Improving Conditions in WV

This week my class has been delving further into social issues. Last week we played and evaluated social games, but this week we are applying that type of mindset to our community and state. We looked in depth at areas such as health, education, environment, and poverty and related each of those to WV. The students were so perceptive. I am constantly amazed at their ability to analyze a situation or in this case, setting.

They responded to our guiding questions by focusing on health concerns such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and health issues related to smoking. They are very concerned about the environment and lack of a focus on simple things such as recycling in our community. They are also very aware of the air pollution in our area which comes from plants and refineries. They are worried about education and how to make it stronger for both themselves and future generations. They are also perceptive enough to realize that all of these problems contribute to higher rates of poverty, which in turn has a negative effect on every aspect of a community. They called it an "ugly cycle." I so agree! We tend to simplify issues for children and young teens when they are really so aware of what is going on around them.

After looking at these issues intensely, students wrote commentaries which they then uploaded to their projects page on the wiki. I found these commentaries to be accurate and insightful, and I was so happy to see that they are passionate about how these issues could be focused on in a game-type format. I think their passion will eventually have a positive impact on the game that they produce!