Video Games in Education

Videogames What you will get from this session Discussion of web based games Examine a spectrum of attributes for educators to consider. Examine where videogames fit into the Inquiry Process.

Videogames What did you find? Where does it fit in your curriculum? Is it ‘Worth it’ ?

Common Language ocuments/Workshops/EdM edia1998/docs/reeves.html

Bridge Builder

Your Games

What games did you find for use in your job?

Where do you think you are in the use of games as learning objects? Where were you before and where are you now? Not Yet Soon In use

What the experts say...

What video games have don’t have permission to fail sandbox mode save/load deny content built in inquiry built in Curriculum ties built in assessment tools

Teacher’s Roles Technician Curriculum/ Pedagogical Guide Inquiry Facilitator

Teacher’s Roles Technician Curriculum/ Pedagogical Guide InquiryFacilitator

TPACK.org

TPACK 1.Learning Outcomes 2.Contextual Considerations 3.Activity Types (Delivery Methods) 4.Assessment 5.Technology and resources Worth it?

TPACK Learning Goal Contextual Considerations Learning Activity Types TechnologiesWorth it? Testing Materials and Design- evaluate the suitability of different materials and designs for their use in a building task Computer lab, poor small group work abilities Do simulation with a class discussion, teacher takes notes for formative assessment. Video GamesSure, no set up, kids free to explore and make mistakes, risk free, network can handle it Respond to oral, print and other media texts describe the main characters in the story and their relations with other characters Strong small group work skills, desks in pods, SummarizingSMART Ideas 5No, Students could collaborate together in small groups and switch afterwards

Teacher’s Checklist 1)The game has an educationally-accessible context (historical, contemporary, hard science- fiction) ) Game play has genuinely educationally- accessible content ) Success depends on intelligent choices and decisions.

Teacher’s Checklist 4) Failure exists and teaches when it happens. It is possible to lose. 5) The tutorial is crystal clear, and checks for understanding. 6) There are multiple victory conditions.

Teacher’s Checklist 7) The feedback model is short - students can quickly see how a decision effects a larger whole picture. 8) The game becomes increasingly challenging and difficult.

Teacher’s Roles Technician Curriculum/ Pedagogical Guide Inquiry Facilitator

Video games in the inquiry model

Retrieving Front loading to focus student attention on finding answers to one or two guiding questions. They create an information retrieval plan.

Processing Student make connections between the experiences they have had.

Evaluating Challenge their own beliefs Challenge the structures within games Challenge them to be critical of all media “In a teacher-directed inquiry project, studentsneed to have a choice of topics about which they truly wonder and care...” Focus on Inquiry, Page 15.

Discussion It is not about making learning fun, it is about making learning engaging.

Interested... Books on this topic include... “Don’t Bother me Mom- I’m Learning!”- Prensky Digital Game based Learning- Prensky What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy- Gee