Creando ciudades con el videojuego Simcity creatoruna manera de diseñar la realidad

Abstract

The goal of this presentation is to show how simulation games can be introduced into the classroom like aeducational resources to promote the design and creation of virtual realities. We seek to design scenariosthat develop creative thinking, where students create and learn to live in a virtual world (Ryan, 2001).Such games provide experiences unthinkable in reallife, offering action scenarios which allow studentsto communicate in a virtual reality. The player navigates through screens or creating universes buildingfantastic stories without a predetermined end (Juul,2005), although limited and controlled by the rules ofthe game. SimCity Creator will use the game, whichrequires planning the development of a city, managetheir finances or manage its security and growth, as aneducational tool in the classroom.From an ethnographic perspective, we analyze whathappens in a classroom of 3º ESO when students became aware of the differences between the city andcreated in the game. The aim was to connect in realand virtual world through the game. Activities duringthe sessions were divided into 3 phases: talk, play anddevelop a creation from the experience.The analysis of the results shows that this game servedas an educational resource for thinking about the virtual world. The students became the designer andcreator of a city. The contrast between the real and thevirtual city facilitated classroom discussion of valuespresent in the new citizenship, such as sustainability,public participation, or the quality of life.