Games & Gadgets Can Fun Empower Learning? Jeanne Gleason, EdD Director/Professor, Media Production and Barbara Chamberlin, PhD Director, NMSU Learning Games Lab

Why Are Learning Games Becoming Important? Our Learners Demand It. Learning Theory Supports It. Easy Tools Empower It.

Today’s Learners are Gamers Kids play computer games regularly Ages 2-7 play ~43 minutes/day Ages 8-12 play ~56 minutes/day Ages play ~78 minutes/day Most kids play computer games 92% of kids ages 2-17 play video and computer games (Gentile & Walsh, 2002) Low income kids play computer games at home Game play is their primary reason for using computers (Jackson et al., 2005)

"You can learn more about a man in one hour of play than in one year of conversation.” -Plato.

“It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.” - Michel de Montaigne

“Anyone who makes a distinction between games and learning doesn't know the first thing about either.” - Marshall McLuhan

Entertainment Education Engagement

Two Visions -- Can They Coexist? “I just want to play games.” “Kids expect learning to be fun all the time”

Games Have Given Today’s Learners New Skills collaboration social networking content immersion problem solving self-guided exploration multiple modes of learning

What Traditionally Engaged Today’s Teachers?

What Engages Today’s Learners?

NMSU Learning Games Lab

Development Built on Testing

Why we do What we do Expand the “fun” in educational games Track newest trends Test our own games Partner with other Universities Train game developers of tomorrow

Build on Solid Learning Goals Just be smart about Marketing “Games” to kids, “Educational Software” to adults Exit poll with kids, “What did you do and learn today?” Newsletter home that recaps the week’s learning

Simple Games Stand alone activities Less Scaffolding Fewer supplemental materials

Matrix Math Learning with iPods Mid-School Humor Aligned with Science Process Standards

Ratio

Science Pirates Inquiry Learning Experimentation, Simulation Aligned with Science Process Standards Perfect post tests (pencil/paper)

NMSU Educational Media Productions Cooperative Extension Service

NMSU Educational Media Productions Cooperative Extension Service

NMSU Educational Media Productions Cooperative Extension Service

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” -Plutarch

“Game designers have a lot better take on the nature of learning than instructional designers.” -Seymour Papert.

Gadgets, Toys, Trends Much more than fun

Access to Millions- Easily

Flip Video Ultra Extremely simple - 4 buttons Inexpensive $150 Holds 1 hour Easy download Acceptable for Web Built in Mic Quick for iTunes, YouTube

Instant Recording via iPods Small enough to carry anywhere One Touch recorder Downloads into iTunes instantly File Podcast Ready

Games & Gadgets Can Fun Empower Learning? Jeanne Gleason, EdD Director/Professor, Media Production and Barbara Chamberlin, PhD Director, NMSU Learning Games Lab