Bridging the reality gap between simulation
and authentic experience
Alternate Reality Gamesfor Enterprise Education
Simon BrookesPortsmouth Centre for EnterpriseA Project partly funded by HEEG
Image modified from http://abduzeedo.com/surrealist-drawings-reality-must-die
Assumption 1:
As enterprise educators we
should be trying to develop
students’ entrepreneurial
mindsets
The Entrepreneurial
Mindset?http://www.dreamstime.com/head-silhouette-with-gears-image4232711
http://swearercenter.brown.edu/old-site/Projects/PSO/Lessons/BrainHandout.jpg
Domain KnowledgeBusiness FinanceMarketingSalesBusiness Management
SkillsCommunicationLeadershipTeam workingNetworking
Values/Beliefs/Attributes BehavioursProactivityRisk takingImplementingOpportunity spottingAdaptability
Self efficacyDeterminationEnthusiasm/motivationChallenging
Assumption 2:
The best way to develop an
entrepreneurial mindset is
through practice (Authentic
Experience)
AuthenticExperience
Fidelity of realism
Au
thenti
city
of
Experi
ence
Lecture
Case Study
Role Play
Simulation
REALITY GAP
Learning Opportunities
AUTH
ENTIC LEARN
ING ACTIVITIES (ALA)
Alternate Reality
GamesTrans-media story telling
Alternate Reality Gaming (ARG) is an experience that encourages players (you!) to interact with a fictional world using the real world to do it.http://www.giantmice.com/features/arg-quickstart/
Mobile phones in cakes Emails from characters
Magazine adverts TV adverts
Projections on buildings
Websites and blogs
Hidden Packages Solve problems
Alternate Reality
Game Features
Every effort invested in making the fictional world
seem real
Alternate Reality
Game Features
Blur the boundary between fiction and
reality
Alternate Reality
Game Features
Deep levels of engagement with, and
immersion into, the fictional (simulated) game
world
Enterprise in Context (ALA)
• Level one, 20 Credit unit• 12 week, “thickly authentic
simulation”1
• Work in small groups• Role-play employees of a turn-around
company • Task is to revive a failing company• Basic marketing, business finance
and personnel issues1Shaffer, D. (2005) Epistemic Games. Retrieved 31st August 2010, from http://innovateonline.info/pdf/vol1_issue6/Epistemic_Games.pdf
Phoenix UK
Ltd
The Cast and Interactions
Simon Brookes (MD)[email protected]
Mike summers (Finance Director) [email protected]
Marie-Anne James (Marketing Director) [email protected]
Salter & Son
The Cast and Interactions
Craig Salter (MD)craig.salter@salter&son.co.uk
Christine Parker
(Marketing)
c.parker@salter&son.co.uk
Barry Scott (finance)b.scott@salter&son.co.uk
Others
The Cast and Interactions
Mike Winters
Previous ClientTeresa Dale
Market Research Consultant
Leaderboard
Leaderboard
Leaderboard
Leaderboard
What do points mean?
Evaluation
What are your feelings for Salter & Son?
“We cared about them – they mattered to us”
When you were communicating with the
characters, how did you feel?
They were client - sympathy for redundancy -
angry with Craig - Barry was too stupid
(disagreement in group) - felt need to be
sensitive about accusations – some students
were defending the characters as if they were
real people!
Focus Group
Unit Assessment
Omid Liked
it!
Image m
odified from htt
p://abduzeedo.com/surrealist-draw
ings-reality-must-die
Twitter: @pompeysie
Blog: simonbrookes.wordpress.com
Email: [email protected]
Contact me