The uprise of new media has drastically changed the experiential world of youth. That's why it's necessary to remodel the educational system, so that it connects with students again.
ROC West-Brabant recognizes the role of serious games in the remodelling of education, including the teaching of foreign languages. With the game Check Out, Ranj, ROC West-Brabant and Games Factory Online contribute to better (English) language education.
Communicating in English together
Check Out is a multi-user game that motivates and challenges students to communicate in English. Multiple players simultaneously engage in challenges in an online game environment. They see each other and can talk - but only in English. Goal: to lower the threshold to communicating in this language.
The didactic starting point is the Delft method, developed by Professor A.C. Sciarone. This method is based on practical communication in order to learn a language: learning by doing. The players are immersed in a native world where all written and spoken text is exclusively in English.
English language skills are crucial to succeed in the challenges. The players have to make themselves understood to the characters in the game world and to each other, to share information, solve puzzles and divide tasks. For this, Ranj developed a chat module that blocks the use of the Dutch language.
