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Pathfinder     (0 comments)

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Brief Description

Pathfinder's goal is simple: create a game to arouse high school students' interest in higher education; one that will enable and encourage them to successfully make the journey to and through college.

Release Date March 2010

Developer University of Southern California Game Innovation Lab

Project Lead Tracy Fullerton

Press Coverage

Press Release URL


Full Description

Pathfinder is a game for three to four players that serves as both a card game and as a prototype for an upcoming digital project.

Each player takes the role of a unique high school senior trying to get into college- a student with a specific financial background and character.  Players choose how to divide their time between academics, extracurricular activities, work, and service while competing for college applications and scholarships.


To win the game, students must get into college, have enough money in their college account to attend, and build up their character in order to succeed in their chosen school.



Purpose

Students in overcrowded high schools often lack access to meaningful college guidance. Without adequate college counseling, many students remain unaware of their post-secondary options and the college application process, making applying to and choosing the right college incredibly challenging.

While playing Pathfinder, students learn that the college application process is a system with rules. By understanding the system behind the game, one can begin to understand the real world system.

We hope that being able to practice an otherwise intimidating process will inform students’ actual college search. Playing together, students teach themselves the strategies they need to succeed.

Metrics
 How are you measuring results?
 We are currently conducting a series of playtests with high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the Los Angeles area. We are also collecting surveys from the administrators and student players across the country who receive a copy of the game through our website.


Funding Sources: USC Provost's Office
Game Tags

college access, college application,



Where you can play this game The game is currently free through our website for college access professionals and high school counselors: http://pathfinder.usc.edu/

Contacts
General Tracy Fullerton, tfullerton@cinema.usc.edu
Press Tracy Fullerton, tfullerton@cinema.usc.edu

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