#games4ed discussions cover ways in which gaming can be used in education. Games mirror the way the human mind was designed to learn. They motivate players to take risks and actions, persevere through failures, set and achieve increasingly difficult goals, and devote attention, time, and effort to acquiring knowledge and skills. All this while the game is tracking the player’s actions and assessing the player’s achievements and skills. Isn’t this what we want from education?
Welcome to #games4ed!!
Tonight we're chatting about COLLABORATION! Let's get started!
Please share your name, location, position, and one way you relaxed this week!
Here's an overview of tonight's questions about COLLABORATION!
We'll use the Q1/A1 format tonight. Don't forget to tag with #games4ed!
Q1 is out in two minutes!!
A1. Soft skills! Eight of the top ten skills from Google's #projectoxygen leadership study stress communication and teamwork. https://t.co/wR2f3jWGBf We need to model and cultivate that! #Games4Ed
I'm gonna throw this out there...my Tweet Deck is acting weird and not streaming everything. If your're on tweetdeck, you may want to compare with Twitter... I'm going to do the rest of the chat from regular Twitter #games4ed
A1 - conflict resolution and compromising popped into my head first...lol. I also think they need to gain confidence to actually participate in front of their peers. #games4ed
A1 #games4ed communication, delayed gratification, cooperation, risk taking, putting your ideas at the same level of importance as others, willingness to let others take the lead, reflection And reworking ideas
A1: So many good ones. I'm going to add listening. And being willing to adjust your own idea. It's not about choosing the best idea...it's about creating one #games4ed
A2 One reason I really like Dead of Winter is because one person cannot tell everyone what to do. In games like Pandemic, one person can dominate the conversation. When everyone has a personal win condition AND a team win condition, the stakes change! #games4ed
So many good collaboration skills that can be hard to teach and do. I love the putting your ideas as equal importance of others. (That's a hard one for adults--myself included!) #games4ed
A1 #games4ed communication, delayed gratification, cooperation, risk taking, putting your ideas at the same level of importance as others, willingness to let others take the lead, reflection And reworking ideas
A1: Most students (and adults too) don’t know what collaboration really is. So an understanding that it is sharing ideas back and forth and likely combining them to move forward. #games4ed
A2: I love building challenges, where Ss need to plan and idea then create it. Also love where they make a circle holding hands and have to get all team members through a hula hoop! #games4ed
#games4ed A2/3 the Ss led pe units work great for developing these as do the RPG s, also the house challenges we did. I do a lot of student run units and activities with a lot of reflection and reworking time so most stuff we do in class supports these
I don't have Dead of Winter, but wondering now if I should order it. That's just what I've been trying to collect--a list of really good collaborative games #games4ed
A2. My students spend the year "competing" in team vs. team Wagon Trains as we explore the Great American Dream Rush. TONS of team and small group games -- you're welcome to steal any of them! https://t.co/jT808muM5x#Games4Ed
A2 - I do a few STEM challenges through the year and it almost always has a collaborative piece but I’m honestly looking for more ideas to incorporate this year! #games4ed
A2: We have an activity that we start the year with where the students are given 15 objects and they have to decide how important each one would be for surviving in space. They have to work together to come to a consensus to be able to survive space. #games4ed
A2 I love games like Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes & Defused! is they reward communication and collaboration. Here's some students playing Defused using an iPad & Merge Cube #games4ed
Emily, I totally think you nail it here. We so often call group work "collaboration," when it's not. Like you said, sharing ideas and then combining. Well stated! #games4ed
A1: Most students (and adults too) don’t know what collaboration really is. So an understanding that it is sharing ideas back and forth and likely combining them to move forward. #games4ed
Maybe this is a gray area where there's no right or wrong. Depending on the Ss, maybe they need some scaffolding like that, especially early on. Might depend on the chemistry of the class each year? #games4ed
I think many teachers drastically rush into classwork and miss the importance of the collaboration activities. That culture building pays dividends as the year goes on #games4ed
A3. Team-based collaborative activities, always. LOTS of centers type activities eliminate the need for one size fits all instruction. Buddy up with 4-5 friends, venture over to (station x) and work together to solve the puzzle that awaits you there. Help eachother! #Games4Ed
A3: Letting Ss have the opportunity to work with peers at all times. They don't need to ask, but can make natural pairing or groupings when it suits them. Giving them the power to assist other Ss and problem solve together #games4ed
