Enhancing Blended Learning Steve Chisnell Royal Oak High School

What is this about?  Students complete the curriculum while also participating as “players” in an online game which follows that curriculum. Higher motivation More learning possibilities Diverse learning styles Better online curriculum design

The Basic Design: AP Literature  Tell the story of literary theory: how ideas about interpretation have (d)evolved

The Basic Design: AP Literature Game Premise: The authors of the canon are being killed by mysterious forces. Protect the literary canon!

The Basic Design: AP Literature Translation: Post- structuralist theory is undermining the concept of close analysis.

Assumptions  Digital literacy is now.  Online learning is growing reality.  Learning Management Systems (LMS) must meet our needs as students and teachers.

Needs…  More smart practice is good.  Collaboration is good.  Social proof / validation is motivator  “Publication” is under- represented  Students understand rubrics by using them

…And Necessities  Growing AP population 60  100  Paper load issues  Personal health issues  Digital natives in my classroom

LMS Weaknesses  Most LMS is lame Worst of classroom “Cheating” Poor interfaces Boring work  Set-up is overwhelming  Tedium; busywork

Blended Learning Requirements  Integrate online & classroom  Easier teaching Faster eval, more work accomplished  More accessible Homebound, vacations, illness

 Improved Learning Scores up!  Deeper and different learning vs. mere entertainment  Natural or second- nature Still working on it! Blended Learning Requirements

The Game  “Role play” story integrated into curriculum  Activities teach content and also build the storyline  Choices offer consequences to game (Choose your own Adventure)

Not Grade Pts.  Experience!

Build the Storyline  Grade points  Experience!  Characters & names  Badges  Climaxes  Boss battles  Victories, Rewards  Teamwork  Competition  Assignments relate to storyline

The Battles:  Game activity scores  Bragging rights, game rewards, but not points earned.  Anonymous with game names

Blended Class  Discuss and debrief exercises – Partial flip  Discuss game strategies  Debrief and redesign game structure  Move from physical to digital and back

Effects  Quantity 2x work; 1/3 grading  Quality Growth curve faster  Out of class “talk”

Recommendations  Start slow (Beta)  In-class discussion, reviews, clues  Strategy & review talks  Work reviews  Publish/Showcase!  Collaborate!  Multiple products & methods  Listen, but only mostly  Experiment

Let’s keep talking!  Steve Chisnell  Royal Oak High School   