Written By Denise Gary
Photographs © Bruce Matsunaga
Because there is a common misconception that all video games are bad for kids, many adults do not realize that there are video games that inspire creativity and resourcefulness. It cannot be denied that kids love to play them. Why not put that spark to work toward positive development in children? That is what visionary teacher Devon C. Adams did for the students of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona.
Using PJ Haarsma’s science fiction The Softwire book series and related Rings of Orbis free online game, Adams set his students to work on a year-long, comprehensive wiki project. The kids worked with Haarsma to gain an encyclopedic knowledge of the Orbisian culture, economy, politics, food and alien races presented in the books and video game. In addition, the students inquisitively gathered information on literature, science and science fiction as an extended result of their reading and game play. The result was Wiki-Wire, a stunning revelation of Haarsma’s completely realized alien world. This is what great teaching is all about – combining challenging, creative thinking with resources that drive kids’ passion. It produced young adults absorbed in literature and science, and will forever provide them with a deep appreciation for the extensive process required to produce a series of novels.
PJ Haarsma, Denise Gary, Sherrie Miller and James Blasingame
Kids Need to Read Executive Director Denise Gary and Secretary Sherrie Miller attended the debut of Wiki-Wire at ASU’s Decision Theater, Tempe, Arizona on May 28, 2009. It was a celebration of all things Haarsma, including The Kids Need to Read Foundation itself, and of course, our founder was the guest of honor. ASU Associate Professor of English and KNTR board member James Blasingame led the event. He introduced Haarsma’s books, online game and charitable foundation in a multimedia presentation.
The audience was treated to the hilarious premiere of the Kids Need to Read promotional video that Haarsma and actor Nathan Fillion created for the 2009 Can’t Stop the Serenity charity screenings. (This video can be seen on the home page of the Kids Need to Read website.) Adams and his students then took the audience on a visual tour of the amazing Wiki-Wire. It was obvious how much hard work and dedication the students had put into the project. Wiki-Wire is not yet available to the public, but there are plans to publish it online in the future.
At the end of the program, Haarsma talked about his upcoming fourth book in The Softwire series, Awakening on Orbis 4. He also shared his visionary plan addressing the lack of accessible reading enticements for kids in today’s society, which markets everything except books for children.
Kids Need to Read applauds Devon Adams and his students for taking on a unique challenge – one that encouraged a complete understanding of an imaginary world and that required the use of contemporary tools to bring it to a successful conclusion. Creative, open-minded teaching results in creative, open-minded adults.
Author PJ Haarsma and teacher Devon Adams (rear) with student Wiki-Wire creators (front)
See more photographs of the Wiki-Wire event at Bruce Matsunaga’s Flickr page and Devon Adam’s Flickr page. Watch video of the event at the ASU English Vimeo page.
