Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, Decisions is a 15-part educational role-playing video game series by Tom Snyder Productions, released from the 1980s to the early 2000s.[1] It has also been described as a "media-assisted simulation game" series.[2]

Decisions, Decisions
Genre(s)Educational, simulation, role-playing
Developer(s)Tom Snyder Productions

Development

While Tom Snyder originally created games that would suit the "one-computer classroom" model, this series was part of a new gaming focus of "choice-driven discussion generators".[3] The software was designed specifically to foster academic discussions within the classroom.[4] An online learning extension named Decisions, Decisions Online was also created.[5]

Gameplay

Each game puts the players (recommended to be a classroom) into a scenario based on actual facts and encourages them to come up with solutions.

An example is in the title Decisions, Decisions: Prejudice, in which the players take the role of the mayor of a tourist town, in which a newspaper has editorialised against a business trading racial memorabilia.[3] Students discuss the problem in teams, then enter their strategies into the computer, which advances the story, leading to 300 alternate paths.[3] Members of the team receive booklets from the perspective of an adviser to the decision maker, for instance in Decisions,[6] Decisions: The Environment, they could be a campaign manager, and environmentalist, a scientist, and an economist; players then debate this conflicting information to reach a justifiable compromise.[7]

The games encourage a five step critical thinking process:[8]

  1. Analyze the situation[9]
  2. Determine and prioritise goals[10]
  3. Consider their options[11]
  4. Make a decision[12]
  5. Examine the consequences[13]

Follow-up activities include: taking quizzes, drawing political cartoons, writing to state and federal legislators, seeing how others parts of the country voted on the issue, and research Web links.[14]

Titles (incomplete)
  • Decisions, Decisions: Current Issues
  • Decisions, Decisions: AIDS
  • Decisions, Decisions: Colonization
  • Decisions, Decisions: Immigration
  • Decisions, Decisions: On the Campaign Trail
  • Decisions, Decisions: Prejudice
  • Decisions, Decisions: Revolutionary Wars
  • Decisions, Decisions: Substance Abuse (also known as S.M.A.R.T. Choices)
  • Decisions, Decisions: The Budget Process
  • Decisions, Decisions: The Constitution
  • Decisions, Decisions: The Environment
  • Decisions, Decisions: Urbanization
  • Decisions, Decisions: Violence in the Media
  • Decisions, Decisions: Ancient Empires

Critical reception

Education World gave Decisions, Decisions Online an A+, describing it as an effective online resource to stimulate the critical thinking skills of young people.[5]

Laura Cirillo-Boilard of USJ gave Decisions, Decisions – The Constitution 10/10, praising its ability to develop skills in cooperative learning, reading comprehension, oral communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.[8] Teaching TV Production in a Digital World: Integrating Media Literacy recommended the use of Decisions, Decisions: Violence in the Media within the school curriculum.[2] Character Education in America's Blue Ribbon Schools felt the series effectively allowed students to work together in solving real world problems and analysing the results of their decisions.[15]

The website was The New York Times' featured site on January 5, 2000.[16] The Washington Post reported that the series could be ground-breaking in the move from learning distinct subjects to a synergistic approach, using all these skills to complete practical and realistic projects.[17] Macworld noted that Decisions, Decisions 5.0: The Constitution was not a replacement for a U.S. history textbook.[18]

Awards
  • 1988 SIIA CODiE Award for Best Middle or Secondary School Program – Decisions, Decisions Series[19]
  • 1997 Codie Award for excellence in technology[20]
  • 1998 Excellence in Software Award for Best Curriculum Software for Middle School – Decisions, Decisions: Ancient Empires[21]
  • 1998 Excellence in Software Award for Best Education Software Upgrade – Decisions, Decisions: The Environment[21]

References
  1. "David Dockterman Profile". Harvard Graduate School. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  2. Kenny, Robert (2004). Teaching TV Production in a Digital World: Integrating Media Literacy. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 9781591581994.
  3. West, Peter (March 24, 1993). "Reaction to Software on Slavery Raises Issues Surrounding New Types of Media". Education Week. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  4. http://www.schoolnet.org.za/conference/sessions/nh/WB_Research.pdf
  5. "Best of '99: Decisions, Decisions Online". Education World. 1999. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  6. Kenebrew, Keith Tyson (March 2005). Decisions, Decisions, Decisions: Seeking God's Will. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-34223-5.
  7. Dockterman, David A. (2002). Easy Ways to Make Technology Work for You: From Grade Books to Graphic Organizers. Scholastic Inc. ISBN 9780439437615.
  8. http://ww2.usj.edu/faculty_pages/jarzt/Decisions.htm
  9. "Analyze the Situation". Archived from the original on 2004-05-01. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  10. "Determine Your Goals". Archived from the original on 2004-05-06. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  11. "Consider the Options". Archived from the original on 2004-05-09. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  12. "Make a Decision". Archived from the original on 2004-05-16. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  13. "Consider the Consequences". Archived from the original on 2004-05-21. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  14. "Follow-Up Activities". Archived from the original on 2004-05-22. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  15. Murphy, Madonna (2002-07-09). Character Education in America's Blue Ribbon Schools: Best Practices for Meeting the Challenge. R&L Education. ISBN 9781461666912.
  16. "Site of the Day: Decisions, Decisions Online". events.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  17. Goldberg, Debbie (1992-11-01). "FROM BLACKBOARD TO KEYBOARD". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  18. "Education Software". Macworld. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  19. "1988 Winners". www.siia.net. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  20. "2004: Tom Snyder". publishers.org. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  21. Fool, The Motley. "TMF: drop in sales due to lack of award winning title / Learning Company, Inc., The". boards.fool.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
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