Carmen Sandiego Day

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Carmen Sandiego Days (also known as Carmen Days) have been popular across United States schools since they were first held in 1988. Inspired by the Carmen Sandiego franchise, these days see schools hold week-long Carmen Sandiego-themed events, aided by packs and prizes originally provided by Broderbund, and later by the franchises' subsequent owners after The Learning Company's acquisition of Broderbund in 1998. The 30th Carmen Sandiego Day took place on January 8, 2018.

Contents

History

When Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? was released in 1985, it wasn't an immediate success. It largely found its feet thanks to Apple's Apple Unified School System and Apple's Education Purchase Program, which guaranteed a "nationwide computer-in-the-classroom infrastructure" that had an unprecedented and surreptitious side effect for Carmen Sandiego. Cathy Carlston and Janese Swanson, members of Broderbund's Educational Task Force, leveraged this by creating "Carmen Days", in which teachers and students would dress up as characters from the series, and play Carmen Sandiego video games. [1]

March 4, 1988 saw the very first Carmen Sandiego Day take place in Bluffton, Indiana; it was organised by Jon Bennett of Eastside Elementary School. [2] [3] Broderbund helped out with the event by providing Carmen Sandiego content and a plan to follow. Other schools began holding the days, and Broderbund set up a streamlined system for them to purchase the kit. SAGE students held a Carmen Sandiego Day on November 16, 1990 [4] Valen Maylard created an idea packet for the day entitled "Carmen Sandiego Is in Your Classroom", which incorporated the Carmen Day kit into the proceedings as supplementary material. [5] Seventh- and eighth-grade students of Little Flower School celebrated the day in 1993, which included them playing the video game over 8 weeks in a contest for who could complete the most cases .. They also dressed up as a character from the series and delivered a presentation on them. [6] An event was held at Winding Creek on April 10, 2002. [7]

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Carmen Sandiego Day, the franchise is encouraging schools across the country to creating their own classroom events dedicated to cultural awareness and inquiry-based learning on January 8, 2019. In a live event from 10:30-11:30 AM EST, the show will broadcast a live interview with the voice of Carmen, Gina Rodriguez. It will also show the trailer and clips from the upcoming Netflix show. Finally, students will be selected to compete in a geography.history gameshow entitled Geo Game Show. [8] The live broadcast will be done via dadeschools.tv. [9] In addition, HMH created quizzes and activities for the Day, including Carmen's Geo Handbook and Carmen Quiz Show. [10]

Description

Schools

The exact description of a day varies with the event. In the very first Carmen Sandiego Day, students went on a linguistic, artistic, musical, and geographical tour through locations where Carmen's crooks hid, on the way learning about culture via their favourite sports and chosen cuisines. [2] The first annual Carmen Sandiego Day in Charlotte took place on February 15, 1993, and all 4–6th graders in public, private and parochial schools were asked to participate in the event. [11] Carmen Sandiego Day was recommended as a way to get educators, students and community members to turn into technology users and supporters. [12] [13] [14] In a 1992 event, children explained the computer program to their parents, brought food from different parts of the world, had homerooms compete in the Math Super Bowl competition, and a Media Center containing a Carmen theater, art exhibits, Spanish exhibits, gifted-talented exhibits and hobbies-sports-careers exhibits. [15]

Broderbund

To help with the events, Broderbund traditionally contributes in various ways. They published sample news releases and a radio script, as well as participation certificates for the students. [2] They also created a four-week planning guide that led up to the actual events. [16] In some cases, Broderbund even sent an actress dressed up as Carmen Sandiego by helicopter herself to schools who called in advance. [16] A system was implemented whereby students could call into the fictional Acme Detective Agency (actual Broderbund headquarters) and talk to the Chief (played by franchise creators Gene Portwood or Lauren Elliott). [1] While they originally gave away the kits for free, due to the success of the program they began charging $10 for shipping and handling. [17] [18] Broderbund added a contest element to the days as Broderbund would provide a pack with shirts, folders, contest suggestions, stickers, and prizes; this became a favourable component for schools. [12] [13] [14] The kit was made available alongside the other two educational support packages, released due to the "overwhelming acceptance" of the series: School editions and Lab Pack editions. [17] The latter two, plus Carmen Day sequels, were published by Broderbund due to the "overwhelming demand". [1]

