The Best Idea Yet đ Oregon Trail: Tricking Kids into Liking School Since 1971 | 13
11 snips
Jan 7, 2025 Discover the remarkable history of the longest-running video game, Oregon Trail, which has captivated millions since 1971. This innovative game, born from the creativity of three student teachers, helped shape the edutainment industry worth over $6 billion. Learn about an ambitious teacher's efforts to revive the game for modern classrooms and its transformation into a pioneering educational tool. The journey from a simple classroom project to a cultural icon is explored, highlighting how it made learning fun without a profit motive.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Reverse Surprise Party
- Nick Martel planned a "reverse surprise party" where guests didn't know the location.
- This aimed to maximize enjoyment, demonstrating that product creation isn't always about profit.
Enjoyment-Driven Products
- Sometimes, the best products are created to maximize enjoyment, not profit.
- The Oregon Trail is a prime example of this, originating from teachers' desire to make learning fun.
Oregon Trail's Origin
- Don Rawitsch, a student teacher, struggled to engage his students with traditional history lessons.
- He devised a game about the Oregon Trail to make learning interactive and fun.