1. 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: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

3. First: Your Background
Who plays games?
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4. First: Your Background
How many of you would describe yourself as a “gamer?”
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5. First: Your Background
How many of you play
Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games?
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6. First: Your Background
How many of you are cynical about the use of computer games in higher education curricula?
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7. First: Your Background
How many of you are enthusiastic about the use of computer games in higher education curricula?
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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?
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9. 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?
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10. Imagine…
…that we’re not limited to games that are currently available.

11. 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

12. I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning;
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13. I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter;
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14. I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter;
….learning can be fun;
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15. I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter;
….learning can be fun;
….assessment is crucial;
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16. I Believe… ….computer games can transform learning; ….stories matter;
….learning can be fun;
….assessment is crucial
….you can teach old dogs new tricks.
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17. I Also Believe…
It’s not all sweetness and light…

18. So…
We explore today’s questions.

19. Question 1: What new opportunities can games bring to our students’ learning experiences?
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20. New Potential
Ideas?
(Post-Its)

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

22. 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 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.

23. New Potential
Lifelong learning

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

25. New Potential
Research Opportunities

26. New Potential
Any new ideas?

27. 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

28. New Potential
Ideas?
(Post-Its)

29. Concerns
Lots of data; Not much privacy?

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

31. Concerns
Gender/Race/Age

32. Concerns
Addiction

33. Concerns
Faculty/Student Experience and Expertise

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

35. Concerns
Any new ideas?

36. 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

37. Barriers
Ideas?
(Post-Its)

38. Barriers
$$$$$$$$$$

39. Barriers
Skills

40. Barriers
NIH

41. Barriers
Faculty Risk: Promotion and Tenure

42. Barriers
Any new ideas?

43. Opportunities
What can we do together?

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
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45. Stay in Touch Facebook and LinkedIn Profiles: Elizabeth Evans
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