Economics with WoW ended

Yesterday we completed our project in which we have used the game World of Warcraft to teach business administration. Inside the game, we have started a guild that reflects a real company. Investors formed a board that appointed a President. The CEO brought together a management team and the remaining students were employees. 

The share capital was 68,000 gold and then the income statement was made four months later, we had a profit of 11,755g. 

In addition to the invested capital, investors also received dividends and salary employees on work performed.

With our mentor's advice, we have concentrate on different products, with the area's responsibility to see if we can increase the invested capital. We have had some communication misses and the latest expansion corresponded in many cases not the expectations why some lost inspiration to play. 

We have been practicing it important to be able to run your own real company. All of our students have not previously been interested in economics but feel that the game helped them to understand economics better. The project's mentor was satisfied with the project because it proved to be an easier way to learn on than many times a textbook. World of Warcraft proved to be a good sandbox.

Important lessons for us teachers:

• The teacher in the game must have the same rights (or options to check) that the appointed CEO. Personal responsibility does not work as good as hoped.
• The teacher outside the game must gather participants every two weeks, like one hour: to repeat, reflect and remind the project goal.

Why did it work?

Using a computer game (in this case, World of Warcraft) differs from traditional teaching in the classroom. Suddenly we have gained access to a concrete case in which our students can perform financial transactions that affect their way of understanding how financial markets work from a digital, social and educational content that both affect and are important to them. 

By the digital world as World of Warcraft adds, we can execute trades in a way that had not been possible with just paper and pencil because there already exists an economic system in the game that students are very interested (third level of SAMR: Modification).

Even beyond our educational mission is the project idea is already alive and exist, it creates entirely new conditions that would not be possible in a regular classroom situation (fourth stage of SAMR: Redefinition).

The trade that students make in the game affect other players who are not part of the task, which makes their actions have a greater impact than just within the school framework. This in turn means that students take greater responsibility and understand that every action has a consequence on other players, just as it is in the financial market where all the transfers have consequences.

Economics with World of Warcraft

I started one other project yesterday, the one we're doing just for fun, some students and I - to learn more about Economics while we (anyway) play World of Warcraft.

Just like some of my students I play WoW (I actually met my wife Tulipe in that game) every now and then, just to relax. Some came by and suggested me to have a course using WoW as a tool with the explanation "if you anyway believes in learning through a game (Minecraft) you should test WoW (as we know you play)..."

For a few weeks I've tried to set this course up. On one hand gather motivating students and on the other hand get support, help and motivated colleagues to help me. Learning through a game is so new ideas that students are often skeptical and teachers get terrified. I also feel that many teachers would see me fail with those projects just to prevent prevent the development of new pedagogical and/or didactic solutions.

My second try to get one of the teachers of Economics to help me was a real success. He thought the project itself sounded so interesting that he didn't thought about the money. His enthusiasm yesterday surprised both the students and me and while he has no interest to play the game self he told us he wants to do his very best so they can learn as much as possible. He even appointed himself mentor during the project, which surprised me because we havn't talked about it and I don't know if there's money to that, but he said he wants the experience more. It's such a joy when you find someone who thinks like that.

Besides Economic skills, and key competences for life long learning, there will also happen a lot with the group. At the moment there's first, second and third years students and six different classes/areas, in total 13 students and me playing. I'm trying to have all participants answer questions about group dynamics and expectations as well as doing The Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology.

As mr E (Economics) never have played any computer games, we started to show him the game. I opened the Auction House, he glanced at it and immediately began to draw parallels to the stock exchange. The learning process had started...

As our guild has been set up, 

we now also have our rank system working. The Our guild reflects a real company so now we have a board of directors, players who have invested their savings in the project. There is an operational management team consisting of the CEO and management team, Last but not least: employees. 

CEO and management team now have to come up with our mission, what we want to be good at? That thing we are going to develop the next weeks. 

We also talked about introducing incentive pays, you earns 50% of the profit and the other 50% goes to the company (guild).

Corporations are not a democracy.

Economics with World of Warcraft?

Some students asked me why I'm so much into Minecraft when you easy could learn Economics with World of Warcraft. 

First I thought, as most other teacher would do spontaneously: "no no no, NO WAY!" but then, over the night, I had a second thought and asked them again. And after check here and there, I changed my mind and I also do believe it's possible,

As I'm deadly tired of track down every student to participate when it comes to work and deadlines I've now put together a contract. I explain all the conditions and why they have to attend all the lectures, when we have agreed we both sign the contract.

And no, I'm not getting any extra in my wallet doing this but as my students I'm playing anyway. I can take time against time and I will have one more experience and probably some Economics skill as well.

Project idea 

Is it possible to learn economics by getting the principles and bases of lectures and practice them in the game World of Warcraft, a game that already has a functioning economy? 

Disposition 

On a selected server, Frostmane EU (PvP) Alliance, we will set up a company (a guild) in the form of a limited company. The project participants create at least one bank that operates from character Enterprises Ltd and participating in the activities you decide to happen. The people who invest in foreign exchange, belongs to the companys board of directors and have thus also shares in the company. 

Before the project seriously start all the participants doing a level test, the same test is done after the project to see if any learning has taken place. Principles and general grounds in Economics will be arranged by contracted lecturer (teachers from "Bachelor of Commerce" will help us).

Arrangement 

The undersigned parties agree that it is a freely chosen course which requires personal interest and commitment, the individual student is responsible for all costs himself (playing time at Blizzard and any transfers of character to the project server). 

The student understands that the he/she must attend lectures, show respect and embrace the knowledge the lecturer tries to give (listen). Absence must be supported by a medical certificate, otherwise you are no longer with the project. 

Time in the game is based on their own interest, when the project is finished it shows the manager how much time you put through /played. The more time, the better chance for more credits. 

Suggestions for implementation 

Timetable 

• Project participants gather in a company (a guild) on the server Frostmane-EU 
• The company has limited liability company form in which those who can invest offered shares in the company. 
• Placement Test 
• All participants are doing a placement test in economics before the project. 
• All participants are doing the same level test after project 
• Did anyone learning? 
• Compulsory lectures in the following areas 
• Limited liability companies, investment, shares, dividends, etc.. 
• Bank deposits and loans 
• Goods and services, investment, buy low, sell high? 
• Market research, planning and sales 
• Profit and loss account, profit? loss? 
• Practice the theory inside the game during period 2, 3 and 4. 
• Summarize and evaluate the project in the middle / end of the period of the fourth 

Preconditions 

• There will be a new expansion Nov. 13, 2014, what does it? 
• The market is communist because Blizzard (the game company) controls the market through patches and expansions. 

Issues 

• Is it possible to check and control the market? 
• Is it possible to manipulate the market? 
• With the upcoming expansion, if you invest right, we can double our capital? 
• Compare the game with reality 
• What happens in the game when a patch or expansion? 
• What happens in reality when it imposed sanctions on another country (eg. Russia) 
• Can we get a guild to reflect a company with financial officer, president, vice president, shareholders, directors, responsibilities, stock market coverage? 

Theories 

• A high populated server (world) means better data, more consumers and more stable prices. 
• With a good initial capital can control the market by simply buying off cheap resources and sell them more expensive for everyone will need an incredibly large amount of resources at the beginning (of the next expansion) to develop their characters. 
• It can produce services that can be sold before expensive. 
• New expansion involving the opportunity to own settlements are likely to affect the economy, uncertain.

Superbetter test

I've been listen a lot lately to Jane McGonigal talking about her awesome invention SuperBetter. I know this what I'm going to talk about isn't what she exactly says... but as I got inspired of her thoughts I thought it could be something to test. 

After approx 5 min she talks about: "I wish I had let myself be happier" and there I think it got interesting for my little test. I am happy but also stressed about how to manage my studies, my classes/teacher/school, family and more. 

I need some time for myself.

Other things she talks about in this TED Talk is that online game playing, like 30 min a day helps you to feel better. If you create your avatar as a better version of yourself you will also be more braver, ambitious and commited in real life.

Sounds amazing!

I already do spend a lot of time with my family playing games and so, but I also feel I need 30 min to escape in a world of my own. And if I'm successful in that mission I believe I will be less stressed, better dad and husband and have more energy to my work as well. And as I happens to be a gamer, this might work for me :)

I've activated my World of Warcraft account and created a new character. Because all the heirlooms I have is leather armor, I thought a new hunter could work, and inspired of you know who I also named this character "Superbetter".

And the avatar thoughts sounds so interesting that I have to check it out! Despite to all my other characters this one actually reminds me about me :)