COVINGTON TWP. Pa., Oct. 18, 2024 – Over the past few years, the hit game GeoGuessr has taken the world by storm. The game saw a huge surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people had nothing better to do and wanted an escape from being stuck inside all day. Can the game be something that can be used in a classroom environment to learn about the world? That is something that can be debated both ways.
The game of GeoGuessr is simple: People are placed in a random location anywhere in the world, and they must identify where they are. Geography nerds, such as famous YouTuber Trevor Rainbolt, can identify where they are in a matter of seconds based off of clues such as what a country’s telephone pole looks like, the nature around them, the texture of dirt, how the road lines are, and even how many windows the image on a bus stop sign has. The question now is can people learn to become geography experts solely by playing the game, and should the game be incorporated into certain school curriculums, such as world history?
People can learn to identify certain aspects of each country by using a “meta,” an effective tactic used to achieve the goal of the game. For someone who first starts playing, it is commonplace to have no clue what he or she is doing. The person may look for large details, such as what language the country speaks. As progression occurs, people learn to identify many more objects, such as chevrons (yellow arrows by roads indicating turns), license plates, and road markings/sign shapes.
Although many people may believe that GeoGuessr helps them learn about the world’s countries, others do not believe the same. Sophomore Matthew Nicosia stated that Geoguessr has not made a difference in his knowledge of Earth. “Not at all. I am still an American,” he had to say on whether or not the game helped his geography skills. Junior Isaiah King disagreed with Matthew. He mentioned how it helped him gain knowledge of the world, stating, “Now I know that Georgia is a country and not just a state.” Although GeoGuessr can help people learn about the world, it seems that it is not for everyone. This hit-or-miss approach may make the game unsuitable for schools, as it may not work for most students.
GeoGuessr’s rise in popularity allowed for people to enjoy the outside world from their own home during COVID. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, people continue to enjoy the guessing game to the point where it now has its own world cup. Although it does not work for everyone and it may not be fit for the classroom, it can still be used as an amazing resource for those who want to learn about anywhere in the world.
Matthew Nicosia Isaiah King
Photo credit: Ethan Schield Photo credit: Ethan Schield
