The 2016 presidential election has, in many ways, been anything but “presidential.” Candidates have played to the lowest common denominator, turning the debate stage into something resembling a WWE promo.
Retired United States Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor hopes to leave students with a different view on the process. She founded iCivics, a nonprofit education organization in 2009, which has since released 19 edutainment games.
The latest version of Win the White House puts students in the role of presidential candidates. They must present their views on issues including gun control, immigration, and more in a civil fashion.
The software, designed by Filament Games for iCivics, has been used by more than 250,000 students since its initial release. Other software developed by the company for the nonprofit includes a game focused on making a Supreme Court decision and another about civil rights and law enforcement.
The full story from the New York Times includes anecdotes from classroom teachers and quotes from O’Connor and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is also participating in the project. Sotomayor sits on the iCivics advisory board.
You can try Win the White House and the other educational games for yourself on iCivic’s website.
[Source: New York Times]
Our Take
Especially in this contentious election season, it’s refreshing to see accessible alternatives that put students in the driver’s seat. While edutainment programs can be hit-or-miss, with the lesson plans provided by iCivics and the context of current events, I’d be very interested to see these used more widely.