Equipment Loan Program

Play the Knave is free for download, but it requires specific equipment in order to run. For teachers who do not have the equipment necessary to play, you can arrange to borrow one of our Knave Kits at no cost; all you will need to supply is a the classroom, time (1-2 class periods), and a TV/projector. If you do not live near enough to Davis, CA, where the program is based, you may need to pay for shipping the kit.

To learn about our research study, see the FAQs below or visit our Education page or Research page.

If you are interested in borrowing a kit, you can fill out a request here.

​Frequently Asked Questions

​How can teachers or schools sign up to borrow a Knave Kit?
If a teacher wishes to borrow the equipment necessary to use Play the Knave in a classroom, the teacher should fill out our Knave Kit Loan form. This program is only available to schools in the United States due to shipping restrictions. However, teachers in or near Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa may be able to borrow a kit from one of our affiliated researchers there.

What is included in the Knave Kit?
Our Knave Kit contains everything required to run Play the Knave (computer, Kinect camera, and connection cables); you provide only a TV or projector/screen. ​

How much does it cost to borrow a kit?
There is no cost to borrow the equipment. Teachers need only pay for the cost of shipping the Knave Kit.

How much does shipping cost?
Shipping tends to run $50-100, depending on how far you are from Davis, CA. Teachers in or near Davis can come to campus and pick up the kit to avoid shipping fees. If funds are available, we can waive shipping fees for participants in our research study. 

What does participation in the research study involve?
To participate in the study, the teacher would follow one of our lesson plans, adapting it as needed to suit the class’s learning needs. We have lesson options for Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello​. Students who consent to participating in the research study fill out short surveys before and after the lessons; the teacher fills out a questionnaire after the lesson and shares with us any written work relating to the lesson. (We ask the teacher to remove student names from their work before sharing it with us.) We would appreciate it if the teacher can audio-record the lesson and share that recording with us, but we understand if this is not possible.

How can teachers and students learn more about the research?
Here are some of our recent publications about the research project :
How much time is required for participation?
Beyond teaching the lesson during one or, ideally, two class periods, participation takes no more than 15 minutes.

What do teachers need to supply?
Aside from setting aside one or two class periods, all you need is a TV or projector with space in front for students to move around.

Will my classroom need an internet connection?
No. This is not an online game. The software is preloaded to a computer we will provide. You simply plug everything in and connect to a TV or projector in the classroom.

Helpful Links

Knave Kit Loan Form. This form is for teachers interested in borrowing a Knave Kit. If you have already requested a kit, you do not need to fill out this form again.

Player Manual. The manual includes instructions for setting up your play space and for gameplay, including how to navigate the game’s menu system. It also offers tips for how to get the most out of your gameplay and helpful troubleshooting advice if you run into problems.

Lesson Plans. These lesson plans were developed by Prof. Gina Bloom in collaboration with high school teacher Lauren Bates and with the assistance of undergraduate students at UC Davis. You are welcome to use or adapt any of the lessons and the writing assignments that accompany them. 

Mekanimator Scriptmaker. If you would like to use a separate script from our preloaded options (or have students write their own scripts to play), you can use this online tool. Save the created script to your computer and then use a USB drive to move it over to the Knave Kit computer so that you can upload your scenes into the game.
  • Scriptmaker Manual (Text). A text file that walks you through the steps of writing, editing, testing, and saving scripts in our Mekanimator Scriptmaker. It also offers helpful troubleshooting advice if you run into problems.
  • Scriptmaker Tutorial (Video). Video tutorial for use of our Mekanimator Scriptmaker.

Loan Process

OPTION 1—PARTICIPANTS IN OUR RESEARCH STUDY
To activate your loan:
  1. Look over the available lesson plans, which can be found in the  appendix to Experimenting with Shakespeare. Once you find the lesson of interest, click on the link to "download the lesson bundle." You will then see on the top right of the page a link to "Download" the zip folder. You do not need to login or sign up for an account to download the lesson.
  2. Fill out the request form, and we will get in touch to set up the loan (provided we have a kit available on the dates you need one). You will be asked to fill out a short loan form, providing the dates you wish to borrow the equipment. We will also correspond with you about the lesson plans and assignments we offer as part of the research study. 
  3. We will reach out to coordinate your borrowing a Knave Kit before the date of your lesson.

