The Power of Creativity: How Game Design Changes the Way We Think - Brian Waniewski - Life Game designers, who must capture and retain players' attention and interest quickly, need to understand human psychology and culture Every summer, fifty fifth graders converge on Manhattan for a week-long game design camp called Mobile Quest and magic happens. In only a few days, the familiar urban landscape is transformed. The mesh metal trash cans on every street corner become portals to a vast underground enemy fortress. Of course, the fountain is still a fountain. The mesh metal trash cans on every street corner become portals to a vast underground enemy fortress. This shift in perspective is tremendously empowering, especially for young people transitioning into adulthood, with all its alien rules and expectations. This kind of empowerment is one of the first fruits of beginning to think and act like a game designer. A game is a complex system. Play-testing is done by observing players as they move through the world of the game. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
6 Video Games You Can Teach With Tomorrow Realistically, a “with it” teacher can teach almost anything using almost anything. I’ve been taught trigonometry using a paper clip, and expository structure using paint. Tech is great, but nowhere close to necessary. But if the underlying learning process is well-thought out, tech can provide powerful common ground for teachers and learners. So then, video games. Video games do not represent a “rising medium,” but rather one that’s established, potent, and ready for application in any content area at any grade level. We’ve talked before about the concept of gamification, which refers to applying game mechanics to any non-gaming process. These games can serve not only to introduce teachers to the concept of using video games as something beyond a gimmicky way to “engage learners,” but demonstrate that video games are a platform worthy of any classroom dedicated to any content area at any grade level. 1. Appropriate Grade Level: 8-12+ (some mature content/themes) 2. 3. 4. Science: Physics
6 Emerging Education Technologies Infographic Educational Technology Infographics The 2013 Horizon Report identified and outlined 6 new emerging education technologies that are expected to be integrated into the classroom. The 6 Emerging Education Technologies Infographic was created by Saint Xavier University. Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs)Mobile TechnologyGames and GamificationLearning Analytics3D PrintingWearable Technology Via: www.sxuonline.com Embed This Education Infographic on your Site or Blog!
Instructional Game Considerations | Kapp Notes CSU Resources Here are some resources you may find helpful from the workshop. When you are in the classroom or teaching online, you may want to find new and interesting ways to engage students. Continue Reading → A conversation with GamEffective The other day I had a chance to have a conversation with Roni Floman of GamEffective. Continue Reading → Screening of an Innovative Film Locally If you are in or around the Bloomsburg area….You might be interested in what is below: I’m happy to announce our screening of a new documentary that takes audiences into three innovative public schools where students are taught HOW to think rather than WHAT to think. Continue Reading → A Conversation with Brandon Carson The other day I had a chance to catch up with Brandon Carson who contributes to our industry in so many ways. Continue Reading → Keynote Resources from #LUC2017 The Lectora 2017 Users Conference promises to be an exciting and engaging event. Continue Reading → Continue Reading → Continue Reading →
Octalysis: Complete Gamification Framework (This is the Gamification Framework that I am most known for. Within a year, it was translated into 9 different languages and became classic teaching literature in the gamification space in the US, Europe, Australia and South America.) Octalysis: Complete Gamification Framework Gamification is design that places the most emphasis on human motivation in the process. In essence, it is Human-Focused Design (as opposed to “function-focused design”). Most processes design around function and efficiency – they try to get the job done as quickly as possible. Even though many Gamification techniques were in use long before video games were around, games were one of the earliest examples of a holistic approach to implementing Human-Based Design – so now we call it Gamification. In the past few years, I have been digging deep into the formulation of a complete framework to analyze and build strategies around the various systems of Gamification. The 8 Core Drives of Gamification 8) Loss & Avoidance
