EPIC WIN Why gaming is the future of learning Jane McGonigal, PhD Director of Game Research & Development Institute for the Future

EPIC WIN [email_address] Jane McGonigal, PhD Director of Game Research & Development Institute for the Future

SUPERSTRUCTING A new way of working together at extreme scales…

We must ‘ collaborate or perish ’—across borders, cultures, disciplines, and firms, and increasingly with masses of people at one time. — Tapscott & Williams in Wikinomics

We must ‘ collaborate or perish ’—across borders, cultures, disciplines, and firms, and increasingly with masses of people at one time.

— Tapscott & Williams in Wikinomics

SUPERSTRUCTING A new way of working together at extreme scales… …supported by game platforms and mechanics

GAME DESIGNER nominated for a NOBEL PRIZE by 2034

GAMER CLAN nominated for a NOBEL PRIZE by 2034

72 % of US heads of household play computer and video games 96 % of youth under 18 play 78 % of large U.S. companies and non-profits use games with employees

72 % of US heads of household play computer and video games

96 % of youth under 18 play

78 % of large U.S. companies and non-profits use games with employees

40% of gamers are women the average US gamer is 35 years old 1 in 4 gamers is over age 50

40% of gamers are women

the average US gamer is 35 years old

1 in 4 gamers is over age 50

$68 billion dollar industry annually An entire generation of hard-core gamers : > 100 million people worldwide spending > 20 hours a week playing computer and videogames.

$68 billion dollar industry annually

An entire generation of

hard-core gamers :

> 100 million people worldwide spending > 20 hours a week playing computer and videogames.

That’s a LOT of participation bandwidth . So what are we going to do with it?

That’s a LOT of participation bandwidth .

So what are we going to do with it?

2034

“ Games are the most elevated form of investigation.”

“ Games are the most elevated form of investigation.” ?

“ Games are the most elevated form of investigation.” Clear boundaries A shared problem A community of players Time to play

Clear boundaries

A shared problem

A community of players

Time to play

signals

3 million game designers, developers, hackers and counting...

SUPERSTRUCTING

Why MMOs beat reality: More exciting work Better feedback , more fiero Stronger social fabric Constant awe , wonder , and curiosity

More exciting work

Better feedback , more fiero

Stronger social fabric

Constant awe , wonder , and curiosity

Extreme Scale Collaboration: 1. satisfying work to do 2. the experience of being good at something 3. time with people we like 4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

Extreme Scale Collaboration:

1. satisfying work to do

2. the experience of being good at something

3. time with people we like

4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

Why MMOs beat reality: More exciting work Better feedback , more fiero Stronger social fabric Constant awe , wonder , and curiosity

More exciting work

Better feedback , more fiero

Stronger social fabric

Constant awe , wonder , and curiosity

Extreme Scale Collaboration: 1. satisfying work to do 2. the experience of being good at something 3. time with people we like 4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

Extreme Scale Collaboration:

1. satisfying work to do

2. the experience of being good at something

3. time with people we like

4. the chance to be a part of something bigger

Cognitive resources ( hours ) + Cognitive diversity ( players ) + Engagement intensity ( heart ) Harnessing “social surplus”

Cognitive resources ( hours )

+

Cognitive diversity ( players )

+

Engagement intensity ( heart )

100 million mental hours from a highly diverse knowledge community  WIKIPEDIA *as calculated by Clay Shirky

100 million mental hours from a highly diverse knowledge community  WIKIPEDIA

*as calculated by Clay Shirky

100 million mental hours = 5 days of global World of Warcraft gameplay

100 million mental hours

= 5 days of global World of Warcraft gameplay

“ The purpose of all video games is to train a player to work harder while still enjoying it …” – Nick Yee

“ The purpose of all video games is to train a player to work harder while still enjoying it …”

– Nick Yee

“… and the success of online games demonstrates how seductive and concealed the work treadmill can be.” – Nick Yee

“… and the success of online games demonstrates how seductive and concealed the work treadmill can be.”

– Nick Yee

“ We are witnessing what amounts to no less than a global mass exodus to virtual worlds and other online gaming environments.” – economist Edward Castranova

“ We are witnessing what amounts to no less than a global mass exodus to virtual worlds and other online gaming environments.”

– economist Edward Castranova

FOLD IT

Within 24 hours of launch, the site was receiving 70,000 classifications an hour. More than 50 million classifications were received during its first year, from almost 150,000 people.

Within 24 hours of launch, the site was receiving 70,000 classifications an hour. More than 50 million classifications were received during its first year, from almost 150,000 people.

4 published, peer-reviewed scientific papers and 4 more in progress 1 new solar object discovery – “the Voorwerp” mystery!

4 published, peer-reviewed scientific papers and 4 more in progress

1 new solar object discovery – “the Voorwerp” mystery!

Spore -ish

Spore -ish

Will Wright + Jill Tarter

“ I’m interested in the possibility that learning to be good at a game makes you good at life, makes you good at changing the world , and gives you skills that are going to allow you to reinvent your environment. Because, in the game, you play against an environment that’s been given to you.”

“ I’m interested in the possibility that learning to be good at a game makes you good at life, makes you good at changing the world , and gives you skills that are going to allow you to reinvent your environment. Because, in the game, you play against an environment that’s been given to you.”

“ There’s real value in being pushed toward global awareness and looking long-term . That’s one of the things that I find very useful about games…. I think these are the timelines we need to be looking — the 100- or 200-year horizons. Because most of the really bad stuff that’s happening right now is the result of very short-term thinking.”

“ There’s real value in being pushed toward global awareness and looking long-term . That’s one of the things that I find very useful about games…. I think these are the timelines we need to be looking — the 100- or 200-year horizons. Because most of the really bad stuff that’s happening right now is the result of very short-term thinking.”

Screenshot of Lab playtest

Screenshot of Lab playtest

Webstock: 3508 ideas! CeBit: 951 ideas! Etech: 2700 ideas! Penguicon: 189 ideas!

The start of SPACE MEDICINE?

The start of SOLAR PROSPERITY?

The start of SPACE SOURCING?

modus operandi Positive imagination outweighed dark imagination 2:1 (650:312)

modus operandi Highly collaborative: Momentum cards most often played (870)

You are a SUPER-CHALLENGING crowd: >450 ANTAGONISM (“I disagree!”) >200 ADAPTATION (“a different take”) >350 INVESTIGATION (“explain it!”) modus operandi

You are a SUPER-CHALLENGING crowd:

>450 ANTAGONISM (“I disagree!”)

>200 ADAPTATION (“a different take”)

>350 INVESTIGATION (“explain it!”)

World Without Oil

How we learned from World Without Oil 1. We can imagine the ripples of potential events across massively multiple domains

1. We can imagine the ripples of potential events across massively multiple domains

How we learned from World Without Oil 2. Together, we can envision the “hard to see” (but theoretically possible) future

2. Together, we can envision the “hard to see” (but theoretically possible) future

How we learned from World Without Oil 3. Playing a forecasting game forces us to “build calluses” for our own personal benefit

3. Playing a forecasting game forces us to “build calluses” for our own personal benefit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 Humans have 23 years to go

7805 542 10,556 2,085 SURVIVABILITY METRICS “ The higher our numbers gets, the better our future will be. ”

if YOU earn all 10 survivability badges , you'll add 100 points to our collective score. You'll be personally responsible for adding 5.2 weeks to humanity's survival horizon

90 countries, 6 continents, 13 languages

90 countries,

6 continents,

13 languages

7000 forecasters from > 90 countries > 1000 stories about the future > 500 discussion forum topics > 500 collaborative superstructures what we accomplished

7000 forecasters from

> 90 countries

> 1000 stories about the future

> 500 discussion forum topics

> 500 collaborative superstructures

Accounting Advertising Aerospace & Airlines Agriculture Architecture Armed Forces Art & Design Automotive Babysitting Banking Bartending Beverages Biomedical Science Biotech & Bioengineering Broadcasting Building & Construction Call Centers Carpentry Car Services Caregiving Chemical Engineering Church & Ministry Citizen Journalism Civil Engineering Cleaners Clothing Cognitive Science Collections

Accounting

Advertising

Aerospace & Airlines

Agriculture

Architecture

Armed Forces

Art & Design

Automotive

Babysitting

Banking

Bartending

Beverages

Biomedical Science

Comic Book Industry Communications& Media Community Development Computer Software/Hardware Consulting Consumer Electronics Cosmetics/Cosmeceuticals Cycling Service & Distribution Defense E-Commerce Ecosystem Management Education Energy Entertainment Environmental Mngmnt Event Industry Fashion Finance Food Forensic Psychology Forestry Gaming Gardening Genetics Geo-Information Geology & Geotechnology Government Health Care

