your software sucks this thing’s buggy don’t you have
this thing’s buggy don’t you have
this thing’s buggy don’t you have spellcheck out of the mouths of babes
spellcheck out of the mouths of babes
spellcheck out of the mouths of babes you know they say there are three things
you know they say there are three things
you know they say there are three things that will tell you the the truth drunk
that will tell you the the truth drunk
that will tell you the the truth drunk people children and yoga pants so I’m a
people children and yoga pants so I’m a
people children and yoga pants so I’m a stand-up comedian and I also have an
stand-up comedian and I also have an
stand-up comedian and I also have an English degree which occasionally means
English degree which occasionally means
English degree which occasionally means that I spout off romantic snarky haiku
that I spout off romantic snarky haiku
that I spout off romantic snarky haiku and I’m also known to recite the body
and I’m also known to recite the body
and I’m also known to recite the body parts of The Canterbury Tales but five
parts of The Canterbury Tales but five
parts of The Canterbury Tales but five years ago I found myself in an unusual
years ago I found myself in an unusual
years ago I found myself in an unusual journey in entrepreneurship you see my
journey in entrepreneurship you see my
journey in entrepreneurship you see my husband had nearly died from a medical
husband had nearly died from a medical
husband had nearly died from a medical error while we were living in Dallas
error while we were living in Dallas
error while we were living in Dallas Texas and we thought what better time to
Texas and we thought what better time to
Texas and we thought what better time to return to our hometown where we hadn’t
return to our hometown where we hadn’t
return to our hometown where we hadn’t lived in 20 years and we don’t know
lived in 20 years and we don’t know
lived in 20 years and we don’t know anybody other than mom and dad to start
anybody other than mom and dad to start
anybody other than mom and dad to start something to start something risky and
something to start something risky and
something to start something risky and daring and not worry about life sounds
daring and not worry about life sounds
daring and not worry about life sounds like a really easy journey right a
like a really easy journey right a
like a really easy journey right a straight path to success instead it kind
straight path to success instead it kind
straight path to success instead it kind of looks like that a bit of a winding
of looks like that a bit of a winding
of looks like that a bit of a winding mountain sometimes their son sometimes
mountain sometimes their son sometimes
mountain sometimes their son sometimes there’s rain so we set off to create
there’s rain so we set off to create
there’s rain so we set off to create software for writers to take short
software for writers to take short
software for writers to take short stories and novels and create narrative
stories and novels and create narrative
stories and novels and create narrative based video games you know for word
based video games you know for word
based video games you know for word nerds are you a word nerd I’m a word
nerds are you a word nerd I’m a word
nerds are you a word nerd I’m a word nerd I like haiku come on so what was
nerd I like haiku come on so what was
nerd I like haiku come on so what was interesting through that journey is we
interesting through that journey is we
interesting through that journey is we decided we were gonna work with children
decided we were gonna work with children
decided we were gonna work with children now I have to tell you something I’m 40
now I have to tell you something I’m 40
now I have to tell you something I’m 40 no pets no plants no children if it
no pets no plants no children if it
no pets no plants no children if it can’t feed itself I can’t live in my
can’t feed itself I can’t live in my
can’t feed itself I can’t live in my house
house
house hobbies okay because he’s learned how to
hobbies okay because he’s learned how to
hobbies okay because he’s learned how to work the microwave and he’s great at
work the microwave and he’s great at
work the microwave and he’s great at takeout so what were we thinking to take
takeout so what were we thinking to take
takeout so what were we thinking to take on kids and teach them we don’t have a
on kids and teach them we don’t have a
on kids and teach them we don’t have a background as teachers he’s a software
background as teachers he’s a software
background as teachers he’s a software engineer and I’m a stand-up comic why
engineer and I’m a stand-up comic why
engineer and I’m a stand-up comic why would you trust your children to us
would you trust your children to us
would you trust your children to us honestly so that very first summer in
honestly so that very first summer in
honestly so that very first summer in 2015 we had four children parents who
2015 we had four children parents who
2015 we had four children parents who knew us and trusted us and figured hey
