| The Watcher is a multimedia program which is designed to aid in educating young students by not only displaying important events in history but also allowing the user to experience the events so that he or she might have a deeper understanding as to what occurred and why it unfolded as it did. It is not enough just to read accounts of what has happened. By experiencing events and conditions for themselves, students personalize the history and internalize the events. Turning anonymous historical events into actual personal events makes for a more valuable learning experience.;Based on theoretical principals of motivation, experience and problem solving, The Watcher is designed to capture the interest of the player, immerse that person in an encompassing narrative, and provide the conditions necessary for the player to live a desired experience, and succeed in an adventure through the use of problem solving techniques, thus ensuring a personalized learning experience that does not rely on memorization or the "pouring of knowledge" into the student's head. The Watcher will be deemed at least partially successful if students wish to use it even when it is not part of a school curriculum, for its motivational and narrative components are designed to be strong enough that the entertainment value can stand alone outside an academic setting. |
