Games in Higher Education: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Elizabeth A. Evans March 19, 2009

its.unc.edu 2 Logistics for Today Polling Questions Audience Participation Questions/Comments Always Welcomed Chat

its.unc.edu 3 First: Your Background Who plays games?

its.unc.edu 4 First: Your Background How many of you would describe yourself as a “gamer?”

its.unc.edu 5 First: Your Background How many of you play Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games?

its.unc.edu 6 First: Your Background How many of you are cynical about the use of computer games in higher education curricula?

its.unc.edu 7 First: Your Background How many of you are enthusiastic about the use of computer games in higher education curricula?

its.unc.edu 8 First: Your Background How many of you are taking a “wait and see” approach about the use of computer games in higher education curricula?

its.unc.edu 9 Today’s Questions 1.What new opportunities can games bring to our students’ learning experiences? 2.What issues of concern surround the discussion about games in higher education? 3.What are the major barriers to progress?

its.unc.edu 10 Imagine… …that we’re not limited to games that are currently available.

its.unc.edu 11 Imagine… possibility This is a discussion about possibility. “The day before something is a breakthrough, it was a crazy idea.” Heard during NPR interview, April 2007

its.unc.edu 12 I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning;

its.unc.edu 13 I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter;

its.unc.edu 14 I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun;

its.unc.edu 15 I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun; ….assessment is crucial;

its.unc.edu 16 I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter; ….learning can be fun; ….assessment is crucial ….you can teach old dogs new tricks.

its.unc.edu 17 I Also Believe… It’s not all sweetness and light…

its.unc.edu 18 So… We explore today’s questions.

its.unc.edu Question 1: What new opportunities can games bring to our students’ learning experiences?

its.unc.edu 20 New Potential Ideas? Chat

its.unc.edu 21 New Potential Multidisciplinary Learning

its.unc.edu 22 New Potential Professor Shatner is the university’s advisor for students studying in the Spanish- speaking country, Eshaba. A group of 5 students is midway through a semester in the country when Professor Shatner receives a panicked 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 better able to 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.

its.unc.edu 23 New Potential Lifelong learning

its.unc.edu 24 New Potential Give them risks, give them danger, save money

its.unc.edu 25 New Potential Research Opportunities

its.unc.edu 26 New Potential Any new ideas? Chat

its.unc.edu Question 2: What issues of concern surround the discussion about games in higher education?

its.unc.edu 28 New Potential Ideas? Chat

its.unc.edu 29 Concerns Lots of data; Not much privacy?

its.unc.edu 30 Concerns Here an interface, there an interface, everywhere an interface.

its.unc.edu 31 Concerns Gender/Race/Age

its.unc.edu 32 Concerns Addiction

its.unc.edu 33 Concerns Faculty/Student Experience and Expertise

its.unc.edu 34 Concerns Assessment of learning outcomes (Comparison to traditional)

its.unc.edu 35 Concerns Any new ideas? Chat

its.unc.edu Question 3: What are the major barriers to progress?

its.unc.edu 37 Barriers Ideas? Chat

its.unc.edu 38 Barriers $$$$$$$$$$

its.unc.edu 39 Barriers Skills

its.unc.edu 40 Barriers N ot I nvented H ere

its.unc.edu 41 Barriers Faculty Risk: Promotion and Tenure

its.unc.edu 42 Barriers Any new ideas? Chat

its.unc.edu 43 Opportunities What can we do together? Chat

its.unc.edu 44 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

its.unc.edu 45 Stay in Touch Facebook and LinkedIn Profiles: Elizabeth Evans Our Games4Learning Web site and list: