What It Means

Quest – an assignment.

Challenge – a smaller component of a quest. Examples of challenges:

  • Tavern Talks – threaded discussions or live discussions. In fantasy lore, the local tavern is where tales are told and where adventures begin.
  • The Hero’s Journal – a place for personal reflection. Though readable by other Heroes, no discussion is permitted.

IRL – gamer lingo for “in real life.” These challenges take place primarily outside the game.

Adventures in Azeroth – These challenges take place primarily inside World of Warcraft.

Lore and Legend – These challenges relate specifically to our book study and literature circles for learners.

XP/Level – experience points. Really, this is how games like World of Warcraft indicate to the player their mastery of content. As learners complete challenges, they earn experience points, these accumulate as the player completes content, and subsequently they gain player levels. There are rubrics included to show what must be done to earn certain levels of experience points for certain challenges.

Lorekeepers – experienced guides alongside learners.

Heroes – students.

Literature Circles - groups of heroes who come together to share and discuss a famous legend at great length. This hero centered approach is not driven by your Lorekeeper. Instead, every week you will be responsible for reading a chapter of The Hobbit on your own for independent study. Then, you will be required to complete a discussion log for your meeting preparation. Finally, you will setup a weekly meeting with 2 - 5 other guild mates to discuss a chapter of the book. During this meeting, you will be responsible for positively participating in the group and giving feedback on your participation and preparation of your guild mates. Click here to review guidelines for completing each step of the literature circle process.

 

Based on - WoW In School: A Hero's Journey, by Lucas Gillispie and Craig Lawson - which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
We are grateful for the support and experience shared by humanities teacher Peggy Sheehy and the students of Ramapo Middle School for their support as we design our own Hero's Journey.

Q13-A Leader Among Men - Guild Structure

"The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people."
- Woodrow Wilson

Overview
Every organization, group, team, and guild has leaders. What is a leader? Do they boss people around, or inspire respect through their deeds and actions?

This week you are going to begin thinking about a structured guild organization and its leadership. If you were to organize the guild's leadership structure, how would you arrange it and why? What qualities should a leader have? Should there be a singular guild leader? Or, should you have a leadership team?

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Tavern Talk - Follow the Leader (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Get into groups of 3 - 5 students. Have a discussion on leaderships. Your group should have a group leader, group recorder, and a group researcher. The group leader's role is to record thegroup members, develop the group questions/arguments, and post the group discussion to the forums. The group recorder will write down notes from the group discussion and construct the group's forum post. Lastly, the group researcher will be responsible for recording and developing the online/book sources used during the guild discussion.

The groups should focus on a discussion that attempts to develop an overall structure and role of the class guild within the game. To begin this conversation, students should revisit their guild mission statements.

Consider some of the following questions:

  • How many leaders should the guild have?
  • How should these leaders make decisions?
  • What should be the role of a guild leader?
  • How will the guild leaders communicate with guild members?
  • How will you decide on who becomes a guild leader?
  • What will you do when disagreements arise?

The group’s forum post should contain at least one outside quote from a reputable source. This in-text citation must follow MLA formatting rules. Tavern Talk Forum

2. Hero's Journal - We All Need Role-Models (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

This week we are discussing leadership in-game and in The Hobbit. In your journal, discuss your favorite historical leader. It could be a president, military general, business man, or even a famous sports figure. Why do you think they make a good leader? What are their accomplishments? Lastly, explain why they are good role-models.

Hero's Journal

 

3. Lore and Legend - Chapter 13 of the Hobbit - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper.

While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions:

  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities?
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?
  • What could the gold and treasure symbolize other than monetary value?
  • Does greed play an important role in this chapter? Your life

Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

QUEST 13: COMMON CORE STANDARDS ADDRESSED

English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grades 11-12

Text Types and Purposes

Comprehension and Collaboration

Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation. (Tavern Talk - Follow the Leader)

Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence and identifying when irrelevant evidence is introduced. (Tavern Talk - Follow the Leader)

End of Quest 13

Q14-One Of the Elect - Guild Officer Speeches

"Never neglect details. When everyone's mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant."
- Colin Powell

Overview
During this week, we will be holding guild office elections. Individuals will choose a guild office. Write a persuasive campaign speech for that office and post it in the forums. Ask a question of at least two other candidates. Answer questions posed to you. In addition, students will film their campaign speeches to be placed online.

