Itinerary #13 We are not alone

Competences

2.1 Interacting 3.1 Developing 5.3 Creatively through digital digital content using digital technologies technologies 3.2 Integrating and re- 2.2 Sharing elaborating through digital digital content technologies

2.4 Collaborating through digital technologies

2.5 Netiquette

Tags Time frame Audience

• Friendship 6 hours Age 11 - 17 • Self-expression • Hate speech in video games

Play your role ― TOOLKIT 178 Play your role ― itinerary #13 179 Overview Context Required Media

This itinerary begins by observing the In the first part of the itinerary students Thomas Was Alone video game. It is are asked to make a self-portrait. Often apparently a very simple, minimal this activity is not experienced very video game, but very profound and willingly, but in this case it is a very which allows you to think about a very "abstract" portrait, made of geometric important aspect: how we perceive our shapes, so it should not find too much personality and that of others. Each resistance. Students still have to talk about person is complex, it is not attributable to themselves, telling their personality. In a single characteristic or peculiarity, and the second part, the use of Instagram is this should sensitize us towards a greater proposed: a medium that students will understanding and empathy towards probably appreciate and will be able to others. At the beginning, therefore, the use. Even the final part, the creation of an students try to describe the complexity avatar, could be a fun moment but also of their character through a self portrait. of restitution and understanding of the Thomas Was Alone Subsequently the students are invited to itinerary experienced together. Thomas Was Alone is a video game each characterized by a color and some reason on the themes of video games in which puzzles have to be solved to peculiarities: Thomas is a red rectangle and the hate speech faced during game. overcome the various levels. To help the that questions the meaning of life, Chris is A social campaign is proposed in which Objective player, there are the unique abilities of short and wide and manages to slip into to spread news and data, or the use of the various characters, funny artificial tunnels inaccessible to others, Claire it Instagram as a vehicle for thoughts and The activity aims: intelligences with colored geometric is very large and can float on water, and reflections related to the theme. In the end, • Raise empathy for others by shapes with different personalities, so on. The player can control the various students are asked to create their own understanding the complexity of who work together to face the various characters to overcome the different avatar through an online platform, which personalities challenges and reveal the meaning of challenges facing him: high places to conveys a message, a thought that they • Understand how a social network can their existence. It is a simple game visually reach, ponds to cross, elements to push consider important and that they have be a useful tool for conveying positive and mechanically, but with contents that and much more. To deal with all this, you understood throughout the itinerary. and constructive messages lead to empathy towards the characters, need to put your own strength on the • Be able to communicate clearly and also thanks to a very brilliant narration different characteristics of the characters effectively important content relating and dubbing. The video game is paid and make the most of them by combining to video games and hate speech and it is available for many platforms: them. This is the only way to reach the exit , OS X, PlayStation 3, point of each level. PlayStation Vita, , iOS, Android, Xbox Although apparently it may not seem One, PlayStation 4, . so, Thomas Was Alone is a game about Thomas Was Alone is an independent friendship, collaboration, self-acceptance, video game born from a Game Jam in diversity and respect. The game can 2010, developed by , distributed be finished in a few hours, but it offers for the major game systems starting from interesting and profound moments, 2012, with subsequent publications for despite the fact that everything is other platforms and consoles. It is a puzzle represented by geometric shapes and few / platformer game with a hundred levels to colors: narration and dubbing humanize overcome; the player controls characters the characters to the point of being able represented by simple geometric shapes, to become attached to them.

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In this itinerary students are asked to tell and third parts, it is important to assist their personalities, at least in the initial students in the research of the topics and part. Probably, in the part of the restitution, themes to be treated and communicated. there could be moments when someone It is important to "slow down" their “method decides to open up more. The suggestion of working with Instagram” for a moment, is to listen, and invite everyone to do it, and to spend a lot of time on what you without judging, but only by guiding and are about to post, share. It is important to mediating. For some it may be a delicate make them understand that a post can moment and therefore we must build be something light, but also something a protected and safe environment in very heavy and important, and therefore which we can feel at ease. In the second should not always be taken aback.

