Where do citizens go to get answers to these questions? Nonprofit civic education group iCivics, led by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, partnered with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to develop a free, online game called Counties Work to help increase knowledge of the functions of county government.
According to The Hill’s Technology Blog, Counties Work will be awarded the 2012 Gold Circle Award for Innovative Communications Award by the American Society of Association Executives on May 24.
The game simulates a wide variety of real-life scenarios a county decision-maker might encounter. Does the potential benefit of a new sports facility justify its hefty price tag? Should the county invest in improvements to records management systems to expedite service to citizens?
All decisions weigh into constituent satisfaction. Player performance is ultimately judged at the polls, where maintaining a positive approval rating entitles you to re-election.
Supporting materials are available for instructors to assist in successful classroom implementation. According to NACo, more than 100,000 students had played the game as of January 2012.
iCivics, founded in 2009, has produced 16 online games for educational use, including Win the White House, which allows users to simulate a presidential campaign, and Immigration Nation in which players learn the steps to obtaining U.S. citizenship.
[Click on the images to see a full-size version.]