Premise:
Education is changing for good with explosion of technology and mobile phones. Can we help students learn more efficiently and effectively than before. I do not know of other things but, I think it is possible in Physics.
Problem Definition:
Many a students and schools across the globe do not have any experimental equipment to learn science the way it is to be learnt. Even in schools where there are good labs, students do not approach labs with curiosity, probably because of their mono-tonicity.
Solution/Thoughts:
A single platform for science based experiments as a game. E.g: We can have a few tools like pulleys, battery, motor, copper wire, magnets, ropes etc., and ask students to build a solution for a problem like moving a 20kg stone from one place to another. We could ask them to build/engineer things using these basic tools and achieve an objective like design an harpoon to scale enemy walls in a war-like game. We can have multiple stages with each stage based on a concept with a set of tools.
Existing games:
There are a few games existing on somewhat similar lines. But none which is a generic platform for science experiments:
Angry Birds: A very successful(>100Million downloads) game on iPhone/Android with which students can learn about projectiles, even though it was not designed with the purpose of teaching Physics.
http://fantasticcontraption.com/: This is a more exhaustive Physics simulation game which was launched in 2008. In 6 months more than 3 million people played it. It certainly teaches some engineering/building principles, but nothing in a standard education set-up.
Technologies needed:
1> Android/iPhone Programming
2> Physics engine
3> Designing a gaming framework from scratch for science.
I am not looking at this as a money making idea. But something that is interesting and satisfying to be part of. Any one ready to be part of it?