Segment 1

Overview end of the short presentation we can ask if In this segment we introduce the video according to them it is possible to present game Thomas Was Alone and propose oneself through a single peculiarity of students a self-portrait activity one's character. Of course it will emerge how each person is made up of various Time: 2 hours traits and characteristics, which constitute Voki its uniqueness. At this point we can tell Voki is an online software (www.voki.com) You can make written text read by an Media them that we will see a video game that permit to create custom avatars and automatic voice, record it directly or The video game Thomas Was Alone together, and we will try to understand give them voice. The use is very simple: upload an audio file. The free version what it is about. once connected to the site, click on "try allows you to record or insert tracks no Equipment it" and you will arrive in the editor. On the longer than one minute. In this way it A platform (console or computer) to run This itinerary proposes to start from left there are various useful elements to is therefore possible to create avatars Thomas Was Alone - or a computer to the video game Thomas Was Alone. It is create the avatar: the background, the that speak and that carry a message; show videos; white sheet of paper, scissors important to start right from the game general appearance, the clothing and at the end of the creation you can and glue; pen and post-it because it allows to observe some other details. You can also click on the dice share the avatar - by clicking on "save" reactions of the students. For example, to randomly generate the avatar. There - ​​via Facebook, Twitter, email or by We can begin this activity with a short it is interesting to observe what kind of are also ready-made celebrities, animals, sharing a link. presentation of the students that brings interpretation they give to the game, to fantastic creatures and much more. The On the site you can also find tips and us immediately to one of the themes of the characters and to the situations; this last button on the bottom left allows you applications for using Voki in teaching. the workshop. In addition to the name interpretation could correspond to ours to add audio. (in case we didn't know them) we ask or it could be different, and surprise us. them to introduce themselves using Let them observe what is happening on only an adjective, which describes their the screen, with their times, trying not personality. We try to stimulate choices to impose a vision but to stimulate their and alternatives that go beyond the usual observation. Secondly, we can naturally "nice" and that are more distinctive. At the offer them our interpretation, specifying

Play your role ― TOOLKIT 182 Play your role ― itinerary #13 183 Working Methods Working Methods that in this case the author himself has Thomas thinks that all the challenges because of his strange color and behavior. After presenting the characters, we ask constructed the narrative precisely to he faces are one training, as if the When he knows Thomas and the others students to work on their self-portrait. This suggest this particular reading. world was testing it. And he wants begins to understand that he is not that is an individual work, which will be done Depending on the platform we have to prove he is up to it. He is a confused bad and starts to accept himself, even on a white sheet of paper, with glue and available to play, we organize short game character, it also keeps track of anything (it if he remain a bit "weird" in the eyes of scissors. We distribute to students the sessions in which students can take turns, appears to be obsessive compulsive). others. photocopies of the form with the various so that more people can play. While one colored rectangles and squares, attached student is playing, the rest are asked to Claire wants to become a John is a little arrogant and to this itinerary. observe carefully. We can ask them to superhero, she needs a suitable detached, but he cares a lot about Now we ask students to make self- write on post-it notes what comes to their name and a supervillain to deal showing his skills (especially jumping) portraits using the shapes (squares and mind while watching the game, what with. She always needs to show to others and being observed. rectangles) cut out from photocopies. feelings they feel, if what happens on the that she has superpowers and that she Despite this, he takes great care of his Of course it will be a simplified, symbolic screen in their opinion has a meaning that is honest. Initially she is sad because she friends, becoming the most loyal and self-portrait, since it will be done with goes beyond solving puzzles and passing feels useless: she is slower than the others attentive companion. geometric shapes, cut out and glued on levels. We let the students play enough to and does not jump high like the others. the sheet. But what matters in this case get the protagonist to meet some of the Then she discovers that she is the only Sarah is the smallest of the group, is the choice, which geometric shapes other characters in order to start outlining one who can float, helping others and even smaller than Chris. She has the students will choose to describe their personality. transporting them. From that moment she however a great determination and themselves. In fact, we will have to takes care of her companions and feels strength that allows her to jump high, most ask them to use at least ten shapes to After the session, we can read what responsible for protecting them. of all (even more than John). She can also retract, but the choice of which is up to the students wrote and comment. We go where others fail. them. We tell them that they will have to can read one post-it at a time and ask Chris, a small square, is cynical choose the shapes according to which for opinions and comments about it. If and proud: he believes he can do personality of those available represents the theme of the different personalities anything, without the help of squares or them. For example, do they feel very does not emerge, we can try to guide the rectangles higher or greater than him. insecure like Laura, a little misunderstood students in that direction with questions: Initially he hates Thomas then, as history like James but also slightly eager to show what do you think about Thomas, the advances, he understands that without their skills like John? They could use five protagonist? And Claire, is she the same Thomas he is not complete. long pink rectangles (Laura), three short as him? What are their fears, their desires? green rectangles (James) and two long If there is not enough time available to Laura has a low self- yellow rectangles (John). With these advance a lot in the game and discover esteem: she believes shapes they will be able to compose various characters, the various profiles that everyone, after knowing her, want to their own portrait (the rectangles can with the main features are shown below. abandon her. Chris falls in love with her, be the nose, the mouth, the eyebrows, and Laura proves to be fundamental to etc ...). There may be someone eager the group, because they can use her as to describe themselves with only two "impetus" to overcome obstacles. personalities (or maybe even one) and someone who will feel the need to use James looks like Thomas but is them all. The important thing is that "inverted" compared to him: he is the students take the time to read the green and gravity works in reverse descriptions well and think about what for him. He says many other AI (artificial could best represent them. intelligence - the squares) make fun of him

