Insight into Websites: Extra Credits

I’m beginning my reviews with an admission – I like computer games. This isn't really much of a revelation to anyone who knows me, though some often wonder why I have such an interest. For those people, and for anyone else interested in the structure, meaning, and purpose of games, I offer you my first website of interest, Extra Credits.

Extra Credits is a video series that highlights aspects of games, gaming, and the game industry that many people overlook or are simply ignorant of. Their videos cover a diverse range of topics such as game design, storytelling in games, the use of games as educational tools, and even compulsive video game play. All of the topics covered are treated with a serious professional focus, which reflects the experience the show’s staff has with the topic. At the same time, the subjects are presented in a fun, interesting way that makes it easy for newcomers to get a grasp of what is being examined and why it is important.

It is a simple fact that video games have become a part of the lives of nearly anyone who uses computer technology. From elaborate big-budget titles like Call of Duty to small, simple games like any one of many electronic Sudoku variants, games are everywhere you find computers (or cell phones). The question of what to do about and with them is, therefore, important. While many people immerse themselves a bit too deeply in games, others make the mistake of dismissing them as “immature” or “kids’ stuff”. Extra Credits, in my opinion, does an admirable job of highlighting just how complex games can be, and how substantially they can impact our society, for ill or for good.

Even if you have no interest in games at all, some of the topics (e.g. gaming in education), may still be of interest, just because of the ideas that are tossed around. Because of this, and EC’s mature, accessible, and lighthearted approach, I strongly recommend people give this series a try.

To visit the Extra Credits website, follow this link:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/show/extra-credits

Doing Much but Saying Little

I’ve been a bit quieter than I expected lately, on account of keeping busy. I have been working on several different things at once – teaching at LCU, helping reorganize parts of IRI, reviewing the training materials for use in our South Africa and Hong Kong pilots, meeting with prospective partners, etc. Unfortunately, while this makes my life interesting, it doesn't necessarily make for good blog posts:

“Today I read books. Then I reviewed the training material I am working on. Then I edited the material a bit. Then I had a meeting. Then I graded papers.”

This is not exactly gripping reading.

So in an attempt to add some actual useful content to this blog, I am going to try to write up a short review of some of the reading I am doing. Some of this will be books we are using in some classes (real books that non-student people read, not just academic books), some of it will be reading of my own, whether that be books, blogs, interesting news articles, etc. I posted that I wanted to do things like this before, and now, with my more academic focus this year, I think I can actually pull them off.

Let’s give it a try.

Check in later this month for my first installment – I have a  couple articles and blogs I have been reading that have posed some interesting questions, so that seems like a good place to start.

Have a great October!

Still Alive

Well, I haven't posted in a longer time than I would have liked, but I am still alive. I am currently working at Lincoln Christian University, acting as their Missionary-in-Residence, which, roughly, means that I am "in charge" of helping students understand their role as ministers and missionaries. I am also helping lead a worldview class, which is immensely fun.

In the meantime, I am working on the several pilot programs IRI has scheduled for the next 12 months. The closest up is the one in December in South Africa, which seems to be progressing well. The other three are in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Myanmar in 2014. I am working with our board member in Hong Kong on the pilot there, and Al is setting up the other two. In addition, I have at least two leads I am working on which may result in pilot seminars in the U.S. sometime in the next 8-12 months. If all goes well, I can use these seminars to train some additional presenters to help us cover the increase in work we will experience when the pilots we have scheduled provide us with proof-of-concept for educators in South Africa and Hong Kong.

So things are going well, and I am busy. Speaking of which, it is time to get back to grading - it turns out my students actually want to know how well they do on their assignments. Imagine that.

Back in the U.S.A.

It's been a long, crazy trip, but after an unexpected two-month extension, I am back from Hong Kong. Much has happened in the last few months, but our recent rapid-fire change of schedule has probably been the most difficult to weather.

Things started getting complicated when I was asked to fill in preaching at Ken's Fairview Park church after his death. I was happy to help out, and the experience was enjoyable (for me, at least - others tell me they enjoyed it, too). The church really has some great people, and everyone was very welcoming and interested in learning, which makes it much easier to teach. Unfortunately, the sermons ended on a bit of a sad note, with news that the preacher Ken had chosen to replace him, Cody, was denied a his visa to come to Hong Kong (Cody is from the Philippines, and is a very intelligent and energetic man - I met him in the Philippines, and have been very impressed with his friendly energy and his dedication). I don't know what the church will be doing now that I am gone, but hope to keep in touch and remain updated on their doings.

The second major work that I was able to be a part of was helping our newest board member, Kitty Ho, put together some training materials for local HK schools based on our Insight principles and theories. The classes were three hours long, and covered the importance of critical thinking and building positive relationships in an educational environment. There were three sessions in three different schools that taught children with intellectual disabilities. Participants were mostly teachers, though we also had some physical therapists. The classes were generally well-received, with several inquires about when we would be able to do follow-up, so I believe our prospects for developing our programs in Hong Kong are definitely positive. Kitty and I are now working on the official pilot program for HK schools that will take place in the Summer of 2014.

Overall, this was a great trip - I was able to meet some fantastic people, and work on some really engaging and edifying projects. I look forward to going back next year. Until then, however, I have some new work to accomplish: I will be working at Lincoln Christian University for the next school year, as well as preparing for a community development pilot seminar in South Africa this December. Busy times!

On a final note, Al was forced to come back to the U.S. early due to some serious dental issues (the doctors found a growth in his mouth which had been causing him extreme pain - he needed to return to the U.S. for his medical insurance to cover the procedure to investigate/remove it). As a result, our purchase of a vehicle for Mozambique has been delayed until he can get back. The money we have raised will remain in a separate fund  until we can purchase the vehicle as planned.

Fundraising!

I am currently working on a fundraising project for Insight Resources International. This proved to be both fairly simple (setting up the site through GoFundMe was really, really easy), and really hard (creating the video for the fundraiser was something I have never done). It was definitely an interesting experience, and I think the next fundraiser I set up will go a lot smoother after I work out the bugs through this one.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to set up the fundraiser the way I wanted. I would have preferred to have the money sent directly to IRI, and that is how I plan to set up all the future fundraising efforts, but GoFundMe only sends funds to the charity once a month, and we don't have time to wait for the funds to come in. As a result, I had to set up a personal fundraiser - I hope people aren't turned off by sending me the money so I can get it to IRI. It's the only way I found to get the money where it needs to go quickly enough.

If anyone is interested in donating, the fundraising page is here:

http://www.gofundme.com/3bp20w

The video for the fundraiser is also on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoKCKupk2HQ