at how this tool can be used in a business environment does its real potential become clear:
As mentioned before, EduQuest is an online database (website) which allows people to join in educational games through which they can, depending on the quest, win prizes, obtain some sort of ranking within the website or just play to uncover new chapters within the exciting storylines laid out within the quests.
What needs to be highlighted is that these quests, or scenarios, can be planned, set up and managed by any premium user on the EduQuest website. What this means is that whether you are an individual or a company, you can, through the EduQuest website, host a scenario pertaining to your particular specifications.
Many organizations will see this as an extremely valuable marketing tool and a means of facilitating education within their region or community. This of course leads to interesting advertisement options and benefits for the organization.
For example, using EduQuest in a business facilitation environment:
- Tembela is a Business consultant who helps educate and guide people through the demanding processes involved in developing the business plans, models etc they need to startup.
- She is currently planning a workshop for a group of up and comings who need to be taught the processes and pitfalls associated with setting up a business.
- Using EduQuest, Tembela compiles and sets up a scenario, or “quest”, upon which her learners can embark. This scenario will take them through all the processes involved in setting up a business by actually pushing each individual to solve business problems themselves.
- Learners respond better and learn better when they are responsible themselves, and don’t just “sit looking pretty” while the teacher does all the talking.
- They are actively involved in the end solution, and in fact, develop this end solution (business plan) by solving and working through the problems set out by Tembela in the EduQuest scenario.
- Tembela enjoys adding something different to her workshops, and because of EduQuest’s interactive online presence, decides to use it to lead her students on a learning adventure through the city.
- Students visit various successful businesses throughout the town centre, gathering in clues, uncovering their next destinations, solving problems etc.
- These could include problems the visited businesses overcame to get where they are now. Solving these problems subsequently gain them new clues directing them back to the website or to new clues.
- In this way students/learners gain a sense of accomplishment and understanding having being guided to their goal by their own abilities.
SCHOOLS AND TEAM PLAY
Schools, Colleges and other organizations are able to set up their own grouping within the EduQuest website. These consist of their learners and narrators. By doing this they are able to develop their own quests which are unavailable to learners outside their organization.
Within each organizational grouping teams may also be set up. This allows the opportunity for teams and divisions within the organization to compete against each other. A classic example of this would be school classrooms. The School or College in question would set up teams consisting of members from each class. These classes could now compete and pit their wits against each other, visiting and corresponding with resources throughout the real world and internet. The team best able to use and interpret the resources on hand would come out tops and perhaps win prizes or gain other incentives.
HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER
Quests are meant to be incentive driven and can only be successfull with active sponsorship from all parties involved.
What we, the people behind EduQuest, can offer those involved in the experience are our creative, experienced imaginations and technical know-how. Joining the EduQuest community means you will have our consultants available at all times to help you plan and manage each of your scenarios (quests) and the members and teams within your organization. Aside from this, the EduQuest website comes with a full Management Console through which your entire grouping, teams, members and quests can be managed.
We assist in the creation and setup of the organizational groupings, teams and members. We also provide tips and organize the resources needed for each scenario i.e. Co-ordination with third-parties (Cellular companies, Museums, Venues etc) and other resources needed to provide an immersive and entertaining experience.
RESOURCE INFORMATION
EduQuest uses real-world and online objects and locations as the foundations for the quests it facilitates.
These could be any combination of the following:
- Historical landmarks
- Reference material (books, documents, magazines etc)
- Cellular technology
- Internet and Email technology
- Other real-world locations (beaches, buildings, phone booths, malls etc)
- Actual objects (Hidden messages on billboards, Notice boards, trees etc)
Depending on the quest and skill of the “educator”, the imagination is the only real limiter to what can be used in a game.
CONCLUSION
Essentially what EduQuest does is appeal to the treasure seeker in all of us, engaging players in adventurous, immersive real life and online quests in order to solve problems.
We often liken this process to man’s “Quest for the Holy Grail” and stories of real life “Tomb Raiders” etc. Man has always been mystified and intrigued by the unknown, and our thirst for knowledge has often lead us from one corner of the world to the other following mundane clues hidden in murky history.
We like to think of EduQuest as a smaller, more managed treasure hunt which awakens that thirst for knowledge within the players, using it to facilitate education, be it scholarly, business related or recreational.>
EduQuest is going to revolutionize the way we learn.