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Once the self-portraits are finish, we In this first part, the theme of Segment 2 involve the students in a moment of different personalities and identities was feedback. We observe the students' works introduced: how people can be complex, Overview The class is divided into groups. Each and ask who wish to show their self- have composed characters, and how In this part, students create content group will have to imagine a post for portrait and explain which personalities it can be interesting and engaging to regarding the world of video games, to be social networks that tells something about they have chosen and why. Of course discover it. This is a theme to always keep shared on social networks the world of video games and adults. not everyone will be eager to tell and in mind when relating with others on the They can be directly lived experiences, someone may not feel comfortable; we web: the identity of the person on the Time: 2 hours and half stories found on the web, heard by friends, respect their sensitivity and thank them other side of the screen is not often known, research or newspaper articles. The aim is anyway for the work done. who can be sensitive to various issues, Media to make adults more aware of the world of and who can be easily hurt if wrong words Instagram, Facebook, others social teenager and video games, with episodes are used. What happens in video games networks regarding hate speech, but also solutions, is like this: beyond the avatar personified good news regarding the communities at that moment, there is a person we do Equipment of players and more. Groups can do their not know, with his weaknesses, who must smartphones (or computers) research through smartphones (or in a be respected. The next activity will allow computer room if available) and collect students to intervene precisely on this During the meetings held with students news and data. theme, the insults and hatred that can be in Italy, as part of this project, it emerged This activity can vary a lot and could encountered while playing and, above that there is a strong idea about adults even expand further, to continue beyond all, how to communicate these themes to and video games. Students believe the duration of the itinerary. Here are some adults and possible solutions. that adults know little or nothing about ideas and suggestions. the world of video games, and that they do not have the adequate tools to Students could create posts that will understand the complexity of the theme. be published on the school's social pages. Often the only sources of information The kids will have the role of looking for are media that deal with the topic in a facts, news, data and information on the superficial, scandalistic way (only when topic and making short posts to share. there is a news somehow "tied" to the They will therefore have to elaborate a world of video games), if not downright synthetic text which, however, clearly demonizing. The students also expressed explains the content, and choose whether their interest and willingness to make to attach an image, a link to an article adults (parents and teachers) more aware or other content. They could decide on of this world, which has many interesting a hashtag (for example #gamesfact or points, creative and educational potential #stophatespeechinvideogames) in order to offer. to combine all the posts in a single search, If you wish, you could start this second and therefore create a kind of thematic phase by opening the debate on this topic articles collection. It is not necessary to and gathering students' opinions and publish all the posts at the same time, thoughts. It may be useful to write their but they can be scheduled. If they wish, thoughts on the blackboard, for example, students can also relaunch the posts from they could be useful later. their personal channels.

