If the zombie apocalypse came tomorrow, a group of Norwegian
high school students would be ethically prepared.

Tobias Staaby, a teacher at Nordahl Grieg High School, has
developed a class using Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead.

The teacher wants “a good catalyst for discussions about ethical theories and dilemmas.”
He picked great material. The Walking Dead Game (based on the AMC television show)
features intense narrative that is heavily influenced by player’s choices. The sophisticated
nature of the game helped it to win over 90 Game of the Year awards in 2012.

The class plays through the game as one, pausing every time the students must
make a choice to proceed. Then, each student votes anonymously for how he thinks
the situation should be navigated. Once the resultsof the vote are in, the class
discusses the dilemma and the various ethical approaches that could be taken.
Finally, they advance the game according to the solution with the most votes.

Staaby thinks that the game has been an effective teaching tool. “The students are motivated
and committed,” he said, “and when one is engaged in the subject at hand, one will learn better.”
The students agree. Stated one “It’s not normal that I remember everything after a lesson …
but now I feel that I know the subject very well.”

Staaby hopes that in five years, his approach to teaching ethics will be more commonly used.