Educational Games: Educational Games: Not Just for Kids AnymoreNot Just for Kids Anymore

West Virginia University at ParkersburgWest Virginia University at ParkersburgJanuary 9, 2008January 9, 2008

Laura J. Little, Ed.D. Laura J. Little, Ed.D.

Calvin BallCalvin Ball

Calvin Ball is a Calvin Ball is a Great Way to Get Great Way to Get Moving after Moving after Lunch!Lunch!

Taken from the Taken from the Calvin and Hobbes Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip Comic Strip

http://www.solitaryway.com/calvin/cb_rules.htm

Calvin Ball RulesCalvin Ball Rules

Any Player May Any Player May Make a Rule at Any Make a Rule at Any TimeTime

No Rule May Be No Rule May Be Used More than Used More than Once Once

http://www.solitaryway.com/calvin/cb_rules.htm

CalvinBall: A Typical Game?CalvinBall: A Typical Game?

Characteristics of Games???Characteristics of Games???

Seven Reasons to Use Seven Reasons to Use Games Games

Learners feel like Active Agents in GameLearners feel like Active Agents in Game Community of Gamers Community of Gamers Cycles of Expertise/ ExperimentationCycles of Expertise/ Experimentation Prompt feedbackPrompt feedback Engaging/Cycles of LearningEngaging/Cycles of Learning

– ““I skipped class to finish the level.” – K. SquireI skipped class to finish the level.” – K. Squire Pleasantly FrustratingPleasantly Frustrating Customization: Playing according to own Customization: Playing according to own

style and encouraged to try othersstyle and encouraged to try others

Seven Principles of Good Seven Principles of Good PracticePractice

Encourages student/faculty contactEncourages student/faculty contact Develops cooperation among Develops cooperation among

studentsstudents Encourages active learningEncourages active learning Gives prompt feedbackGives prompt feedback Encourage time on taskEncourage time on task Communicates High ExpectationsCommunicates High Expectations Respects diverse talents & ways of Respects diverse talents & ways of

learning learning Chickering & Gamson 1986

Fate? Coincidence? Fate? Coincidence?

Student/faculty contactStudent/faculty contact Cooperation among Cooperation among

studentsstudents Encourages active Encourages active

learninglearning Gives prompt feedbackGives prompt feedback Encourage time on taskEncourage time on task Communicates High Communicates High

ExpectationsExpectations Respects diverse talents Respects diverse talents

& ways of learning & ways of learning

Active Agents in GameActive Agents in Game Community of Gamers Community of Gamers Cycles of Expertise/ Cycles of Expertise/

ExperimentationExperimentation Prompt feedbackPrompt feedback Engaging/Cycles of Engaging/Cycles of

LearningLearning Pleasantly FrustratingPleasantly Frustrating Customization: Playing Customization: Playing

according to own style according to own style and encouraged to try and encouraged to try othersothers

Games7 PGP

Reasons for GamesReasons for Games

Reinforcement (Example: Reinforcement (Example: JeopardyJeopardy)) Adding Interest (Example: Adding Interest (Example:

Scavenger HuntScavenger Hunt))

Experience (Example: Experience (Example: GazilionaireGazilionaire ) )

Advantages of GamesAdvantages of Games

Generation NextGeneration Next EngagingEngaging Various Learning Styles & Input Various Learning Styles & Input

ModesModes Incidental LearningIncidental Learning

Disadvantages of GamesDisadvantages of Games

Not all games appealing to all Not all games appealing to all learning styleslearning styles

Lack of metacognitionLack of metacognition ExpenseExpense Lack of educational games Lack of educational games Quality not up to student’ Quality not up to student’

expectationsexpectations Not always appealing to femalesNot always appealing to females

What about simulations?What about simulations?

““Once a simulation becomes Once a simulation becomes interesting we call it a game.” interesting we call it a game.”

Squire as quoted in Landsberger 2004

Games at Your Institution Games at Your Institution

Examples??Examples?? OnlineOnline OfflineOffline Hybrid?Hybrid?

So, Where do I find games?So, Where do I find games?

Games that Teach (Games that Teach (http://facstaff.uww.edhttp://facstaff.uww.edu/jonesd/games/u/jonesd/games/))

PowerPoint Games (PowerPoint Games (http://jc-schools.net/thttp://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/utorials/PPT-games/))

Thiagi (Thiagi (http://www.thiagi.comhttp://www.thiagi.com//))

Games 2 Train (Games 2 Train (http://www.games2trhttp://www.games2train.comain.com))

Resources on Educational Resources on Educational GamingGaming

Digital Game-Based Learning (Marc Prensky, Digital Game-Based Learning (Marc Prensky, 2004)2004)

Don’t Bother Me, Mom– I’m Learning! (Marc Don’t Bother Me, Mom– I’m Learning! (Marc Prensky, 2006)Prensky, 2006)

Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever (John C. Beck & Reshaping Business Forever (John C. Beck & Mitchell Wade, 2004)Mitchell Wade, 2004)

What Video Games Have to each us about What Video Games Have to each us about Learning and Literacy. (James Paul Gee, 2003)Learning and Literacy. (James Paul Gee, 2003)

Innovate Online Special Edition (Innovate Online Special Edition (http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=ishttp://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=issue&id=9sue&id=9) )

Questions/DiscussionQuestions/Discussion

Presentation will be onlinePresentation will be online