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Home
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Playing the Game |
Teaching the Trail
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The Road to Oregon |
Down to Business |
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An Exploration of the Oregon Trail's Educational Purpose & Importance Since its creation, the Oregon Trail game continues to evoke a strong nostalgic response because it was one of the first times in which the telling of history was interlaced with the new mediums of technology. Our purpose is to explore how a game introduced as a simple educational tool could take on a life of its own and become elevated to the status of a cultural icon.  Background Information The Oregon Trail, first conceived of by Don Rawitsch in 1971 during his years at Carleton College in Minnesota, developed in the early 1980’s, and first available to the public in 1985 with eight versions since, is a widely popular computer game simulation of the journey west across 19 th century America. Targeted toward elementary and middle school students, the game allows students to conduct their own westward journey across the country, encountering hardships and difficult decisions along the way that will ultimately affect the success of their journey. This web site explores the use of The Oregon Trail as an educational tool, a moneymaking software program, a cultural icon, and a method to display history, delving deep into historical actualities and modern interpretations to illuminate the conflict between these various versions of the game today. |
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Down Memory Lane |
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Digo, Senior |
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Allison, Senior |
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Chuck, Junior |
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Noel, Sophomore |
Randall, Sophomore | Kevin, Senior |
Lucia, Sophomore |
Nick, Junior |
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Toolbar Copyright information:
Home - Image courtesy of Cream City Calligraphers.Copyright 2005, All rights Reserved.
Playing the Game - Image courtesy of Edmunds. Copyright 2000-2005, All Rights Reserved.
Teaching the Trail - Image courtesy of New Schools Better Neighborhoods.Copyright 2003, All rights Reserved.
The Road to Oregon - Image courtesy of Historic Trails Cycling.
Down to Business - Image courtesy of MECC.
This website was made for AMST 370 at the College of William and Mary
