Brillion students meet Jo Wilder and the Capitol Case

October 18, 2018

By David Nordby The Brillion News

BRILLION – Last fall, Keith Polkinghorne received a call from Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) Education wondering if he and his students would be interested in testing out an educational online video game – Jo Wilder and the Capitol Case – as it was being developed. The request was happily granted.

“It was kind of out of the blue,” Polkinghorne said. The longtime technology education teacher at Brillion Elementary School said that he thought the game was a great concept.

The exciting element for the local students is that the game is based in Madison at the Wisconsin State Capitol. It is designed for third, fourth and fifth graders to teach them skills in historical inquiry, reading and critical thinking while picking up clues and historical artifacts along the way.

“The kids got into it; I think they enjoyed the game,” he said.

In the game, each player must identify various artifacts and use evidence inside and outside the capitol building.

“It adds a little bit to it because they’re Wisconsin kids,” Polkinghorne said.

The students tested the game once each month and answered survey questions beginning in January.

“It seemed like a lot of our suggestions were taken into consideration,” Polkinghorne said.

Each month, the game returned to them with new updates for testing.

Please see the complete story in the October 18, 2018 edition of The Brillion News.