Problem-Based Learning Project: Morality through Play
As part of my Problem Solving through Communications Technology course (May-June, 2014), I was given the opportunity to design a cross-curricular problem-based learning activity that integrated technology. This was my initial proposal, but I executed a modified version of the project, which can be found here.
Abstract
In this project, students work in groups to create hypermedia narratives based on John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men. In teacher-assigned groups of four, students will choose a character from the book and design a hypermedia narrative that examines story from that character’s perspective and explores choices and consequences. The project integrates outcomes from English Language Arts 20-2, ICT Div. IV, Art 20, and COM1005 Visual Composition (from the CTS Media, Design & Communication Arts Cluster). It introduces them to important practices in collaboration, writing and publication, multimedia composition, game design, digital literacy, and ethics.
Problem Description
The main problem that students will solve through this project is ‘How can we use hypermedia narratives to explore the moral dilemmas we face in life?’ Esteemed literature, such as Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, presents stories with moral dilemmas common to us as humans. Interactive multimedia, such as games or hypermedia narratives, can bring stories (and the conflicts, problems, or dilemmas within) to life. They invite players to experience and alter the stories through their choices. Creating a text composed of print and images allows students to apply writing, composition, and design knowledge and skills. Making an online interactive text prompts them to consider purpose, audience, and affordances of hypertext and other technology. Working in groups promotes growth in collaboration and communication. Specific curricular outcomes addressed are described in Cross-Curricular SLOs. See Background Scenario for how this activity could be done in the classroom.