Don't Starve Together!
Come try to survive with your team in this whimsical retreat from real life!
Troy "Sully" Brodsky
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(11)
What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
I love the idea of bringing a group of learners together in order to let them practice their leadership, communication, teamwork... but I also wanted to create a class where they could all do so in a very low-key, no pressure environment - one where they could laugh and make life-long friends. In Don't Starve Together, students will take on the roll of a survivor in out in the wilderness - thrown together with some strangers (soon to be friends), where they are challenged to work together and explore their new environment in order to... well, NOT starve. The way that we accomplish this is through the use of a little online game called... wait for it... "Don't Starve Together." It's whimsical, hilarious, challenging, and blessedly multi-player. (Details on how to purchase the game in just a bit.)
Learning Goals
Week One: We'll get organized as a group and I'll explain how the game works... however, I strongly believe that the fun in such things is to explore and discover with a group. While I'll have a character in game and helping out, I'm not going to lead - that's up to you and your group. Decide what to build, where to go, what to do! How to perish with style!
Week Two: Building upon what we now know about the game, we'll launch out into even greater exploration. (And, knowing what I now know about our group, I may pair you off with a new friend and send you on a mission. Anything can happen, so stay frosty!) It's often at this point where friendships begin to form, and where we start and finish the class in uncontrollable laughter. The game itself is a riot of silliness and humor, but it's how we all react to it that sets the tone to the class. We'll focus on preparing for the changing of the seasons... winter is coming!
Week Three: We'll begin the construction of a base... a home all of our own! We'll need farmers and hunters, we'll need builders and gatherers, we'll need heroes and adventurers! (And if any part of that sounds fun, yeah... you belong in this class.) This is where the communication and teamwork really shine - everyone will have to work together to prepare for the winter, just days away. If we don't have enough food, we will... yep... starve.
Week Four: Winter is here! And with winter comes all manner of difficulty. You thought it was tough when we could just pick berries off of the bushes, well I hope that the group has discovered a way to preserve enough food for the cold dark months. This is where it all really comes together - can we do it? Can we make it to the Spring? Can we all keep our bellies full and stay sane? Only your ability to function together as a team, to communicate, plan ahead, and generally roll with the punches will decide our fate.
Other Details
Supply List
Students may participate in this class in one of two ways: 1. If you'd like to actually take on the role of a character in our game - literally play the game with us - you'll have to purchase Don't Starve Together via Steam. (I'll be happy to help you with the Steam app if you'd like some direction.) The link to Don't Starve Together is above, and the system requirements - Mac and PC - are listed below. 2. If you'd rather just be a part of our group and watch everyone play, while being able to talk and laugh with us - but without purchasing the game - we can do that, too! (In this case, you'll need only the Discord app - it's free with full parental controls - and this will allow you to observe. Students have loved both experiences! It's fun to play, but in truth it's also really fun to watch your friends dig themselves into a hole! :D Windows System Requirements: OS: Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 Processor: 1.7+ GHz or better Memory: 1 GB RAM Graphics: Radeon HD5450 or better; 256 MB or higher DirectX: Version 9.0c Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 3 GB available space Sound Card: 100% DirectX9.0c compatible sound card and drivers Macintosh System Requirements: OS: Lion (OSX 10.7.X) Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: NVidia or ATI graphics card Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 3 GB available space Additional Notes: Not recommended for Intel GMA Graphics or Mac Minis or early-generation MacBooks
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined August, 2020
5.0
11reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have more than a decade of teaching experience, the majority of which was spent as an instructor in a lock-down rehabilitation facility for at-risk children (translated: gang kids who were struggling with substance abuse). This allowed me to teach a wide variety of subjects, from second grade reading to college level physics, often in the same day in order to meet the needs of my students.
My emphasis throughout was teamwork, discipline, leadership, and problem solving - as these form the braided cord that carries all through our lives. My formal education is centered around a masters degree in elementary education, and another in special education - with a bachelors in philosophy and a minor in glass art... yes, that's right. Glass. Art. My mother was thrilled when I told her about that one.
Additionally, this class is an extension of a variant that I ran successfully a decade ago at the aforementioned rehabilitation facility. It was a resounding success, showing marked improvement in both student scores on their academic work and vast improvement in their social disposition. Students from across the spectrum participated on a voluntary basis, and the results were astounding. Clearly, I think a great deal about the potential of this type of program... but when something works for kids, I'm all in. Reviews
Live Group Class
$14
weekly or $56 for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
55 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-17
3-10 learners per class