knew us and trusted us and figured hey
knew us and trusted us and figured hey we couldn’t lose their children if they
we couldn’t lose their children if they
we couldn’t lose their children if they were in a confined space for a week we
were in a confined space for a week we
were in a confined space for a week we had two boys and two girls now I have to
had two boys and two girls now I have to
had two boys and two girls now I have to say the two girls that made me super
say the two girls that made me super
say the two girls that made me super happy because there are less than 15% of
happy because there are less than 15% of
happy because there are less than 15% of women in video game development so hey
women in video game development so hey
women in video game development so hey we were looking at a 50/50 ratio in our
we were looking at a 50/50 ratio in our
we were looking at a 50/50 ratio in our first week that’s kind of cool
first week that’s kind of cool
first week that’s kind of cool Rachel number one wanted to create a
Rachel number one wanted to create a
Rachel number one wanted to create a Minecraft Maze Runner
Minecraft Maze Runner
Minecraft Maze Runner you know minecraft all the rage with the
you know minecraft all the rage with the
you know minecraft all the rage with the kids these days Rachel number two she
kids these days Rachel number two she
kids these days Rachel number two she wanted to make a murder mystery with
wanted to make a murder mystery with
wanted to make a murder mystery with classic Star Trek characters who killed
classic Star Trek characters who killed
classic Star Trek characters who killed the Klingon ah that was so awesome
the Klingon ah that was so awesome
the Klingon ah that was so awesome in that first week we saw all of the
in that first week we saw all of the
in that first week we saw all of the bugs with our software did you know that
bugs with our software did you know that
bugs with our software did you know that we hadn’t prepared for more than one
we hadn’t prepared for more than one
we hadn’t prepared for more than one person to play a game one of our kids
person to play a game one of our kids
person to play a game one of our kids was named Spencer tester and boy did he
was named Spencer tester and boy did he
was named Spencer tester and boy did he ever test he tested the software and my
ever test he tested the software and my
ever test he tested the software and my patience but he was really fantastic and
patience but he was really fantastic and
patience but he was really fantastic and we learned so much in that first week in
we learned so much in that first week in
we learned so much in that first week in that second year we had made all of
that second year we had made all of
that second year we had made all of these improvements to the software and
these improvements to the software and
these improvements to the software and we started to teach more children now
we started to teach more children now
we started to teach more children now the thing is with linear storytelling
the thing is with linear storytelling
the thing is with linear storytelling we’re all used to reading a book from
we’re all used to reading a book from
we’re all used to reading a book from page one all the way to the end unless
page one all the way to the end unless
page one all the way to the end unless you’re one of those weird people that
you’re one of those weird people that
you’re one of those weird people that just goes right to the end because you
just goes right to the end because you
just goes right to the end because you want to know who done it we were
want to know who done it we were
want to know who done it we were teaching children how to be diverse
teaching children how to be diverse
teaching children how to be diverse thinkers and creating nonlinear
thinkers and creating nonlinear
thinkers and creating nonlinear narratives this is actually a picture of
narratives this is actually a picture of
narratives this is actually a picture of one of the games created by a child she
one of the games created by a child she
one of the games created by a child she was 12 years old and in her name is
was 12 years old and in her name is
was 12 years old and in her name is Zahra she created a mystery set in a
Zahra she created a mystery set in a
Zahra she created a mystery set in a castle setting now have to say the girls
castle setting now have to say the girls
castle setting now have to say the girls tended to create games that were
tended to create games that were
tended to create games that were friendlier and the boys more conflict
friendlier and the boys more conflict
friendlier and the boys more conflict based which I thought was a very
based which I thought was a very
based which I thought was a very interesting observation
interesting observation
interesting observation but in that second year the kids were
but in that second year the kids were
but in that second year the kids were able to play all of the games created by
able to play all of the games created by