Gamified eLearning Infographic e-Learning Infographics Gamification Infographics We all might have experienced situations when our learners are not interested in completing e-learning courses, are dull and do not have any interactions. Learners get bored and therefore knowledge transfer does not take place. Gamification, or integration of game elements into an eLearning course, can enhance the learner’s engagement, by seizing and retaining his/her attention. If gamification is to be of use in eLearning, we must better understand what it is, how it can be used in eLearning and why it might be useful. You may also find valuable the following resources: Via: blog.commlabindia.com Embed This Education Infographic on your Site or Blog! Networked Learning Design - Find out what people like Problem summary The challenge of producing learning experiences that learners will genuinely engage with is getting increasingly complex. As technology allows for learning resources to be ever more closely embedded into peoples’ lives, these experiences have to compete for attention directly. Discussion Adults learn when they want to – and generally don’t learn when they don’t want to. There is a strong connection between positive emotional experiences and the ability to recall information; Intrinsic motivation – motivation provided by the task in hand – encourages people to engage in new learning experiences, and to repeat these experiences; (this is what the computer games industry relies on so heavily); A person with a relaxed, positive frame of mind learns more effectively. There are a number of models of motivation from educational research, such as Victor Vroom’s Expectancy theory and John Keller’s ARCS model. If I work hard, can I the target I have been set? Recommendations
5 Brilliant 'Design Your Own Game' Websites for Students There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the use of gaming in the classroom – from the ‘gamification’ of learning to the use of Minecraft to teach everything from physics to strategic thinking. Since long before education technology even existed, video games have been a hugely successful way to engage students, creating a fun and compelling environment in which they can learn, develop and interact with their peers. But allowing students to actually take control of designing the game themselves takes the concept to a whole new level, allowing them to practice a host of new creative and technical skills. Here are 5 top websites – let the games begin! 1. This brilliant website allows students a vast range of options. 2. Ideal for younger students, this game allows the player to create their own pathway for a stick man hero by spray painting a route for him onto the game board. 3. 4. 5. What ‘design your own game’ sites or tools are you using to encourage students to get creative in gaming?
The Learning Power of LEGO Ιnfographic Other Infographics Colorful and easy to use, Lego bricks have withstood the test of time because of their unlimited open-ended possibilities. There is not just one way to play with a set of Legos. Lego block are so popular with children that LEGO has designed educational products and curricula, and teachers are using them in their classrooms. Via: www.onlinecollege.org Embed This Education Infographic on your Site or Blog! <a href=" title="The Learning Power of LEGO Ιnfographic"><img width="800" height="2874" src=" class="attachment-progression-single-uncropped wp-post-image" alt="The-Learning-Power-of-LEGO-Ιnfographic"/></a><br/><small>Find more <a href=" title="The No.1 Source for the Best Education Infographics">education infographics</a> on e-Learning Infographics</small>
Networked Learning Design - Make learners drive your design The learning problems that designers need to tackle are becoming more complex. As this happens, it is more important than ever for designers to get to the root of learning needs; to deeply understand the learners, their environment and what needs to change. And this focus on learner needs should be sustained throughout the learning design process, not just during an initial analysis phase. However, learning designers face a number of obstacles in getting to the root of learning needs, not least current practice. Discussion It is common practice in the e-learning industry to either carry out over-complex training needs analyses, or largely ignore learner needs. Traditional training needs analysis methods can be highly effective in situations where the substance of what needs to be learned is relatively stable and can be clearly defined. In less traditional environments, the opposite problem exists. Clients may obstruct access to learners as they are concerned that involving learners will:
Free Tools to Incorporate Game-Based Learning As I work with teachers to implement game-based learning (GBL), they are always looking for any free tools that exist. While some are willing to pay for iPad game apps or using the Kinect, these tools often cost money. Luckily, there are many tools out there that are free and that teachers could use in the classroom as soon as tomorrow. Some of these tools are not only the games themselves, but also lesson plans and ideas for using the game in the classroom. iCivics Many of us know of iCivics, founded by former Chief Justice Sandra Day O'Conner to improve civics education. MangaHigh Math is the focus of Manga High. BrainPop BrainPop has an excellent selection of games to teach a variety of subjects. Teach With Portals I challenge anyone to play Portal and not feel engaged. These are just a few of my favorite GBL tools that I have used and played. This blog is part of a series sponsored by TEQ.