Reception

The Carmen Sandiego kit was distributed to over 7000 schools across the United States, and the project was covered in Time magazine. [19] Jon Bennet, who had organised the first Carmen Sandiego Day, received the Quality Recognition Award for technology innovation at a State Board of Education meeting for his Carmen Sandiego Day concept. [19] In 2001, Lauren Elliott would retroactively assess that "[Carmen Days] were a kick ... and successful". [1]

Beverly Cunningham, SAGE teacher at Mountain Valley Elementary, commented: "Carmen Sandiego Day is an excellent example of how computer programs can be used innovatively to enrich traditional subjects and increase student involvement and motivation". [4] A November 1991 issue of Amiga News noted that the Carmen Sandiego franchise had "achieved great success" in schools thanks to the establishment of this ongoing event. [20] [21] Commodore Magazine wrote that the Carmen Day packs were "worth it". [17]

The success of Carmen Days led to schools from many states asking Broderbund to make state-specific versions of their games to appeal to the state and fit into their Carmen Days. Broderbund only attempted this once, with the prototype Where in North Dakota Is Carmen Sandiego? ; the game sold around 5,000 copies but its popularity was contained with North Dakota. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broderbund</span> American software company

Broderbund Software, Inc. was an American maker of video games, educational software, and productivity tools. Broderbund is best known for the 8-bit video game hits Choplifter, Lode Runner, Karateka, and Prince of Persia, as well as The Print Shop—originally for printing signs and banners on dot matrix printers—and the Myst and Carmen Sandiego games. The company was founded in Eugene, Oregon, and moved to San Rafael, California, then later to Novato, California. Brøderbund was purchased by SoftKey in 1998.

<i>Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> American animated television series

Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? is an American live action/animated television series based on the series of computer games. The show was produced by DIC Productions L.P. and originally aired from 1994 to 1999, on Saturday mornings during FOX's Fox Kids Network block. Reruns aired on the Qubo television network from June 9, 2012 to May 26, 2018.

<i>Carmen Sandiego</i> (video game series) American educational mystery video game series

Carmen Sandiego is a series of American educational mystery video games that spawned an edutainment franchise of the same name. The game released in 1985, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, started off both the video game series and the franchise as a whole, which has continued up to the present day. Each game of the series has a particular theme and subject, where the player must use their knowledge to find Carmen Sandiego or any of her innumerable henchmen. This series was originally owned by Broderbund, but is now owned by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Since its initial release the series has won over 125 awards and accolades.

<i>Carmen Sandiego</i> Media franchise

Carmen Sandiego is a media franchise based on a series of computer video games created by the American software company Broderbund. While the original 1985 Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? video game was classified as a "mystery exploration" series by creators and the media, the series would later be deemed edutainment when the games became unexpectedly popular in classrooms. The franchise centers around the fictional thieving villain of the same name, who is the ringleader of the criminal organization V.I.L.E.; the protagonists are agents of the ACME Detective Agency who try to thwart the crooks' plans to steal treasures from around the world, while the later ultimate goal is to capture Carmen Sandiego herself.

<i>Carmen Sandiegos ThinkQuick Challenge</i> 1999 video game

Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge is a "game show-themed" edutainment computer game for kids ages 8–12. The title, which is a part of the Carmen Sandiego franchise, was released by The Learning Company on June 1, 1999. It can be played by up to 4 players, and runs on the Mohawk engine.

<i>Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> (video game) 1989 computer and video game

Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? is a multiplatform video game where players have to travel through time to collect clues and the warrants necessary to capture Carmen Sandiego or her henchmen. The goal of this game is to track Carmen's villains through history and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself.

<i>Carmen Sandiegos Great Chase Through Time</i> 1997 edutainment point-and-click adventure video game

Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time is a 1997 edutainment point-and-click adventure game developed by Broderbund for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh devices. The game is a remake of the 1989 time-travel title Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, making it the second Time video game in the Carmen Sandiego franchise. The game was strongly influenced by the short-lived PBS game show, Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?. The game was previewed at the 1997 Toy Fair in New York City. A demo version was included on the CD for Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and was available on the Carmen Sandiego website. After Broderbund was sold to The Learning Company, the game was re-released with the new title - Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time - but with minimal redesign.