able to play all of the games created by the kids and student in year 1 you see
the kids and student in year 1 you see
the kids and student in year 1 you see year 1 their benchmark was an hour long
year 1 their benchmark was an hour long
year 1 their benchmark was an hour long game that our professional designers had
game that our professional designers had
game that our professional designers had created so they had no idea that they
created so they had no idea that they
created so they had no idea that they thought they could create a 1 hour game
thought they could create a 1 hour game
thought they could create a 1 hour game in 20 hours of class but by the second
in 20 hours of class but by the second
in 20 hours of class but by the second year they were able to benchmark
year they were able to benchmark
year they were able to benchmark themselves against other 11 12 and 13
themselves against other 11 12 and 13
themselves against other 11 12 and 13 year old kids I can do that I can do
year old kids I can do that I can do
year old kids I can do that I can do that better so we were starting to see
that better so we were starting to see
that better so we were starting to see really cool things like voice overs and
really cool things like voice overs and
really cool things like voice overs and customization and stories that really
customization and stories that really
customization and stories that really blew our minds now here’s the remarkable
blew our minds now here’s the remarkable
blew our minds now here’s the remarkable thing there is incredible joy on a
thing there is incredible joy on a
thing there is incredible joy on a child’s face when they become engaged
child’s face when they become engaged
child’s face when they become engaged with what it is that they’re creating
with what it is that they’re creating
with what it is that they’re creating right now there’s a huge push in the
right now there’s a huge push in the
right now there’s a huge push in the education system for stem science
education system for stem science
education system for stem science technology engineering and math I feel
technology engineering and math I feel
technology engineering and math I feel like we’ve missed a really important
like we’ve missed a really important
like we’ve missed a really important piece of that a for the Arts steam what
piece of that a for the Arts steam what
piece of that a for the Arts steam what we were seeing was that children were so
we were seeing was that children were so
we were seeing was that children were so engaged in the act of storytelling and
engaged in the act of storytelling and
engaged in the act of storytelling and printing in that code they actually have
printing in that code they actually have
printing in that code they actually have to learn Lua script because all of that
to learn Lua script because all of that
to learn Lua script because all of that stuff they have to have the logic built
stuff they have to have the logic built
stuff they have to have the logic built in for that game to work that is the
in for that game to work that is the
in for that game to work that is the exact look on the face of a 13 year old
exact look on the face of a 13 year old
exact look on the face of a 13 year old girl named Maddie who coated for the
girl named Maddie who coated for the
girl named Maddie who coated for the first time and the tutorial box popped
first time and the tutorial box popped
first time and the tutorial box popped up and there was us it was amazing and
up and there was us it was amazing and
up and there was us it was amazing and then all of the other kids came to her
then all of the other kids came to her
then all of the other kids came to her for help with how to code we later would
for help with how to code we later would
for help with how to code we later would see that again with an eight-year-old I
see that again with an eight-year-old I
see that again with an eight-year-old I know no pets no plants no children what
know no pets no plants no children what
know no pets no plants no children what am I doing with your children earlier
am I doing with your children earlier
am I doing with your children earlier this year we were asked by Microsoft to
this year we were asked by Microsoft to
this year we were asked by Microsoft to come out to Vancouver and teach their
come out to Vancouver and teach their
come out to Vancouver and teach their employees children how to make games
employees children how to make games
employees children how to make games except these children were going to be
except these children were going to be
except these children were going to be between the ages of 8 and 12 and in fact
between the ages of 8 and 12 and in fact
between the ages of 8 and 12 and in fact they snuck a seven and a half year old
they snuck a seven and a half year old
they snuck a seven and a half year old in there I guess she was tall for her
in there I guess she was tall for her
in there I guess she was tall for her age that was an interesting experience
age that was an interesting experience
age that was an interesting experience so instead of having solo projects for
