Simulation Game Analysis - Cell Craft

Carolina Biological Supply Company is a leading supplier of science teaching materials.  Their mission is to be the leading hands-on science and math education company in America.  The purpose of this game is to interactively explore the various structures and functions of a cell. 

Play Features - the game starts off with a basic tutorial about the different items shown on the screen.  Then a mysterious shadowy figure prompts you to do different tasks.  Once those set of tasks are accomplished you find out that it is a platypus and his assistant that will walk you through the cell structure and subsequent tasks.  They also have this sub story line that is supposed to help you stay ingaged but I honestly found it kind of lame when compared to the difficulty of the material they were presenting you.  Might be good for a brainiac 3rd grader but I would just recommend skipping those short movie clips and get on with the cell activities.  Each task takes you through an actual scenario that could happen in a cell such as being attacked by a virus.  If you do not correctly accomplish the task the cell might die which would be the actual result if the scenario happened in real life. 

Screen shot from Cell Craft. 

Learner's Styles and Teaching/Learning Objectives - A target learner group could be middle or high school biology students.  This could even work for a refresher for a non-traditonal college student such as someone returning to school after having been out for many years.  I used Kolb's assimilating learning style to evaluate this game.  Kolb's definition is as follows

         The Assimilating learning preference is for a concise, logical approach. Ideas and concepts are more important than people. These people require good clear explanation rather than practical opportunity. They excel at understanding wide-ranging information and organising it a clear logical format. People with an Assimilating learning style are less focused on people and more interested in ideas and abstract concepts. People with this style are more attracted to logically sound theories than approaches based on practical value. These learning style people is important for effectiveness in information and science careers. In formal learning situations, people with this style prefer readings, lectures, exploring analytical models, and having time to think things through.

 Objectives that can be met with this simulation could be as follows.

• Knowledge - There is a vast amount of vocabulary in this game. You need to read the definition and then by applying that information correctly choose what action needs to be taken to keep your cell functioning.  They also have a button that leads to an encylopedia and a back button that allows you to review material for better understanding. 
• Understanding - the animation of this game allows the player to visusalize what happens during the different processes of the cell.  It helps the player understand the connections between the different parts and functions of the cell. 
• Decision making - you have a limited number of choices to make with each scenario of the game play.  Making the correct decisions will keep your cell healthy and able to survive.  Making the wrong choices leads to cell death and the end of the game. 

Game Components from my definition are bound by rules, has a clear purpose, amusing or fun, challenging, can be either real or make believe, uses skill or chance and game play is done safely.  This game is very much bound by rules.  There is a single right way to complete the task and definate consequences if you do not.  There is a clear purpose for each task and it is an actual model of what a cell and how its components function.  You need some skill in order to complete the task but at the same time it is challenging.  I would say it not as amusing or fun as most games but its a decent game.  Game play is done safely as it is just a simulation. 

I think this would be a great game for middle school or high school science class when they talk about cell structure.  It takes some time to go through the stages and I am not sure if a regular class setting would accommodate such a game as this.  It might be given as a resource to those students who need a little more help or for visual learners.