Fallout: The New Oregon Trail
An ongoing adventure where you assume the role of an adventurer on the New Oregon Trail - a post apocalyptic quest from Independence to Sacramento. Can you and your friends survive?
Troy "Sully" Brodsky
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(11)
What's included
1 live meeting
2 in-class hours per weekClass Experience
In the tradition of great roleplaying games (RPGs), I’ve created a setting where students will create and then assume the role of a character who is tasked with a post-apocalyptic journey from the wastelands of Independence, MO, to the now radioactive coast of California - making the historic trip west. Participants will be given the opportunity to create their own custom character, select equipment, and then set out together into a post-apocalyptic world full of dangers and adventure (based in part on the Fallout game franchise). Their ultimate mission is simply to survive, but as always there will be side quests with which they may be able to gain an upper hand in their new world. They can form alliances, be as straight forward or crafty as they desire - build mini-empires or just tear stuff up… all in their quest to get to California, and freedom. RPGs are a fantastic way to promote teamwork, life long friendships, relaxation, creativity, and problem solving skills all in an interactive format. This is both an ongoing class, and a flexible one in that students may come and go within the story, and yet always return if they wish to continue. No two stories are will be the same, and depending on the group's decision making prowess, they may or may not complete their quest in two weeks. (I save every student's character sheet so they are welcome to return to the class again in the future and pick right up where they left off as the 'old trail hand.')
Learning Goals
Ready for a list of cool stuff? Here we go...
Students will:
1. Learn the fine art of working as a team.
2. Face off against an increasingly rigorous set of in game problems that they'll have to solve (or perish trying).
3. Get a genuine feeling for those who made the exodus on the original Oregon Trail in the 1840's... and the soothing touch of a Rad Roach.
4. Find their place within the group dynamic as both a leader and follower.
5. Experience negotiation, diplomacy, and utterly failed versions of both - and learn when each is necessary.
6. Set goals for a variety of situations and then realistically refine them until they are accomplished.
7. Be encouraged to be empathetic to varying opinions and sort out the merit in each.
8. Have a chance to make a variety of 'life' decisions without any real life risk.
9. Be encouraged to be genuinely creative thinkers.
10. Get some much needed social interaction to just hang out with friends and laugh for a while (and to have some 'control' over life at a time when we all might like a bit more).
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The world that we'll be traveling through will be full of decisions: The party may come under attack and be forced to defend themselves or decide to help (or not help) another adventurer along the way for example. One of the cornerstones of an RPG is often combat, there will be battles and death, but the descriptions will adhere to a PG rating. We can also utilize a method of simply moving on to the next scene if any students are uncomfortable with what is happening - which allows us to keep everything safe, exciting, and entertaining for everyone involved.
Supply List
Each student should have: 1. One printable pdf document which I will provide. 2. One hand with which to <facepalm> when they do a dumb. 3. One pencil to jot notes and throw when they do another dumb. 4. One notepad upon which to jot aforementioned notes. 5. One chair upon which to tip so that I can scold the student for tipping on their chair.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
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.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$34
weekly1x per week
120 min
Completed by 20 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
2-7 learners per class