Home Remodeling Hotels Housing Human Rights Human Resources Human Services Immigration Industrial Automation Insurance International Relations Internet Journalism Labor activism Landscape Architecture Law Enforcement Law & Legal Services Libraries & Library Science Lumber Management Manufacturing Marine Research Marketing Materials Science Media Medical Mental Health Merchandising Mining Mobile Telephony Monastery Museums

Nano-biotechnology Nonprofit Nursing Oil Industry Package Delivery Parenthood Philanthropy Photography Plumbing Psychology Public Policy Publishing Real Estate Recruitment Restaurant Retail Robotics Sales Social Services Specialty Coffee Steel Industry Storytelling Sstainability Telecommunications Tourism Transporation& Logistics Urban Planning Water Management Writing

TARA HUNT Educycle : “ Let’s help anyone, anywhere ‘freecycle’ what they know.” Crowd sourced, P2P education online so that anyone can teach someone, somewhere, something important.

TARA HUNT

Educycle :

“ Let’s help anyone, anywhere ‘freecycle’ what they know.”

Crowd sourced, P2P education online so that anyone can teach someone, somewhere, something important.

WARREN ELLIS Insects4Food . “ We may be facing ‘peak protein’.” Could we turn someday to mass manufacturing insect protein for food?

WARREN ELLIS

Insects4Food .

“ We may be facing ‘peak protein’.”

Could we turn someday to mass manufacturing insect protein for food?

TIM KRING Lifeliners “We need embedded tech-savvy humanitarians.” A new kind of hero who goes to countries where the social safety net usually provided by governments has broken down, and bootstraps high-tech solutions to provide basic needs.

TIM KRING

Lifeliners “We need embedded tech-savvy humanitarians.”

A new kind of hero who goes to countries where the social safety net usually provided by governments has broken down, and bootstraps high-tech solutions to provide basic needs.

CHRIS DiBONA The Society for the Creative Breaking of Shit “ We need to give Super-Empowered Angry Individuals something constructive to do.” Let’s make a system to harness the talents of griefers, hackers and terrorists for good.

CHRIS DiBONA

The Society for the Creative Breaking of Shit

“ We need to give Super-Empowered Angry Individuals something constructive to do.”

Let’s make a system to harness the talents of griefers, hackers and terrorists for good.

Unexpected Missions Which superthreat would you choose?

“ This is my favorite vision of the future, ever. Because it’s the first one I feel personally capable of making a difference in.” – Andrew, Superstruct player Super-Empowered Hopeful Individuals (SEHIs)

“ This is my favorite vision of the future, ever. Because it’s the first one I feel personally capable of making a difference in.”

– Andrew, Superstruct player

SUPERSTRUCTING A new way of working together at extreme scales… …supported by game platforms and mechanics

A 10 year forecast for learning We are entering an era of extreme learning . Awe-inspiring questions and problems Concrete challenges Competitive collaboration Global & social, in fun, fierce bursts

We are entering an era of extreme learning .

Awe-inspiring questions and problems

Concrete challenges

Competitive collaboration

Global & social, in fun, fierce bursts

A 10 year forecast for learning In an era of extreme learning : Every student has the opportunity to beome a Super Empowered Hopeful Individual . The classroom and the campus will be superstructed in every way possible.

In an era of extreme learning :

Every student has the opportunity to beome a Super Empowered Hopeful Individual .

The classroom and the campus will be superstructed in every way possible.

How will YOU superstruct learning?

How will YOU superstruct learning?

SUPERSTRUCT CHALLENGE #1: Superpowers, not lessons. What amazing skills and abilities will students get from your class, event, group or workshop?

SUPERSTRUCT CHALLENGE #2: Epic achievement! Can you redefine what it’s possible for a student to achieve in your class, program, or department? What’s the badge of honor?

SUPERSTRUCT CHALLENGE #3: Collective fiero! What would be a meaningful collective outcome? And who would they show it off to?

SUPERSTRUCT CHALLENGE #4: Unexpected extension! If your students could get 1000 people to do one thing, what would it be, and what would it add up to?

SUPERSTRUCT CHALLENGE #5: DIY X Prize. What’s the most awe-inspiring, humanity elevating mission your field could plausibly achieve in the next decade? What breakthrough would deserve a $25 million dollar prize?

EPIC WIN Jane McGonigal, PhD avantgame.com [email_address]