Games at Center of Obama’s Digital Learning Initiative
Games at Center of Obama’s Digital Learning Initiative
November 23, 2009
In a bid to improve science and math comprehension for U.S. school pupils, President Obama has launched an open competition designed to encourage the creation of digital media-based learning experiences.
Launching December 14, the 2010 Digital Media and Learning Competition is being undertaken in conjunction with the MacArthur Foundation, the Humanities, Arts and the Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC) and National Lab Day. Two categories are offered in the $2.0 million competition—21st Century Learning Lab Designers and Game Changers.
Game Changers will task entrants with creating content, using the PlayStation 3 game LittleBigPlanet, which incorporates science, engineering and math. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) are backers of the competition as well, with the former donating 1,000 PS3 systems and copies of LittleBigPlanet to libraries and community organizations in low-income U.S. communities.
Jack Tretton, president and CEO of SCEA added:
“When leveraging the innovative technology of LittleBigPlanet and the PS3 system, both advanced and novice gamers have access to an open canvas to learn, build, and explore entirely new kinds of gaming experiences. There’s no better training ground for anyone interested in digital media.”
Winners will be announced next spring. Winning LittleBigPlanet levels will also be made available to the public.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....... I think that is sooooooooo cuuuuuuuuuuuute! I love sackboy! He is soooooooooo adorable. & donating this game to learning for children is sooooooooo awesome! :)
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Amen.
I hereby dub thee ShadowDarkman the Second. *touches Royal Sword to DarkSaber's shoulders* Arise, Sir ShadowDarkman II.
Thank you, Mr. President, for not bashing gamers. I hope this means youve finally seen the light.
Now if youll only get off your this-country-is-so-stupid-and-everyone-needs-to-go-back-to-school trip, youll do fine.
It's not Obamas fault 60% of north americans are incredibly stupid and need to go back to school. Mind you, they learnt bugger all the first time round, so a return visit is unlikely to help matters.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Yeah, that's what he needs to change in order to do fine.
Surely, his spending, the fact that he spends more time fucking off than any recent president, the fact that he wastes more money travelling, the fact that he can't make a decision. Those are just minor problems.
Wait he's spent more time fcking off than bush? surely you jest!
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Surely, I do not. For example, look at all the fucking golf Obama plays.
I seem to remember Bush played more than his fair share
"We're gonna find Osama and kick his ass, now watch this drive" anyone?
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Obama has played more Golf in 8 months than Bush in 2 years.
Proof? And I don't mean some conservatard blog claiming it's fact.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0910/obama_ties_bush_on_golf.html
Shazzam.
Funny, I thought "ties" meant "equal to"
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
The article was written a month ago. He's played more since then. You know, when he should've been showing some leadership and making some decisions.
You mean like how Bush failed to do for New Orleans?
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
New Orleans' failure is on the heads of the local government and state government. They wanted to play the hero and save their own people, having developed a plan to bus people out. When the bus drivers bailed on the city, they waited 3 MORE DAYS to call for martial law, allowing FEMA to come in with the National Guard. At this point, FEMA had already allocated its resources elsewhere.
EDIT
Oh, and how about how Obama spent all of four hours in New Orleans and then left? Man, that's some leadership.
Nothing bad from 2000-2008 was ever Bush's fault.
What an intelligent reply. Way to debunk nothing I said.
I was just summarizing your opinion is all.
No no no, what he did during New Orleans was patriotic and justifiable. They all deserved it anyways.
Then again, you're replying to someone who thinks Obama playing more golf than the last guy is bad, but said last guy spending more time on vacation than Obama has even been president for is fine and dandy.
At least Bush could make a decision. Oh, and he didn't spend NEARLY as much as Obama.
Even if those decisions WERE what his minders told him to make.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Yeah, because Obama doesn't have his own minders.
There's no worship like Bush worship.
Except for that Obama cult-like worship. It's like watching people worship L. Ron Hubbard.
I could make a very long reply to this, but this sums it and you up much much quicker:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/Viscter/repubcomic.jpg
Since the page cuts off the image, here's a direct link.
Hard to tell who's the bigger moron between Bush and that guy he put in charge of FEMA. That one's too close for me to call.
Seriously, even though I enjoyed Oregon Trail, I don't recall anything I "learned" from it. The Demon Compendium is the only thing I recall anything at all from.
Math Blaster enhanced my basic math skills quite a bit back in the day.
That's about it though.
Funny, this coming from the president whose constantly saying "get off the video games." Typical politican.
loling at the comments people always make when you criticize Obama. 'Well Bush did *action*!'
As if I liked Bush anymore than this guy. Obama's got more charisma and is a better publich speaker, but both are pretty much the same in terms of worth to me.
Obama's only got more charisma when the teleprompter is working.
I hate games that force "knowledge" down your throat. I feel bad for the kids whose parents go into GameStop looking for items for their LeapFrog system. "Hey, I did this really cool thing in Forza 3!" "Well, you should have seen what I did the other day in Halo!" "Well, I was playing 'Timmy the Turtle,' and..." *crickets*
That said, WWII games teach better history than History class, because you experience it. You're immersed. Personally, I learned more about Chopin's life from Eternal Sonata than I ever did in Music Appreciation.
What someone is going to learn from Little Big Planet is beyond me. Kudos to Pres. Obama for talking out of both sides of his mouth, though.
Oh, and they all pale next to "Schoolhouse Rock." Every person I know who can recite the preamble to the Constitution, learned it from that cartoon.