Copyright 2008, Elizabeth A. Evans Copyright 2008, Elizabeth A. Evans. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author. To contact the author: evans@unc.edu University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Game-Based Learning: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Elizabeth A. Evans January 22, 2009

First: Your Background Who plays games? Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

First: Your Background How many of you would describe yourself as a “gamer?” Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

First: Your Background How many of you play Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games? Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

First: Your Background How many of you are cynical about the use of computer games in higher education curricula? Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

First: Your Background How many of you are enthusiastic about the use of computer games in higher education curricula? Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

First: Your Background How many of you are taking a “wait and see” approach about the use of computer games in higher education curricula? Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

Today’s Questions What new opportunities can games bring to our students’ learning experiences? What issues of concern surround the discussion about games in higher education? What are the major barriers to progress? Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

Imagine… …that we’re not limited to games that are currently available.

Imagine… This is a discussion about possibility. “The day before something is a breakthrough, it was a crazy idea.” Heard during NPR interview, April 2007

I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun; Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun; ….assessment is crucial; Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun; ….assessment is crucial ….you can teach old dogs new tricks. Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

I Also Believe… It’s not all sweetness and light…

So… We explore today’s questions.

Question 1: What new opportunities can games bring to our students’ learning experiences? In order for create a section divider slide, add a new slide, select the “Title Only” Slide Layout and apply the “Section Divider” master from the Slide Design menu. For more information regarding slide layouts and slide designs, please visit http://office.microsoft.com/training

New Potential Ideas? (Post-Its)

New Potential Multidisciplinary Learning Multidisciplinary learning, active learning, lifelong learning, critical thinking, written and oral communication, collaborative learning, student involvement in research, knowledge creation

New Potential Professor Shatner is the university’s advisor for students studying in the country of Eshaba. A group of 5 students is midway through a semester in the country when Professor Shatner receives a panicked email from one of them. The country is under siege by its larger neighbor, Proverba, over grazing rights. Eshaba has more ample supplies of water and so farmers are able to better maintain their pastures. Proverba, in a severe 3-year long drought, is desperate. Shatner immediately contacts the American embassy in Eshaba where he is told the students have been kidnapped by Proverbans and are being held hostage to force the United States to intervene in the grazing rights issue.   Knowing U.S. intervention is unlikely, Shatner decides to put together a team to rescue the kidnapped students. He quickly assembles a team to study the problem and design a rescue attempt. The neighboring country on the other side of Eshaba is friendly to the U.S., so they decide to base their operations there. Unfortunately, that border is lined with a steep mountain range. The team must design a plan to get over the mountains, negotiate successfully with the kidnappers, and safely bring the rescued students home.

New Potential Lifelong learning

New Potential Give them risks, give them danger, save money

New Potential Research Opportunities

New Potential Any new ideas?

Question 2: What issues of concern surround the discussion about games in higher education? In order for create a section divider slide, add a new slide, select the “Title Only” Slide Layout and apply the “Section Divider” master from the Slide Design menu. For more information regarding slide layouts and slide designs, please visit http://office.microsoft.com/training

New Potential Ideas? (Post-Its)

Concerns Lots of data; Not much privacy?

Concerns Here an interface, there an interface, everywhere an interface.

Concerns Gender/Race/Age

Concerns Addiction

Concerns Faculty/Student Experience and Expertise

(Comparison to traditional) Concerns Assessment of learning outcomes (Comparison to traditional)

Concerns Any new ideas?

Question 3: What are the major barriers to progress? In order for create a section divider slide, add a new slide, select the “Title Only” Slide Layout and apply the “Section Divider” master from the Slide Design menu. For more information regarding slide layouts and slide designs, please visit http://office.microsoft.com/training

Barriers Ideas? (Post-Its)

Barriers $$$$$$$$$$

Barriers Skills

Barriers NIH

Barriers Faculty Risk: Promotion and Tenure

Barriers Any new ideas?

Opportunities What can we do together?

I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun; ….assessment is crucial ….you can teach old dogs new tricks; ….it’s not all sweetness and light Bullets are 32 point Trebuchet MS bold

Stay in Touch Facebook and LinkedIn Profiles: Elizabeth Evans Our Games4Learning Web site and list: http://LearnIT.unc.edu/Games4Learning