2. JANE
MCGONIGAL
is a game designer who
works with the Institute
for the Future in Palo
Alto, CA.

3. Jane received a Ph.D from Berkeley for
her work examining “Why we’re better
in games than we are in real life”.

4. In her talk, titled “Gaming Can Make a Better
World”, Jane proposes the idea that playing
online games conditions the mind in ways that
are producing a unique class of potential
problem-solvers.

5. Jane explains that
the average young
Essentially, this
person today, in a
represents a
country with a strong
parallel education
gamer culture, will
track, learning to
have spent 10,000
be a good gamer.
hours playing online
games by age 21.

6. “In game worlds, many of us become the
best version of ourselves. The most likely to
help at a moment’s notice. The most likely
to stick with a problem as long as it
takes, and to get up after failure and try

7. Using “World of
Warcraft” as her
example of an “ideal
collaborative
problem-solving
environment”, Jane
poses the question:
What are good gamers good AT?

8. Urgent Optimism:
The desire to act immediately to tackle an
obstacle, combined with the belief that there is a
reasonable chance of success.

9. Social Fabric:
Inspired to collaborate and cooperate, building bonds of
trust and cooperation.

10. Blissful Productivity:
Willingness to work hard for work that is satisfying.

11. Desire for Epic Meaning:
Gamers love being
attached to
epic, planetary-scale
stories.

12. Jane’s goal is to find ways to apply these skills to solving real-world
problems. She closes the talk with three examples of games she has
written with this goal in mind.

13. Animated and
entertaining, Jane’s
humor, passion and
enthusiasm are obvious
throughout her
presentation.

14. Dynamism Rating: 4/5
Being unfamiliar with this rating
system, I make a best guess at 4 out
of 5. Jane is energetic and
enthusiastic, but not what I would
call “over the top”, and her style is
engaging and personal.

15. In comparison, Sir Ken Robinson seems
less energetic, but no less engaging. He has a
wry sense of humor which I associate with the
British, and the dry, unassuming delivery
makes his jokes that much funnier.
Both Jane and Sir Ken are
comfortable showing a
personal side, and poking fun
at themselves.

16. Things I’ve learned:
Smile. Be comfortable. Notes are ok, but don’t
read. Share yourself and don’t be afraid to show
who you are.