so instead of having solo projects for
so instead of having solo projects for each child we had to think about what
each child we had to think about what
each child we had to think about what would the outcome going to be you know
would the outcome going to be you know
would the outcome going to be you know as adults we’ve become very
as adults we’ve become very
as adults we’ve become very outcome oriented so my idea was that
outcome oriented so my idea was that
outcome oriented so my idea was that these children were coming for one week
these children were coming for one week
these children were coming for one week and they would have a game and then they
and they would have a game and then they
and they would have a game and then they would go home on Friday well this was
would go home on Friday well this was
would go home on Friday well this was gonna be a little bit different we had
gonna be a little bit different we had
gonna be a little bit different we had two groups of five girls
two groups of five girls
two groups of five girls I took the younger ones Blair took the
I took the younger ones Blair took the
I took the younger ones Blair took the older ones his team team shadow created
older ones his team team shadow created
older ones his team team shadow created an inverse world of the Disney stories
an inverse world of the Disney stories
an inverse world of the Disney stories where the bad guys won I thought that
where the bad guys won I thought that
where the bad guys won I thought that was kind of cool they’re all girls but
was kind of cool they’re all girls but
was kind of cool they’re all girls but they wanted like the deep gory stuff and
they wanted like the deep gory stuff and
they wanted like the deep gory stuff and my adorable children wanted to create
my adorable children wanted to create
my adorable children wanted to create the adventures of Finn and GAC’s they
the adventures of Finn and GAC’s they
the adventures of Finn and GAC’s they were going to go on a picnic in the
were going to go on a picnic in the
were going to go on a picnic in the woods and meet super monkey super kitty
woods and meet super monkey super kitty
woods and meet super monkey super kitty and Julio the big bad wolf and at the
and Julio the big bad wolf and at the
and Julio the big bad wolf and at the end of the game there was going to be
end of the game there was going to be
end of the game there was going to be three swirling portals and you could
three swirling portals and you could
three swirling portals and you could choose what happy ending that you were
choose what happy ending that you were
choose what happy ending that you were going to have now in entrepreneurship
going to have now in entrepreneurship
going to have now in entrepreneurship you are going to experience highs and
you are going to experience highs and
you are going to experience highs and lows and some surprises so imagine my
lows and some surprises so imagine my
lows and some surprises so imagine my surprise when my seven and a half year
surprise when my seven and a half year
surprise when my seven and a half year old in the group says I want to jump
old in the group says I want to jump
old in the group says I want to jump scare in the game a jump scare and she
scare in the game a jump scare and she
scare in the game a jump scare and she proceeds to draw what I can only
proceeds to draw what I can only
proceeds to draw what I can only describe as a disturbing bloody doll
and then the other girls say I want to
and then the other girls say I want to have a doll in there too and then the
have a doll in there too and then the
have a doll in there too and then the other and then the other and then the
other and then the other and then the
other and then the other and then the other so now I have five creepy looking
other so now I have five creepy looking
other so now I have five creepy looking dolls and they’re like Jean can you pick
dolls and they’re like Jean can you pick
dolls and they’re like Jean can you pick the best one
my goodness so we put them all in if you
my goodness so we put them all in if you pick the yellow portal that is where
pick the yellow portal that is where
pick the yellow portal that is where you’re going to have the creepy dolls
you’re going to have the creepy dolls
you’re going to have the creepy dolls that your children drew I did not
that your children drew I did not
that your children drew I did not encourage this this is your children
encourage this this is your children
encourage this this is your children however I may have been strategic in
however I may have been strategic in
however I may have been strategic in placing the creepy renditions for added
placing the creepy renditions for added
placing the creepy renditions for added effects now I will tell you they were
effects now I will tell you they were
effects now I will tell you they were audible gasps when I showed them this
because those children we assume that
because those children we assume that girls aren’t into horror but
girls aren’t into horror but
