"IS THIS REAL...OR IS IT ONLY A GAME?"

This is the question your students will be wondering.  The Hexagon Challenge is an educational Alternate Reality Game (ARG) in which students will attempt to solve a mystery by infiltrating a secret society, answering initiation questions regarding history, science, mathematics, world languages, and the arts. They will contact and be contacted by various fictitious characters via email, telephone, and instant messenger who will provide clues that enable them to continue their quest to discover the truth about a mysterious artifact known only as the Hexagon. Up to six extra credit points will be awarded along the way, which can be applied to your course if you so choose.

How can the Hexagon Challenge enhance the learning process for your students?

The Hexagon Challenge encourages students to:

     1) Use critical thinking skills.

     2) Locate important information using online and real world resources.

     3) Utilize creative problem solving.

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The Hexagon Challenge was designed by Jay D'Ambrosio, M.A., an ancient history teacher at Hampton Middle School, Allison Park, Pennsylvania.  In 2010, PBS named Jay one of the "50 most innovative educators in the nation." Two of his educational Web sites have been named Best Bets in Education by USA Today:

     Adventures in World History

     Ancient Adventures

Jay is the author of the following books and articles:

Rethinking Adolescence: Using Story to Navigate Life's Uncharted Years (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2006)

Egyptian Influence Upon Early Israelite Literature (Aeon: A Journal of Myth, Science, and Ancient History, October 2005)

Integrating Web Portfolios into the Learning Process (Library Media Connection, March 2004)

E-Teaching: Creating Web Sites and Student Web Portfolios Using Microsoft PowerPoint (Linworth Publishing, Inc., 2003)

 

copyright © 2006 Jay D'Ambrosio