International Spy Museum unveils interactive spy game
July 10, 2009
BY Historical intrigue! Puzzle-solving skills! GPS units? No, its not the latest in the National Treasure franchise. (Nic Cage lovers can only wish!) Instead, it’s a fun new game called “Spy in the City” from the International Spy Museum, in Washington, DC. This AP piece helps debrief new agents on this new interactive mission assignment.
Part geocaching game and part tour through historical landmarks, this is a new strategy we may see more museums adopting as they trend more towards interactivity. Kids are more inclined towards hands-on learning than the velvet rope, “Please don’t touch the display case” atmosphere of the traditional museum. Since the spy trade conjures up images of cool gadgets, the interactive approach seems really ideal.
If you’re on a field trip to DC, you have a lot of chaperones, and you have $14 per person you might want to look into it. Do they have some group rate or something? That’s something you’ll need to ask the museum. More missions are scheduled for declassification in August.
As more gadgets have GPS capabilities, the potential for these types of games is growing all the time. For example, history and computer science teachers could team up to build a game of their own that explores local landmarks like your town’s historic district or the Springfield Tire Fire. Students with GPS-enabled phones could share with classmates and work as a team to find hidden clues or more information.
The hands-on museum idea isn’t necessarily new, but many that you would encounter are targeted more toward younger crowds. Are there any exhibits in your area that engage older students in interactive learning? Please let us know!
DC visitors pioneer Spy Museum’s gaming strategy
Related stuff:
Make ancient civilizations interactive at the British Museum
