Digital Games and Learning

Why does Jane McGonigal believe Wikipedia is such a successful

crowdsourcing initiative?

McGonigal says: •  Like multiplayer games, Wikipedia is an epic built

environment •  It has good game mechanics

–  Players actions have direct and clear results –  Unlimited work opportunities –  Escalating difficulty –  Players can take on quests –  Good feedback system –  A clearly defined enemy to defeat

•  Good game continuity Positive social interaction Meaningful context for collective effort

How can games be enlisted for political impact, social activism, or public good?

What are some criteria we might use to assess how successful they are?

21st Century Skills: Games as preparation for life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hoeAmqwvyY&feature=share

Okay, so let’s practice those 21st century skills…

1. Visit and assess the game you’ve been given. Then, 2. come up with a concept for your own ‘game for good.’

Breakout rooms: https://guertin-educ5405g.wikispaces.com/Games+for+Good

•  Group 1: Against All Odds -- Amy, Alissa, Rahul •  Group 2: Ayiti, Cost of Life -- Joe, Peter, Pam •  Group 3: McDonald’s Video Game -- Vikki, Imran,

Ashley •  Group 4: Darfur is dying -- Derek, Del, Astra •  Group 5: PipeTrouble -- Matt, Carol, Rickesh •  Group 6: Karma Tycoon -- Tiffany, Shirley, Maria •  Group 7: Peter Packet -- L-A, Richard, Andrew •  Group 8: Sim Sweatshop -- Nic, Philip, David,

Michelle

Tonight…

•  Game strategies for teachers •  Games for your classes •  Examples of games that teach

BBC’s Climate Challenge puts students into the shoes of the president of the ‘European Nations’, tackling climate change through a

challenging combination of policy choices and diplomatic persuasive approaches.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/climate_challenge/index_1.shtml

Brilliant, prize-winning game from the Nobel Prize website lets students get up-close and personal with medical and biological processes, learning about patients, treatment and blood-types. Two

settings enable students to choose between quick play or a longer mission-based game. http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/bloodtypinggame/game/index.html

SimCEO is an online game that allows students to create and manage their own company, giving them a foundation in economic principles. Teachers can customise complexity to adjust the game for different

classes and age groups.

https://www.simceo.org/action/welcome

Peace Doves is an immersive interactive game from the Nobel Prize website. It combines puzzles and problem-solving skills with important

concepts around peace-building and nuclear disarmament.

http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/peace/nuclear_weapons/game.html

A hands-on management style game, Electrocity puts students in control of their own virtual town or city. Helps them get to grips with

geographical and social problems like spatial planning, urban development and ecological responsibility.

http://www.electrocity.co.nz/

Virtual Surgery Games: EdHeads and Surgery Squad

http://www.surgerysquad.com/ http://www.edheads.org/activities/

Mission U.S.

http://www.mission-us.org /

Play My Code a simple, user-friendly type of coding to introduce key concepts and ideas. Creating a game from scratch is a great incentive to draw students

into the world of coding. Code, graphics and sound are all stored online, so development can continue across several lessons, or from home for flipped

classrooms.

http://www.playmycode.com/build

50 games that could help you survive the apocalypse

http://ca.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/12/50-games-that-could-help-you-survive-the-apocalypse/dead-rising

Examples of Games that Teach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyzJ2Qq9Abs

Gaming the Training Manual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjcxdSpzXRc

Rewards and instant feedback (but privacy issues, so be careful.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaeNSYJvrn0

Playing for peace, World Peace

http://www.ted.com/talks/john_hunter_on_the_world_peace_game?language=en

Repetition-based learning

Pervasive Learning, Wilfrid Laurier University

http://www.slideshare.net/cguertin/gaming-thecity-telephone-city-and-social-spaces-of-transformation

Other pervasive games •  CityScabble: http://www.cityscrabble.gr/ •  Frequency 1550 (Amsterdam):

– Game website: http://www.futurelab.net/blog/2005/02/frequency-1550-mobile-educational-game YouTube Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hstVrxMdDI

• Uncle Roy All Around You: https://www.blasttheory.co.uk/projects/uncle-roy-all-around-you/

Not just for kids… Free Download http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/series/guide-to-games-and-learning/

Mozilla OpenBadges

Take the quiz now: http://openbadges.org/quickstart/

Interactive sites for teachers

http://interactivesites.weebly.com/teacher-tools.html

Create custom apps with:

iPhone, Android or HTML5

Android or iPhone

HTML5

G4C15: Reclaiming Culture Through Game Design

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=322&v=80B581dIhUk

Further Reading •  Farber, Matthew. Gamify Your Classroom: A Field

Guide to Game-Based Learning. •  Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have to

Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. •  Kapp, Karl M. The Gamification of Learning and

Instruction: Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education.

•  McGonigal, Jane. Reality is Broken. •  Prensky, Marc. Digital Game-Based Learning. •  Shapiro, Jordan. Mindshift Guide to Digital Games

and Learning.