<i>Carmen Sandiego Word Detective</i> 1997 video game

Carmen Sandiego Word Detective is a game in the Carmen Sandiego franchise which was released in 1997. The plot of the game sees Carmen Sandiego inventing a machine called the Babble-On Machine, and the player in the role of Agent 13, thwarting her plans by freeing all the other agents which have been captured by Carmen. The title is very similar in format to Carmen Sandiego Math Detective, which was released a year later.

<i>Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> (1996 video game) 1996 video game

Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? is a 1996 video game part of the Carmen Sandiego franchise. It was the third version of the game, after the 1985 original title of the same name and a 1992 Deluxe version of said game. The game's release coincided on the heels of the end of the PBS game show, and features QuickTime videos of Lynne Thigpen reprising her role as "The Chief". This was the last version of the game to follow the "classic" formula of the series, but much of the game, especially the "warrant" portion, was heavily redesigned. The Deluxe Edition released in 1998 added speech welcoming the player to each country and an "ACME Global Language Link-Up" satellite which quizzed the user on the local language. Players also received a spy watch and "an introduction to 12 foreign languages".

<i>Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective</i> 1995 video game

Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective is a 1995 education game in the Carmen Sandiego franchise developed by Broderbund. Although not a version of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? by name, it is essentially a simplified version of it for pre-readers. Allgame says the game "is geared for younger users, with only 14 cases to solve". The lead characters of the FOX animated series Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Zack and Ivy, were included in the game, along with Stretch - "ACME's crime-tracking dog".

<i>Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> (1985 video game) 1985 video game

Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? is an educational video game released by Broderbund on April 23, 1985. It is the first product in the Carmen Sandiego franchise. The game was distributed with The World Almanac and Book of Facts, published by Pharos Books. An enhanced version of the game was released in 1989, which did not have the almanac-based copy protection and instead used disk-based copy protection. A deluxe version was released in 1990, and featured additional animation and a reworked interface from the original version. Some of the bonus features included digitized photos from National Geographic, over 3200 clues, music from the Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings, 20 villains, 60 countries, and 16 maps. CD-ROM versions for DOS and Macintosh were released in 1992, and a Windows version was released in 1994.

<i>Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? is a video game that was released by Broderbund in 1986 and is part of the Carmen Sandiego series. The game is a sequel to 1985's Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. A deluxe version with updated graphics and interface was released in 1992 and a remade version was released in 1996. The goal of the game is to track Carmen Sandiego's henchmen across the United States, arrest them, and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. The game received generally positive reviews but some critics compared it unfavorably with its predecessor game, which had a global perspective.

<i>Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> Educational computer game

Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego? is an educational video game by Broderbund and Electronic Arts.

<i>Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> 1988 video game

Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego? is a 1988 European geography-based educational computer game in the Carmen Sandiego detective mystery franchise. It was originally published by Broderbund in 1988 for Apple II, Commodore 64, and DOS, and ported to the Amiga and Macintosh in 1989. It is the third Carmen Sandiego title, after Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985) and Where in the USA Is Carmen Sandiego? (1986). Under the guidance of The Acme Agency's chief, the player completes cases to catch Carmen's henchmen; they accomplish this by traveling to European cities to find clues relating to the crook's last known whereabouts, and by gaining enough character data to issue a warrant of arrest. Once the player has captured all 15 thieves, they can pursue Carmen herself.

Where in the Universe Is Carmen Sandiego? is an educational planetarium program and live theatrical production and part of the Carmen Sandiego franchise. Licensed to planetariums across the US, Canada, and Japan, the show premiered in 1998 or 1999. The program featured the effects work of Adrian Ropp and was produced by Dr. William A. Gutsch, with music composed by Mark Mercury. Inspired by the successful television programs Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, the series aimed to promote listening and math skills through interactive sessions rather than relying on memorized facts. The shows encouraged audience participation by incorporating question-and-answer segments.

