Jenny's Journeys
Jenny's Journeys, a single-player educational video game, was created in 1984 by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) and released on Apple II.[1] In this game, players navigate from Jenny's car to her destination using only a compass and map. The goal of the game is to successfully read the map and travel safely from Point A to Point B. There are three different levels of difficulty.
Production
The Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) entered the software market in the mid-1980s with an assortment of titles, including Jenny's Journeys.[2] MECC developed Jenny's Journeys to provide a real-world, practical platform for children aged 10 and above to learn and apply map reading skills.[3] MECC ended operations in 1999.[4]
Plot
Jenny's Journeys takes place in the fictional town of Lake City. The player controls Aunt Jenny, the protagonist of the game. Players can use Aunt Jenny's car to drive around Lake City, escorting non-player characters (NPC's) to their destinations without causing any delay. Players are faced with varying speed intensities, incoming cars, and obstacles that must be avoided.[5]
Educational purpose and critical reception
Jenny's Journeys was used in schools to teach children about maps.[6] Curriculum Review believed that the game had a "sound educational purpose and efficient method of operation."[7] Creative Computing felt that the game "reinforced map reading and cognitive skills."[8] Educational resources for Microcomputers stated that the game makes good use of the computer's ability to create simulations.[9] However, in Computers, Thinking, and Social Studies, Gene Rooze asserted that the game was inappropriate for social studies classes.[10]
References
- ^ Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation (1984), Jenny's Journeys v1.0 (1984) (US), retrieved 2019-01-28
- ^ "Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium". Mecc.co. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
- ^ "How to Expand your Child's Library without Buying a Single Book" (PDF).
- ^ "Home | Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium". mecc.co. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
- ^ "Jenny's Journeys". Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation. 1984 – via archive.org.
- ^ P.O. Box 6800. "Out of Retirement - and Going Strong". Wap.org. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Curriculum review - Google books". Books.google.com.au. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
- ^ "Creative Computing". Creative Computing. 1 January 1985 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Educational Resources for Microcomputers". Information, Inc. 1986. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
- ^ Rooze, Gene Edward; Northup, Terry (1 January 1989). "Computers, Thinking, and Social Studies". Teacher Ideas Press – via Google Books.