Educational discussion game Infovaders launched

Just imagine: planet earth as we know it no longer exists. We have fled to a new planet where we get the opportunity to shape a whole new information landscape. What choices do we make in times of information overload? Times in which artificial intelligence gains an increasing foothold in our work and lives? What is true, what is fiction?

In Infovaders students face dilemmas challenging them to reflect on the current academic information landscape. Arrived on an uninhabited planet they must again set up the information landscape. Will they make all information publicly available, will they let commercial companies take the lead or will they opt for reliable information? Will they survive the dangers lying in wait along the route? In the dilemmas several themes will come up such as Open Access, Open Science and selecting and evaluating relevant sources, all within a science fiction theme!

The game (including explanation and follow-up discussion) takes up approximately 50 minutes, fitting in with the time slot of a seminar. Because the game is an invitation to reflect on the publication landscape, the target group is ‘advanced students’ (BA2 and higher).

I like the way the game mechanics allow for interaction and reflections among the players

Library education specialists

The game has been developed by Utrecht University Library education specialists. After a pilot, the game was launched on 7 March at the Utrecht University OnderwijsFestival, the UU education event,  where participants welcomed the game with enthusiasm.  Infovaders can be used by lecturers in their information literacy teaching to students.

Where do I find Infovaders?

The game is offered as open educational resource on edusources, the platform for digital (open) educational resources in Dutch education. Click on View material and download the game.

The university library has some game boards for loan. Interested? Send an email to library.learning@uu.nl