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Another idea could be to work make adults understand something more Segment 3 exclusively on data concerning the world about video games, share fun and non- of video games. What would adults want violent video games, etc ... In this case, Overview or by uploading a previously recorded to know about video games and hate impersonating Tonino, the groups could In this segment, students will create audio file directly from the computer. Once speech? What data do they consider create posts to be shared on his profile avatars that will be vehicles of important the avatar is ready (after making all the important? In this case, a specific research (which is public) and which they could messages for them changes and inserting the desired audio) must be done for each question (each relaunch on their personal channels. press "save"; at this point it is possible to group may ask a different question) and Time: 1 hour and half share the animation via Facebook, Twitter, data will be collected. Subsequently, these All these activities could become send an email or simply share with a link. data will be communicated as clearly as recurring appointments, dedicating a Media Those who receive the animation can possible - with diagrams, infographics, couple of hours a week in carrying out The online software Voki press play to hear the message. drawings. research and creating new posts together. Making students creators of content, Equipment With the students we explore Voki Another possibility is to use some and doing it together, comparing before A computer to show Voki; white sheet of together from the class computer, content created previously for another posting, can help them reflect on the paper; smartphones or other devices to possibly connected to a projector so that national project called #nodrugstobecool, potential of tools that they use every run Voki everyone sees well. Together experiment for which the Centro Zaffiria created useful day, and which unfortunately often are a with various solutions, characters, tools. Some of these tools are Instagram vehicle of hatred and intolerance. The last activity could serve as a backgrounds, try the various voices and profiles generated specifically for the moment of recapitulation of the themes illustrate the procedure for saving and project: they are profiles of imaginary and arguments that have emerged so sharing the animation. At this point the characters (inspired by protagonists of far. In this part we will use Voki webware class is divided into groups (or even Italian literature for teenagers) created (an online software), a tool that can be couples) and everyone is assigned the to do workshops and activities in the used directly online that allows you to task of creating an avatar and, above all, classroom using the popular social create animated avatars. The use is free an important message that they would network as a vehicle. In particular, Tonino's but, compared to the paid version, there like to share with their friends. In the first profile (@ tonino.the.boss on Instagram) is is a limit of length of the audio tracks of phase it was seen how it is possible to the one most used, because Tonino was a one minute (how to insert the audio is create an avatar that talks about us but is bit the "protagonist" of the project (and of explained later). Essentially Voki allows you obviously not recognizable. Students can a free App related to the project, in Italian, to create an animated character that can be asked first of all what “avatar” means, called Ehi, Tonino! created by Centro be customized in every aspect: from the how it is chosen, what it represents and Zaffiria). Interested teachers can write home page, by clicking on "try hit", you if any of them want to tell one (of a video to [email protected] to request the access get directly into the editor. Here you can game, for example). Then it is important credentials to the profile and use it. choose various elements of the avatar's to stimulate them to create an important The activity could be set up as follows: appearance, thanks to the tools on the left: message (no longer than a minute) Tonino has learned that a friend of his the type of character, the facial features, concerning something that has attracted offends a classmate while playing Fortnite, the clothing, the background and much them particularly during the itinerary, or and would like to do something useful, more. The last button allows you to add that they believe is important to convey: using Instagram; how could he do it? In audio, and we can do it in various ways: a thought, a reflection, an invitation. The his posts he would like to explain the hate thanks to a text-to-speech system that information found during the previous speech phenomenon in video games, allows you to write a text and make it read phase - regarding hate speech in video he would like to sensitize his followers, by a voice; through direct audio recording; games, or adults and their knowledge

Play your role ― TOOLKIT 188 Play your role ― itinerary #13 189 Working Methods In a nutshell Sources / Links of video games - could be an excellent At the end of the registrations, the Empathy and understanding of others If it is not possible to play the Thomas Was starting point for finding important groups send the links to the teacher, are a good starting point for educating Alone video game, at these links you can messages to be launched. According who can thus show all the creations in careful, kind, correct communication. see trailers and gameplay: to the group, it is possible to leave more through the projector to the whole class. Understanding a person's complexity • www..com/ freedom or give more "tight" deliveries in In addition, students can now also share helps one to be more careful in choosing watch?v=5K4zjNtQ3y8 case there is a need to target the students their messages with other people. words, and to understand that we could • www.youtube.com/ more. At this point, via smartphones or The various messages are listened to hurt him with little. It is also interesting watch?v=YDaa3Cq6c7M other available devices, the groups create and commented on, asking the authors to to show how even a seemingly simple their avatars. About the message, it is explain their choices, both as regards the video game can offer interesting food for Also at this link you can play the first advisable to ask them to write it first on appearance of the avatar and the content thought, and therefore understand that version of Thomas Was Alone. It is a paper, so that they can calmly reason of the message. This activity could be a they can be very useful and interesting preliminary version, however, where all about content, and then read it easily great way to end the itinerary and think tools. Other daily tools, such as Instagram, the in-depth part of the characters, the during the recording. together about the themes that emerged can turn into effective communication narration and the dubbing are missing. throughout the whole activity. vehicles: we see it daily. It is therefore However, it can be interesting for puzzle important to show how these means / platform mechanics, if you really didn't can not only be a vehicle of hatred and have the opportunity to play in the discrimination, but also bearers of good classroom: www.gameshot.org/?id=5334 practices and positive messages. At this link you can find the free demo to download: www.mikebithellgames.com/ thomaswasalone/

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