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Remote Learning Game Story Writer wanted | $50 per hour

Added 2021-05-06 15:38:34 +0000 UTC

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: READ TO LEAD

Senior Learning Game Story Writer (Creative/Educational)

Immediate Supervisor: Director of Content and Curriculum

Location: Remote (Office located New York, NY)

Project Timeline: May 15th - June 30th, approximately 50 hours spent over the 5-6 weeks with the potential to extend into July for review periods

If interested, we invite you to submit your resume and one writing sample.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Read to Lead is a nonprofit that empowers middle school students to develop literacy and leadership skills through immersive learning games set in a professional workplace supplemented by engaging activities and projects! Students become the boss of a virtual workplace to manage staff, make real-world decisions, read closely, and deepen their social/emotional competencies. We invite every student to explore various careers and see themselves in a leadership role both now and in their future.

OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

We are creating a brand new learning game for middle schoolers and need your help to bring this virtual workplace to life! We are partnering with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy to help students explore the pharmacy industry. We are creating a pilot program to launch this August with middle schoolers, including two new game modules and a wrap-around curriculum. Join us in making this new game world together that inspires, motivates, and engages youth!

Read to Lead seeks a Senior Learning Game Story Writer contract position. Join the team creating the upcoming game set in a community pharmacy. We are looking for someone familiar with educational learning games and culturally relevant literature/curriculum. The stories within our games grapple with real-world challenges around social justice, ethical and interpersonal dilemmas experienced as “the boss”. The writer must be skilled at telling authentic stories that reflect the communities of the middle school youth we serve while informing and inspiring them to explore the field of pharmacy.

We have the opportunity to work with graduate students and staff at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy to provide industry specific knowledge and ensure the accuracy of our storylines. Your role, as lead story writer, will be to create deeply engaging stories that captivate and challenge the “head and heart” of the player (“the boss”) and develop a diverse cast of characters who represent various races/ethnicities, cultures, interests, educational backgrounds, and viewpoints. The goal of our games is to provide a safe space to explore careers, grapple with difficult decisions, practice workplace readiness skills, and foster social/emotional learning growth.

To get a sense of the writing style in our learning games, we encourage you to play some of our existing games featured on PBS Learning Media: https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/read-to-lead/

THE PROJECT:

Engage in an initial training session where Read to Lead provides writer's guidelines
Collaborate with the Product Development and Research team to develop our "gamebook" detailing the creative elements of the game setting, themes, and character profiles
Write two compelling scripts, produced into 15-20 minute learning game experiences. Scripts requirements:
2,500-3,000 words written at a 6th-8th grade reading level (using Lexile measurement tool)
Include ten real-world decision branches aligned to Social/Emotional Learning standards
Write additional assets that exist within the game world (articles on computers, flyers on walls, text messages, etc.)
Incorporate feedback and modify work based on direction from both the internal team, industry SMEs from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and educational mentors specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Return up to 3 rounds of edits per script, and meetings as necessary with internal Read to the Lead team, industry SMEs and other stakeholders.
Meet with the art team to guide visual development and asynchronously review assets to keep the storytelling authentic and accurate.

THE ESSENTIALS

Must be able to start by the week of May 17th or May 24th 2021
Must be able to turn edits around within 3-4 days and conduct at least one weekly live meetings with asynchronous communication ongoing as needed
Three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Proficient storyteller and writer, with a particular emphasis on writing authentic and culturally responsive content for middle school readers.
Work that shows a deep understanding of gaming narrative and branching storytelling.
Ability to guide visual development (art and other story assets)
Strong organizational skills
Knowledge of the digital learning game-making process.
Ability to perform well under deadlines and deliver work promptly.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Strong belief in a team-based approach.

Read to Lead is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

JOB SUMMARY: