Microsoft turned its technological skills to become problem solver for the German government. As part of its Citizenship programme, demonstrating commitment to supporting IT education, it created Agent Attack IT – Germany’s first multiplayer learning game.
Businesses in Germany are crying out to see tangible evidence of IT skills in graduates, but with school kids overloaded with exams, there was little leeway for the government to add in extra class-time. Microsoft’s solution - take learning into the kids’ world.
Agent attack IT takes the format of a secret agent game, where the player has to sort out IT problems without blowing their cover. Once players have successfully completed the first stage they are allowed to compete against each other. A high-score table was designed to encourage repeat plays.
The results were positive. 21,000 users registered in the first 6 weeks. Overall there was a 71% reach. 2 user-groups on Facebook and SchulerVZ were set up and various requests for school accounts came afterwards. Each player learnt everything they would have done in a conventional IT module, but in a fun, interactive way.
Agent attack IT takes the format of a secret agent game, where the player has to sort out IT problems without blowing their cover. Once players have successfully completed the first stage they are allowed to compete against each other. A high-score table was designed to encourage repeat plays.
The results were positive. 21,000 users registered in the first 6 weeks. Overall there was a 71% reach. 2 user-groups on Facebook and SchulerVZ were set up and various requests for school accounts came afterwards. Each player learnt everything they would have done in a conventional IT module, but in a fun, interactive way.
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