With the Federation of American Scientists, Todd designed the IncredibleMinds Career Roleplaying Program. IncredibleMinds is an educational program that uniquely combines coaching, mentoring and roleplaying with commercial video games and professional modeling and simulation tools. Advisors and supporters include AEgis Technologies, Boeing, Colgate University, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, George Mason University, Marquette University, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Parametric Technology Corporation, Raytheon and State of Washington.

1. ™
career roleplaying program
2008 Copyright © Borghesani

2. OBJECTIVE. CHANGE FUTURES
Help At-Risk Youth Realize Their Professional Futures
• Design a Career Roleplaying System that offers students the
means to experience science, technology, engineering, and math
(S.T.E.M.) careers.

3. NEED. FUTURE WORKFORCE
Bridge the Future of Learning with the Needs of the Workforce
IN DEMAND CAREERS
• Organizations need individuals with “21st Century Skills”
Aerospace Engineering
• Behavioral Sciences
These skills are adaptability, innovation, critical thinking, problem Biosciences
solving, initiative, collaboration, and social awareness Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
• Schools do not teach these skills Civil Engineering
Clinical Medicine
• STEM education powers our nation’s innovation engine Cognitive & Neural
Computer Science
Computational Sciences
• Today’s students need learning systems designed for their generation Ecology & Environment
Electrical Engineering
• Achievement in post secondary STEM education must be improved Geosciences
Immunology
Materials Science
• Education needs to be relevant to industry Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
• We need to teach with industry tools Microbiology
Molecular Biology & Genetics
• Naval Architecture
We need to expose youth to the world of work
Ocean Engineering
Nanotechnology
• Professional scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians Neuroscience
need to participate as coaches and mentors Oceanography
Pharmacology
Plant & Animal Science
Physics
Space & Planetary Sciences
2008 Copyright © by T. Borghesani

4. OPPORTUNITY. GAMER GENERATION
Transform Gamer Intelligence into Professional Competencies
• The Gamer Generation will dominate the workforce
• Gamer intelligence is
At 90 million gamers in the United States, this generation is already
remarkably relevant for
larger than the baby boom productive citizenship in the
21st century.
• Female gamers comprise 39%
Examples include the ability to
• Commercial video games, industry modeling and read, write, and act within
dynamic systems, to think
simulation tools can be used as technologies for career procedurally within
exploration computationally rich spaces,
to build worlds and navigate
• complex information networks,
Billions of dollars worth of video game, modeling and simulation
and to engage in collaborative
technologies can be leveraged to the advantage of minority youth peer-to-peer learning.
• Every industry vertical and every scientific discipline uses modeling and •
Risk-taking
simulation tools •
Critical reflection
•
Collaboration
• The afterschool market is underutilized •
Meaning creation
•
Non-linear navigation
• The parents of 15.3 million children say their children would participate •
Problem-solving
in afterschool—if a program were available • Problem definition
•
Innovation
• There is no afterschool program for advanced career exploration

5. SOLUTION. CAREER EXPLORATION
An Exploration System That Helps At-Risk Youth Experience In Demand Careers
• We combine playing video games with using industry Modeling & Simulation Tools
modeling and simulation tools
• Commercial video games offer motivational insight across numerous
industries and careers
• Modeling and simulation tools bring careers to life
• Youth play quot;professionalquot; roles, learning 21st century skills and
building critical career knowledge
• Using industry’s tools of the trade–modeling & simulation tools–they
solve problems by “constructing” answers
• Our objective is achieved through the operation of four
program components
• Student Career Roleplaying
• Educator Career Coaching
• Professional Mentor Development
• Parent Coaching Workshops

6. SOLUTION. AUTHENTIC PURSUITS
From the Inspiration of a Favorite Video Game To Becoming An Industry Rock Star
Step Three Become
Playing “professionals”, youth work on
numerous “real world” industry and
research challenges over the course of
their membership.
Step Two Discover
Youth learn professional tools in the
context of each game’s backstory
Explore
Step One
Youth play an assortment of video
games to gain an understanding of in
demand careers.