Before you begin the lesson:
  1. If you receive the Knave Kit by mail, keep the original UPS box with all the packing material to be reused when you return the kit. If you misplace the box or materials, you will need to pay UPS (approximately $10) to pack the kit before sending it back due to insurance regulations.
  2. In the week before your lesson, set aside 5-10 minutes in class for students to fill out a short online survey. A link to the survey will be provided via email from [email protected] and included as a QR code in your kit.
  3. At least a day before your lesson, set up the equipment in your classroom to test it out. Students love to help with this! If you encounter problems, consult the Troubleshooting section in our Player Handbook. If that doesn't help, you can email us for additional help.
  4. Make copies of any handouts required for the lesson you selected and downloaded.

During the lesson:
  1. If possible, record the class discussion with an audio-recording app on your smartphone or other audio-recording device. Try to capture the voices of students by placing the device closer to them. If they are working in small groups, you can ask a student to record their group’s conversation on a phone.
  2. If possible, take some photographs and/or videos, ideally without student faces showing.​ 
  3. Be sure to collect any writing students produce during the lesson so that you can share that with us later. This would include the handout they fill out as part of the lesson plan. If you or students wish to keep the handout, you can send us a scan or photograph.

As soon as possible after the lesson is completed:
  1. Set aside 5-10 minutes of class for students to complete the second online survey (provided via e-mail or on a QR code in your kit).
  2. Fill out the teacher survey (provided via e-mail).
  3. Share with us any recordings/photos you took of the class doing the activity.

When preparing the kit to send back to us:
  1. When you are ready to return the equipment, email [email protected] to coordinate shipping.
  2. When packing the kit, be sure to use all the packing materials that were used in the original shipment, ensuring that the kit is securely placed and well-padded. If you are missing packing materials, you’ll need to pay UPS about $10 to pack the box for you so that the contents do not get damaged.
  3. Your package should also include:
  • Copies of student work related to the activity with names removed. Alternatively, send us a digital copy (Google       folder, Dropbox, etc.).
  • All laminated documents that came in the kit: set-up instructions, equipment images, and copies of the avatars.
OPTION 2—LOAN A KIT WITHOUT PARTICIPATING IN OUR RESEARCH STUDY
To activate your loan:
Fill out a request form, and we will get in touch to set up the loan (provided we have a kit available on the dates you need one.) You will be asked to fill out a short loan form, providing the dates you wish to borrow the equipment.

You are welcome to use our lesson plans or seek advice from us about your plans. To view the available lesson plans, visit the  appendix to Experimenting with Shakespeare. Once you find the lesson of interest, click on the link to "download the lesson bundle." You will then see on the top right of the page a link to "Download" the zip folder. You do not need to login or sign up for an account to download the lesson.

To set up shipping of your kit:
We ask that teachers borrowing our kits but not participating in the research study pay for shipping. Once we have set up your loan dates, you will need to facilitate the initial shipment by creating a shipping label via the UPS website:

Visit the shipping page on the UPS website.

In the Shipping From section, enter the following information:
Gina Bloom c/o Melissa Lovejoy
University of California, Davis--Voorhies Hall
101 Peter J. Shields Ave
Floor: RM; Suite: 168
Davis, CA 95616

Email: [email protected]
Phone:  (530) 752-6684

Enter your own address for Shipping To

Select the option for standard packaging and enter the dimensions and weight of the package as provided in the email from us. Please complete the other fields as follows:
      Contents:  computing equipment
      Insurance value:  $1200
      Signature Options: YES (adult signature required)

When asked for the shipping date, just leave it blank and then select what you prefer for delivery.

Once you have paid, you will have the option to create a shipping label. Please forward that shipping label to [email protected].

Before you begin your lesson:
  1. When you receive your package, keep the original UPS box with all the packing material to be reused when you return the kit. If you misplace the box or materials, you will need to pay UPS (approximately $10) to pack the kit before sending it due to insurance regulations.  
  2. At least a day before your lesson, set up the equipment in your classroom to test it out. Students love to help with this! If you encounter problems, consult the Troubleshooting section in our Player Handbook. If that doesn't help, you can email us for additional help.
​
 To send the kit back to us:
  1. Pack up the kit, being sure to include all the laminated documents that came in the original box: set-up instructions, equipment images, and 5 copies of the avatars. Be sure to use all the packing materials that were used in the original shipment, ensuring that the kit is securely placed and well-padded. If you are missing packing materials, you’ll need to pay UPS about $10 to pack the box for you so that the contents do not get damaged.
  2. Visit the shipping page on the UPS website. Create your shipping label by reversing the addresses from above.
  3. We would be so grateful if teachers and students could fill out a survey about their experiences after they use the game in class. Links to these surveys can be found in the email from [email protected].