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Hero's Journal - The Pen is Mightier than the Sword (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

This week we are writing speeches and holding elections. Part of this requires research. While listening to famous speeches, chose one speech that really speaks to you. Then, write a persuasive speech that outlines why you should be chosen for the specific office. Yourspeech should be between 3 minutes in length

1. Discuss the speaker and message of the speech.

  • What makes the speaker a great orator?
  • What is moving in the message?
  • Does the speaker appeal to the listener’s emotion, logic, or both?
  • Why is this argument affective?

2. Write a speech that outlines why you should be chosen for the specific office. Yourspeech should be between 3 minutes in length.

Speech Checklist:
___ The beginning of my speech will get people's attention.
___ The speech focuses on a few reasons why I would be good for a specific guild leadership position.
___ I rehearsed my speech multiple times in front of a partner.
___ The end of my speech is powerful and exciting.
___ My speech is informational and applies to both sound logical and emotional reasoning.

Complete both 1 and 2 in the same Hero's Journal Journal entry.

Hero's Journal


2. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter 14 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper.

  • While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions:
  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities?
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?
  • What are the differences between Bard and the Master? What do you think of each of these characters
Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 14

Q15-Bootstrapping It - Trade Skills and Crafting

"The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm."
-Swedish Proverb

Overview
Some of the most successful heroes are the ones who don't wait for things to happen but rather make things happen. Not all heroes are born rich, either.

Sometimes the path of a hero involves hard work and sweat.What will your hands produce? Maybe you'll craft your own armor. Perhaps you'll create a legendary sword.Will you create for yourself or for others? That choice is yours.

 

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Adventures in Azeroth - A Journeyman (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Choose a trade skill in World of Warcraft. You could choose Blacksmithing, Tailoring, Alchemy, or any of the other trade skills. Raise your skill level to the Journeyman level (50). To earn your XP for this challenge, simply show your Lorekeeper your progress.

2. Tavern Talk - Give Back (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Now that you have some skill in crafting, here's an opportunity for you to give back to your fellow adventurers. What you need to do is simple. Create a useful item. It could be armor, a potion, a weapon, or anything your particular crafting skill allows. Then, find someone of lower level (and who's not in your class) and offer the item to them to help them with their own journey. Take a screenshot of this interaction and share any thoughts you have on the experience in the Tavern Talk Forum.

 

3. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter 15 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper.

  • While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions:
  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities?
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?
  • Are the dwarves right, or do the men of Lake-town deserve part of the treasure?
  • Are those who work hard always rewarded with money? Is wealth an accurate representation of one's worth?
Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 15

Q16-Only as Strong as My Allies - Teamwork

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."
-Michael Jordan

Overview
Some say that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Can you accomplish more working together with your fellow heroes you could alone? In this quest you'll find out.

 

 

 

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Tavern Talk - United We Stand (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Throughout your journey, we have stressed the value of teamwork. Heroes rarely "go it alone." Learning to work together is a huge challenge. In this challenge, that's what we're going to explore. For this challenge, form a group with at least three of your fellow heroes. Choose a dungeon that you can each work together to complete. Complete it. To earn XP for this challenge, take a screenshot of the last boss that you work together to overcome. Post your screenshot in the tavern. Tavern Talk Forum

2. Hero's Journal - Working as a Team (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

You and your fellow heroes have delved deep into the heart of danger.

  • You've braved the challenges of a dungeon. Tell us about the experience.
  • Did you and your group use any strategies? What worked well? What didn't?
  • Do you feel you worked well with the group? Why or why not?
Hero's Journal

 

3. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter 16 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper. While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions:

  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities?
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?