girls aren’t into horror but surprisingly they were really into
surprisingly they were really into
surprisingly they were really into horror you know we want to lump them
horror you know we want to lump them
horror you know we want to lump them into unicorns and fairies and princesses
into unicorns and fairies and princesses
into unicorns and fairies and princesses know they these are actually the tamer
know they these are actually the tamer
know they these are actually the tamer ones these are the tamer ones but these
ones these are the tamer ones but these
ones these are the tamer ones but these are the surprises that we had not
are the surprises that we had not
are the surprises that we had not anticipated as educators that these kids
anticipated as educators that these kids
anticipated as educators that these kids were gonna be like really into creepy
were gonna be like really into creepy
were gonna be like really into creepy stuff I thought that was kind of cool it
stuff I thought that was kind of cool it
stuff I thought that was kind of cool it surprised me how engaged they were their
surprised me how engaged they were their
surprised me how engaged they were their parents of the eight year old said you
parents of the eight year old said you
parents of the eight year old said you know my kid goes to camp for one day and
know my kid goes to camp for one day and
know my kid goes to camp for one day and she’s bored but you got them engaged for
she’s bored but you got them engaged for
she’s bored but you got them engaged for five days and it’s not a magic of who we
five days and it’s not a magic of who we
five days and it’s not a magic of who we are as educators it’s a magic of that
are as educators it’s a magic of that
are as educators it’s a magic of that engagement because now you have that
engagement because now you have that
engagement because now you have that child who’s really excited to see this
child who’s really excited to see this
child who’s really excited to see this thing come to life it’s their story it’s
thing come to life it’s their story it’s
thing come to life it’s their story it’s their words and it’s their magic you
their words and it’s their magic you
their words and it’s their magic you know at the end of each camp we sit down
know at the end of each camp we sit down
know at the end of each camp we sit down each of our kids and we say so what did
each of our kids and we say so what did
each of our kids and we say so what did you think would you do it again and what
you think would you do it again and what
you think would you do it again and what they all say is it was harder than
they all say is it was harder than
they all say is it was harder than anything I’d ever done in school and it
anything I’d ever done in school and it
anything I’d ever done in school and it kind of was scary looking on the Monday
kind of was scary looking on the Monday
kind of was scary looking on the Monday right just like anything else in life
right just like anything else in life
right just like anything else in life when you get started it’s scary if you
when you get started it’s scary if you
when you get started it’s scary if you had asked me four years ago to run a
had asked me four years ago to run a
had asked me four years ago to run a tech startup and go through months of
tech startup and go through months of
tech startup and go through months of lean times would I have done it years of
lean times would I have done it years of
lean times would I have done it years of lean times even I don’t know it’s scary
lean times even I don’t know it’s scary
lean times even I don’t know it’s scary and it’s the unknown but these kids
and it’s the unknown but these kids
and it’s the unknown but these kids prove to us that if you work hard
prove to us that if you work hard
prove to us that if you work hard there’s something really valuable that’s
there’s something really valuable that’s
there’s something really valuable that’s going to come at the end of it and so
going to come at the end of it and so
going to come at the end of it and so their advice to the incoming students
their advice to the incoming students
their advice to the incoming students was it looks scary but it’s not and it’s
was it looks scary but it’s not and it’s
was it looks scary but it’s not and it’s really kind of cool we also learned that
really kind of cool we also learned that
really kind of cool we also learned that there is magic and helping people see
there is magic and helping people see
there is magic and helping people see what’s possible when you’re in a
what’s possible when you’re in a
what’s possible when you’re in a traditional classroom environment and
traditional classroom environment and
traditional classroom environment and you have one teacher for twenty eight to
you have one teacher for twenty eight to
you have one teacher for twenty eight to thirty students they don’t get that
thirty students they don’t get that
thirty students they don’t get that connection with you and they want to be
connection with you and they want to be