<i>Where in North Dakota Is Carmen Sandiego?</i> 1989 video game

Where in North Dakota Is Carmen Sandiego? is a 1989 edutainment video game. It is the fourth game in the Carmen Sandiego video game series after World (1985), U.S.A. (1986), and Europe (1988). Having observed the popularity of the Carmen Sandiego franchise in the education of school children, educators were inspired to develop a North Dakota version to teach North Dakotans about their state's history and geography.

<i>Carmen Sandiego</i> (TV series) 2019 animated television series

Carmen Sandiego is an animated action-adventure television series with educational elements, based on the media franchise of the same name created by Broderbund. The series is produced by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt with WildBrain serving as the production company, and contains a "serialized look at Carmen's backstory that is told from her perspective". Serving as an origin story for the fictional thieving villain of the same name, it is the fourth Carmen Sandiego television show after the PBS game shows Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, and the Fox animated series Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?; it is also the first Carmen Sandiego related show since the end of Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego in 1999.

<i>Carmen Sandiego in Japan</i> 1989 video game

Carmen Sandiego in Japan – Hannin Sagashite Nihon Zenkok is a 1989 spin-off entry in the Carmen Sandiego franchise. It was developed and published by Broderbund Japan on two floppy disks for the NEC PC-9801 Series 525in. The title functions as both an adventure game where players chase and capture Carmen, and an educational game where players learn about geography and history of Japan. The title was released on November 21, 1989, one of the few titles released under the Broderbund Japan brand that year alongside tabletop Shufflepuck Café and shooter Wings of Fury (September).

<i>Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?</i> (Prodigy video game) Video game

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? is a game within the Carmen Sandiego franchise made for the Prodigy Interactive online service, a "special edition" and Prodigy service adaptation of the 1985 Broderbund educational game of the same name.

Where in America is Carmen Sandiego?: The Great Amtrak Train Adventure is a 1998 video game and special edition of Broderbund's 1996 educational game Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. It was developed by Broderbund as part of a co-marketing initiative with the American passenger railroad service Amtrak.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Case History: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?: 'A Mystery Exploration Game'" (PDF). Web.stanford.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Carmen Look-Alike Spotted in Bluffton, Indiana" (PDF). Mocagh.org. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  3. ↑ MOCAGH.ORG: Broderbund Software: Broderbundnews summer88 . Retrieved 14 November 2017– via Archive.org.
  4. 1 2 "New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas on November 18, 1990 · Page 20". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  5. ↑ "Document Resume : Carmen Sandiego Is in Your Classroom. An Idea Packet" (PDF). Files.eric.ed.gov. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  6. ↑ newbrunswick.archivalweb.com http://newbrunswick.archivalweb.com/scans/stmalib/ENTERPRISE/1993/1993-02-24_025.txt . Retrieved 2018-12-27.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Stafford school notes". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  8. ↑ "Watch the Live Event | Carmen Sandiego". www.hmhco.com. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  9. ↑ "dadeschools - Eduvision". dadeschools.eduvision.tv. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  10. ↑ "Get Your Students Excited! | Carmen Sandiego". www.hmhco.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-27. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  11. ↑ "Family Computer Center and JCC to Hold A Carmen Sandiego Day Contest Senior Adults Calendar" (TXT). Newspapers.digitalnc.org. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  12. 1 2 "PROMOTING TECHNOLOGY: 13 WAYS TO DO IT". Nctp.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  13. 1 2 "National Center for Technology Planning". Nctp.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  14. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2017-04-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ↑ "The Leaf-Chronicle from Clarksville, Tennessee on February 8, 1992 · 19". Newspapers.com. 8 February 1992. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  16. 1 2 "Google Translate". Translate.google.com.au. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  17. 1 2 3 "Ancillary Material Improves Educational Value". Commodore Magazine . August 1989. Retrieved 2017-02-06– via Archive.org.
  18. ↑ "Full text of "MOCAGH.ORG: Broderbund Software: broderbundnews summer88"". Archive.org. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  19. 1 2 "HCCSC's Bennett earns IU accolade recently | Huntington County Tab". Huntingtoncountytab.com. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  20. ↑ fr, David Brunet. "A La Poursuite De Carmen Sandiego". Obligement.free.fr. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  21. ↑ "amiga News" (PDF). Amigaland.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
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