Changing the Game
Dr. Nicole Burt, Curator of Human Health & Evolutionary Medicine, is the co-creator of a new educational card game available from college textbook publisher W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
The game, Origins: An Evolutionary Journey, brings the concept of “gamification” to the subject matter of human origins and evolution. Gamification seeks to find new and more natural ways of engaging developing minds with academic subjects.
“The theory behind adding game elements to what is usually considered a serious endeavor is that people get more excited about competition and fun than grades,” says Burt. “The tactile and intellectual elements behind gamification actually help people create stronger associations with the content and facilitate adding this content to deep memory. They’ll be able to recall the information repeatedly and for long periods of time.”
The game uses different methodologies to draw out engagement with the material, including tactile and social interactions with the subject matter as well as dividing questions into different categorical types designed to reward a diversity of learning styles. These include drawing, memory identification, fill-in-the-blank and social “free for all” questions. Adding in the inherent competitive elements of a game means the players will be more engaged with the material than if they are passively reading a textbook or reviewing previous lecture notes.
Origins—created in collaboration with bioarchaeologist Dr. Mindy Pitre of St. Lawrence University, and illustrated by graphic designer Holly Hunold, M.Sc. of Hunter Creative Labs—builds a foundation for understanding evolution and related subjects.
“The game covers the fundamentals of subjects including human evolution, biological anthropology, genetics, primates and human origins,” says Burt. “It does require specialized knowledge to play, but that does not mean it’s just for college students. It is appropriate for students at any level if you are teaching human origins concepts, and can even help with self-education.”
Origins is available online at wwnorton.com, amazon.com and is coming soon to the Museum Store.
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