connection with you and they want to be connected the other thing is I as a very
connected the other thing is I as a very
connected the other thing is I as a very business minded person providing this
business minded person providing this
business minded person providing this service
service
service was completely oblivious to the fact
was completely oblivious to the fact
was completely oblivious to the fact that they wanted to make friends with
that they wanted to make friends with
that they wanted to make friends with each other I know right they actually
each other I know right they actually
each other I know right they actually liked each other oh that’s an
liked each other oh that’s an
liked each other oh that’s an interesting thing because it was very
interesting thing because it was very
interesting thing because it was very adult very adult I read something online
adult very adult I read something online
adult very adult I read something online that says that at five years old we use
that says that at five years old we use
that says that at five years old we use 80% of our creativity and by the time we
80% of our creativity and by the time we
80% of our creativity and by the time we reach 12 it’s 2% and that it stays at 2%
reach 12 it’s 2% and that it stays at 2%
reach 12 it’s 2% and that it stays at 2% for the rest of our lives now I read
for the rest of our lives now I read
for the rest of our lives now I read this and I thought that can’t be true
this and I thought that can’t be true
this and I thought that can’t be true that cannot be true I looked for proof
that cannot be true I looked for proof
that cannot be true I looked for proof to refute it something to prove it and I
to refute it something to prove it and I
to refute it something to prove it and I couldn’t I just found somebody repeating
couldn’t I just found somebody repeating
couldn’t I just found somebody repeating the same thing over and over again
the same thing over and over again
the same thing over and over again because you know it’s the Internet but
because you know it’s the Internet but
because you know it’s the Internet but deep down inside I have to wonder if
deep down inside I have to wonder if
deep down inside I have to wonder if it’s true because I don’t see a lot of
it’s true because I don’t see a lot of
it’s true because I don’t see a lot of adults engaging in creativity and when
adults engaging in creativity and when
adults engaging in creativity and when we are in creativity we are in joy when
we are in creativity we are in joy when
we are in creativity we are in joy when is the last time that you were fully
is the last time that you were fully
is the last time that you were fully creative you know we have our knitting
creative you know we have our knitting
creative you know we have our knitting bombers like we’re yeah knit and you
bombers like we’re yeah knit and you
bombers like we’re yeah knit and you throw it on a tree that’s kind of
throw it on a tree that’s kind of
throw it on a tree that’s kind of creative maybe you’re really into fancy
creative maybe you’re really into fancy
creative maybe you’re really into fancy artisanal cheeses well if you’re making
artisanal cheeses well if you’re making
artisanal cheeses well if you’re making them that’s creative but from their
them that’s creative but from their
them that’s creative but from their day-to-day lives we are so caught up in
day-to-day lives we are so caught up in
day-to-day lives we are so caught up in our mortgages and our relationships and
our mortgages and our relationships and
our mortgages and our relationships and our jobs and all of that stress that we
our jobs and all of that stress that we
our jobs and all of that stress that we have forgotten to have joy and
have forgotten to have joy and
have forgotten to have joy and creativity and working with those kids
creativity and working with those kids
creativity and working with those kids reminded me of how lacking in creativity
reminded me of how lacking in creativity
reminded me of how lacking in creativity that the stand-up comedian was until I
that the stand-up comedian was until I
that the stand-up comedian was until I started creating my own games and I see
started creating my own games and I see
started creating my own games and I see that in other adult writers they want to
that in other adult writers they want to
that in other adult writers they want to create too because everybody has a story
create too because everybody has a story
create too because everybody has a story what I realized was that we weren’t just
what I realized was that we weren’t just
what I realized was that we weren’t just building a technology company we were
building a technology company we were
building a technology company we were building a dream we were building a
building a dream we were building a
building a dream we were building a story machine and we each have stories
story machine and we each have stories
story machine and we each have stories to tell
to tell
to tell what’s yours
you
you [Music]
”
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