The Community of Madrid, the Royal Academy of History, and the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute brought together a hundred Secondary Education students to launch the Quizstory Podcast Awards based on the app Quizstory: Spanish Friendship, a contest that held its first edition this year and in which participants created podcasts in both English and Spanish about the fundamental role of Spain in the American Revolutionary War.
The objective of this initiative, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Universities, with collaborators Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and the Royal Academy of History, was to improve language learning and knowledge of different cultures, in addition to arouse the interest of students in radio and the media.
Quizstory, the app transported students to the year 1775, shortly before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, and immersed them in an exciting twelve-year adventure through the establishment of the United States of America and the territories that were then under Spanish administration. Players had an essential role helping George Washington and his army of rebel soldiers by visiting historical sites, meeting key figures in the formation of the country, and by collecting supplies.
The 22 teams from the 19 participating centers created podcasts that included one or more characters in the Quizstory: Spanish Friendship application. Students chose both the content, style, and the language of this project, which could be done in Spanish or English.
The Academic Secretary of the Royal Academy of History, Feliciano Barrios, presented the awards to the third place winners in English and in Spanish. David Cervera of the Community of Madrid presented the awards to the second place winners, and M. Begonia Santos, Executive Director of the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute presented the award to the winners in first place. The first place winners have received tickets to the Puy du Fou España theme park located in Toledo, while second and third place winners will enjoy a visit to the Royal Academy of History and will receive educational materials and a collection of history books.