The V4T - Videogames 4 Teachers project

Games

Translation:

This Section provides access to an Online database of:
• The best educational Videogames and mobile apps available on the market
• The most suitable Videogames and Apps that, even if not specifically designed for educational purpose, can be used as teaching or learning tools with students

Videogames and apps are categorized, analyzed and assessed in order to provide the teachers with all the necessary information and hints to make full use of the Videogames and Apps in teaching contexts.

Partners' Institution
Xano Channel

Author
Ignacio Pachés Giner

APPS/VIDEOGAMES

Product type
Leisure videogame with educational potential

Name of the videogame/app
Prison Architect

Name of the producer
Introversion Software / Paradox interactive (tablet version)

Year
2015

How to find it
To be Purchased

Direct link if available
http://www.introversion.co.uk/prisonarchitect/

Main technical requirements
Windows, Linux, Ios, Android, Xbox

Other PlayStation

Native Virtual Reality Support
No

Single/Multiplayer
Single

Type
Simulation

Target Audience
12-17 years, 18+ years

Augmented Reality

PEGI Clasification
PEGI 16

Use in Educational contexts

Degree of required tutoring
Autonomous use after teacher introduction/explanation

Subjects involved
Physics, Technology, Philosophy

Other
Architecture, Management

Special needs
Visual impairment, Hearing impairment, Learning difficulties

Educational Potential

The game simulates a prison and the player has to decide every detail of it, from architectural design, layout of buildings and areas and hiring personnel. The simulation is very detailed and the game has multiple elements to control, albeit at a very basic and easy level each one. The main goal is to provide a sufficient quality of life to inmates and keep the prison safe to prevent break outs. In addition, the prison must not lose money.
This yields a great educational potential specially with soft skills, the player has to analyze every decision in advance, from architectural and build decisions, to the time schedule of several types of inmates, to control brawls, and so on.
The game is so complex and diverse that there are many aspects to learn from: financial managment, profitability, social abilities, building managment, planning (of inmates activities but also of prison expandings)
The risk taken are not specially important, given the game object. The game does not magnify or portrait the behaviour or moral of criminals, on the contrary, the violence is seen as a simulated and something to prevent.
There is few or none linguistic learning from this game but it has a uncommon set of graphical symbols that prompt the learning of those by the player.

Learning Object / Suggested activities with students

The game is best used in VET Training in construction studies (public works). But the game can also be used by students from about 12 years with good expectations. The best part of it is that it is fun and diverse and has a bit of several school subjects

Skills and competences

Skills and competences acquired
- Planning and design of buildings
- Maths
- Resource managment
- Accounting
- Logical thinking
- People special needs
It is feasible to make an exam (like the ones happening in schools clases), about the game, with questions that are relevant for the education of the studen. for example:
"What is the effect of depriving a person from getting in touch with his family for long?" (which is a possible situation to avoid in the game). This question, amongs others is dealt in the game

Soft skills
Critical thinking, Problem solving, Creativity, Self-confidence, Resilience, Time management, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation

2 Comments

Partners' Institution
Xano Channel

Author of the comments
Rafael Puig Pozo

I discovered this game and played two times. While I was playing I thought it would not be good to show to students because your goal is to destroy the humans. But once you realize that It's just a game, then it becomes a good motivation to learn about biology and health in secondary school. Also it can present a good oportunity for students to learn about the great diseases, epidemics and plagues that have devastated human life at some points in history.
Definitevily it's a nice app or game to recommend.

Partners' Institution
Xano Channel

Author of the comments
Alberto Dominguez Galdón

I was recommended this game, but needs a lot of careful work if you want to succeed in the game. Sometimes it can be overwhelming because you are in constant action and fearful of choosing the wrong decision because that decision will produce a disaster later. That is the strong point, you have to see in advance what will the evolution of the prison be. It is a great training for life, because it makes you do plans much more before.