  • What is the meaning of compromise, and why is it so important?
  • Think about Bilbo's actions.
  • Can you think of any current event that relate to these events in the story?
Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 16

Q17-A Tale for the Bards - Poetic Storytelling

"Among all men on the earth, bards have a share of honor and reverence, because the muse has taught them songs and loves the race of bards."
-Homer, Greek Poet

Overview
Bards are traveling storytellers. They spin wonderful tales through poetry, song, and drama. Were it not for the bards many heroes' stories would be long lost. However, the heroic deeds of many an adventurer lives on through the bard's tale.

Occasionally, the hero takes on the role of the bard. Sometimes this is so the hero can pass on their own story. Other times it's to tell the tale of their fellow heroes. Sometimes, the hero just needs to sing.

What tale will you spin? What song will you sing? Will you win the crowds with your poetry?

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Tavern Talk - Ode to Adventure (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Draft a poem about a topic of your choosing. Have your Lore master and your fellow Heroes give you some feedback on your poem, especially with grammar and spelling.

Once you have a good, quality, poem, you'll create a macro in World of Warcraft, and enter the world to public recite your poem. Tavern Talk Forum

2. Hero's Journal - Bard's Tale (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Taking the stage requires bravery, but then, you are a hero aren't you? So, you've recited your poem, and possibly had some comments from other adventurers in World of Warcraft. Tell us about the experience.

  • What was it like to share your creative writing with strangers?
  • Were there comments?
  • Were they positive or negative?
  • How did they make you fee?
Hero's Journal

 

3. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter 17 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper.

  • While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions:
  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities? 
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?
  • Has an item, such as the Arkenstone in the book, ever come between you and a friend? 
  • Why do people often choose things above other people?
Lore and Legend #Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 17

Q18-In a Flash - Interacting With the Player Community

"All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman, and a pretty girl."
-Charlie Chaplain, comic actor in early film

Overview
It has been said that laughter is good for the soul. Even a hero on an epic quest needs a break from time to time to just laugh or even make others laugh. That will be your main challenge for this quest.

You and your guild mates will be part of what's called a "flash mob." Flash mobs are groups of people who get together unexpectedly in a public place, do something unusual or funny, and then quickly leave. In this quest you will bring laughter and mayhem to the other players in World of Warcraft.

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Hero's Journal - Wump for a Day (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Now you've seen life through the eyes of a mob of crazy gnomes! The idea of a flash mob is to disrupt the normal day-to-day experiences of folks, usually entertaining them in the process. That's what we did. These World of Warcraft players probably didn't log in expecting to see a coordinated, crazy mob of gnomes running about. Write about the experience.

  • How did the other players react?
  • Do you think we, as a group, made their day a little better with laughter? Why or why not?
Hero's Journal

 

2. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter 18 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper. While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions: 

  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities? 
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?
  • What does the following quote mean: "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world...?"
Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 18

Q19-Forging Ahead - Cooperative Questing and Dungeons

"True friends stab you in the front."
-Oscar Wilde, Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, and critic.

Overview
What is it like to be you? How would your character in World of Warcraft answer that question? What do they think of their fellow guild mates and adventurers? That's what we'll explore during this quest.

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Tavern Talk - The Way I Remember It (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

You are on your Hero's Journey. You've fought the battles, you've explored new places, and you've found other Heroes who'll fight at your side. What's does your character think about the experience you just had? What do they think about their fellow Heroes? Tell us a brief story about it from your Hero's point-of-view. Tavern Talk Forum

 

2. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter 19 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle Evaluation form for each member of your group. Submit the completed forms to your Lorekeeper. While reading this week, contemplate the following essential questions: 

  • How do the decisions and actions of characters reveal their personalities?
  • How can a person's decisions and actions change his/her life?
  • How has Bilbo changed by the end of the story?
  • Why do the other hobbits think Bilbo is "weird" now?
Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 19

Q20-Know Your Lore - Understanding the Story Behind the Adventure

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history."
-Martin Luther King, Jr., Clergyman and Activist

Overview
Some have said that those who do not know their past are doomed to repeat it. Azeroth is a world rich in history. It is a world shaped by struggle. But, how much do you know about the forces that shaped this world in which you journey as a Hero? That's our focus in this quest.

