Educational Gaming Commons - Press Start

Over the past year or so, the EGC has been working with John Messner in Architectural Engineering at PSU, to conceptualize an on-the-job simulation where you are in charge of a construction site. You need to optimally place materials, such as the moving crane, etc.

To me, this is proof of the catalyst concept I've been working on for the EGC for some time. We're too small to take on multiple, large projects or be written into large grants for buyout of our time. So we need to figure out other ways to support faculty's efforts in educational gaming, simulations, and virtual worlds. In this case, we met with John and company several times and brainstormed on ideas that eventually led to the grant.

We are written into the grant to serve in an advisory role. Bart Pursel, Chris Stubbs, and I will serve at brainstorming sessions. Jason Wolfe, our programmer, has been and will continue to assist Dragana Nikolic, John's graduate assistant, in the programming of the simulation.

I'm looking forward to this project! There are others in the wings as well, and I hope they are successful in receiving funding. Stay tuned!