Peer Review

AidGame

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Reviewed:: Jan 11, 2012 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: The AidGame assists learners to identify potentially good or bad outcomes when providing diverse types of charitable aid to developing countries. The game gives aid packages through several different scenarios. The players can use pre-packaged aids or create customized packages. The learners have tasks in each scenario to attain the most positive outcome with the aid packages. The introduction to the fictional Wisteria nation provides instructions to acclimate the learner to the game. The learner should find the aid package that will yield the lowest death rate. The next scenario is “Wisteria on a Budget”. The goal is to explore what will happen when the budget ends. The scenario labeled as “Wisteria Low Budget” goal is to get the learner to make every dollar count. The idea is to get more with fewer finances. The final scenario is “Hydrangea on the Brink”. The learner’s task is to reduce the effects of a disaster on the environment. The game ends when the game player has exhausted the budget. The point is to maintain balance between human lives and the natural resources.
Type of Material:: The learning resource is classified as a simulation. It is interactive and requires use of problem-solving.
Recommended Uses:: This game would work well as a supplementary tool or learning aid in courses dealing with global public health or global economy. It could be used for teamwork assignments in a classroom setting and other educational venues.
Technical Requirements:: The user would need a computer with Internet access. The simulation opens and operates in Internet Explorer 7, Foxfire, and Opera browsers. Java Applet is required to use the simulation.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The purpose of AidGame is based on two of Gagnes‘s Nine Events of Instructions, which are gaining and retaining attention. After using this simulation, the adult learner should be able to: • identify the appropriate balance of the amount of charitable aid necessary to maintain natural resources. • understand the outcomes of population expansion on natural resources. • create real world planning of communities to be ecologically friendly.
Target Student Population:: The target populations are undergraduate graduate students and graduate students seeking to learn more about the issues surrounding developing countries. City planners, healthcare pre-professional, and public health practitioners might benefit from the learning resource. The simulation is a hands-on visual training tool.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: The prerequisites knowledge or skills needed are basic comprehension of ecology, population expansion, and economics. The learner would also need a basic comfort level using the interactive software.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The game does provide well-written information on what to expect in the simulation. The information is thorough and credible without being overwhelming.
Concerns:: The instructions and explanation of the game do not flow well. The information is located in too many different sections to gain pertinent information about the game, which affects the summarization and integration of the concept. The last update was 2003.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: This game could be very effective in communicating the concepts and intricacies of aid to developing countries by engaging students in active problem solving activities. The game provides immediate visual outcomes via a pyramid when aid packages are deployed to the hypothetical population. The gamer is able to see the consequences of the actions. The reset feature allows the gamer to restructure the aid package to a more favorable outcome.
Concerns:: Most efficient use of the game requires reading fairly complicated instructions.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: This tool has bold graphics and keeps most elements on a central page or screen so that the tool is easy to navigate.
Concerns:: Directions for use are intricate. Also, users who do not have the correct version of Java, have trouble navigating between multiple screens, or who have visual impairments may find this tool exceptionally difficult.

Other Issues and Comments:: The AidGame is an excellent learning tool. The best recommendation is to read and understand all components before attempting to play the game.
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