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

1. Tavern Talk - Lore In the Spotlight (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

You are on your Hero's Journey. You've fought the battles, you've explored new places, and you've found other Heroes who'll fight at your side. What's does your character think about the experience you just had? What do they think about their fellow Heroes? Tell us a brief story about it from your Hero's point-of-view. Tavern Talk Forum

 

2. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Part 1 of the Hobbit Cartoon Produced in 1977 - (This challenge is worth 100 XP.)

During this quest you are responsible for Part 1 of the The Hobbit cartoon produced in 1977. You can view the video at thehobbitmov's Channel on YouTube. Ensure that you complete all required steps of the Literature Circle this week, and complete a Literature Circle
Evaluation form for each member of your group. These forms should be submitted to your Lorekeeper though the course messaging service.

While watching the video this week, analyze the extent to which the film stays faithful to or departs from the novel, evaluating the choices made by the director or cartoonist. Note, you will need to go back and reread/skim through the corresponding chapters in the book.

Lore and Legend Literature Circle

 

End of Quest 20

Q21-I Bought This from a Goblin - Advertising and Propaganda

"Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.?
-Frank Zappa

Overview
During this quest, you will be taking a break from the hero’s journey and focusing on another topic, marketing and propaganda.

Learning how to sell a product is a valuable skill. In fact, you will find that you are often your own salesman when it comes to selling yourself in a job interview or on a resume.

During this unit, you will be learning about propaganda as well as salesmanship. You will then create your own marketing ad for a product that you created.


CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

n. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (This challenge is worth 250 XP.)

 

n. Tavern Talk - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (This challenge is worth 250 XP.)

Tavern Talk Forum

n. Hero's Journal - The Beginning of a Journey (This challenge is worth 500 XP.)


n. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter n - (This challenge is worth 350 XP.)

 

End of Quest 21

Q22-The Hero’s Footprint - Who You are, Online

"It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation and only one bad one to lose it."
-Benjamin Franklin, Statesman, Scientist

Overview
Everywhere a Hero travels he or she leaves behind footprints. These aren't just marks in the sand but also traces of the deeds they've done. Are folks better or worse because of the Hero? What sort of reputation do they leave behind? This is not only true about what you do in World of Warcraft but also about what you do in real life. We leave behind traces of ourselves everywhere we go, especially online. Does it really matter what I say and do online? Absolutely!

In this Epic Quest you'll create a Fakebook (like Facebook, but... "fake.") page for your character or an NPC. You might even use an NPC or character from the game that you've already researched. Then, you'll edit a Fakebook template to show what it might look like if this World of Warcraft character were using Facebook.

We're also going to use this quest as an opportunity to discuss and reflect about our own online interactions. What would does your online footprint say about you?

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

n. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (This challenge is worth 250 XP.)

 

n. Tavern Talk - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (This challenge is worth 250 XP.)

Tavern Talk Forum

n. Hero's Journal - The Beginning of a Journey (This challenge is worth 500 XP.)


n. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter n - (This challenge is worth 350 XP.)

 

End of Quest 22

Q23-Rising Above - Digital Citizenship in Online Games

"Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it."
-Winston Churchill, English Statesman

Overview
Real heroes have high standards. Others see this in their everyday actions. It's part of what defines a hero. As you adventure in this quest, you'll be assisting other adventurers outside of our group. You'll look at their actions and reflect on your own. What sets you, as a hero, apart?

CHALLENGES FOR THIS QUEST

n. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (This challenge is worth 250 XP.)

 

n. Tavern Talk - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (This challenge is worth 250 XP.)

Tavern Talk Forum

n. Hero's Journal - The Beginning of a Journey (This challenge is worth 500 XP.)


n. Lore and Legend Literature Circle - Chapter n - (This challenge is worth 350 XP.)

 

End of Quest 23