A3 - I’ve used my introduction lessons for teaching how to sketchnote in a collaborative way. I share templates and I do@a few lessons where they work as a team to pick layouts and ideas for their notes before they are released to do it on their own. #games4ed
A3 I hate to say it, but sometimes the best collaboration comes from uniting against a common enemy. For me, it sometimes is a rival class during another period or a fictional villain. For #Minecraft survival mode, here's our resources to do it: https://t.co/2KfTrwiQbd#games4ed
A3: someone in the chat said even adults do not understand collaboration. I would find some videos of people collaborating for a game.Then,walk the students through how they are collaborating. Of course they need to try too.#games4ed
Kara, I love this idea! I've seen something like this done when they can only draw images and not words, but I never connected it with sketchnoting until now! #games4ed
A3 - I’ve used my introduction lessons for teaching how to sketchnote in a collaborative way. I share templates and I do@a few lessons where they work as a team to pick layouts and ideas for their notes before they are released to do it on their own. #games4ed
A3: I do a lot of #PBL that requires students to work together to solve design challenges-also a game-based class system with teams that encourage collaboration throughout #Games4Ed
One person looking at a virtual bomb & others have the instructions for how to dismantle it... they must work together to defuse the bomb! It's "the bomb"
I regretted that joke as soon as I typed it. #games4ed
A3: Letting Ss have the opportunity to work with peers at all times. They don't need to ask, but can make natural pairing or groupings when it suits them. Giving them the power to assist other Ss and problem solve together #games4ed
Good point on a common enemy. Who is it that the teacher's dopppelganger "evil brother" is the enemy? And I know @EastonA1 plays an enemy role in many of his videos! #games4ed
I completely agree. And videos are a great idea. It's hard to teach kids collaboration if they haven't seen many examples of good collaboration before #games4ed
A3 I hate to say it, but sometimes the best collaboration comes from uniting against a common enemy. For me, it sometimes is a rival class during another period or a fictional villain. For #Minecraft survival mode, here's our resources to do it: https://t.co/2KfTrwiQbd#games4ed
#games4ed A4 groups are often Ss formed by either a Ss leadership group or whole class, size depends on unit/activity/purpose and last as long as needed, changes are made as Ss feel is needed but staying in your group is the intention
A3: someone in the chat said even adults do not understand collaboration. I would find some videos of people collaborating for a game.Then,walk the students through how they are collaborating. Of course they need to try too.#games4ed
One person looking at a virtual bomb & others have the instructions for how to dismantle it... they must work together to defuse the bomb! It's "the bomb"
I regretted that joke as soon as I typed it. #games4ed
A4. Wagon trains are kept throughout the entire year's ongoing narrative. But occasional RPG shakeups come in the form of unforseen natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, etc.) so we randomize teams every now and again using blind draws etc. #Games4ed
A4: I purposefully put students in groups that they wouldn’t normally sort themselves into. It forces them to grow and find ways to work with people other than their ‘best friends’ that are just like them. #games4ed
A4: I did see a teacher,who made a discussion board for his class. The students made avatars and fake names.The students had to list their skills and how they would be helpful on a team.The students read their classmates posts and picked teams based on their skills.#games4ed
And a great narrative could be made just using analog materials. The evil principal has done ________, and you have these materials to create a solution. (My principal would be totally find with me doing this BTW, not throwing him under the bus) #games4ed
A4 It's really dumb, but I have a set of cards with letters, numbers, and colors on them. I hand them out and then announce one that will sort the students into teams. This is because I always seem to have students who tried to trade playing cards or other sorting items #games4ed
A4 - I have the kids keep a page in their ISN dedicated to grouping, there are som they pick, I pick and random picks. Makes it nice to use through the year to just say get with you #4 group #games4ed
Q5: Let's talk logistics. Is there a specific size of group you aim for? How long do your groups last? What benefits are there in both long-term and short-term groups?
#games4ed
A5: Usually 2-4, but for some building challenges 5. Short term pairings are nice for Ss to get to know lots of others, long term are good for developing strengths as a team and really building cohesiveness #games4ed
The first time I did that years ago we made up trading cards with our characters and lists of powers in Photoshop but now there are ways to make all the badges/characters digitally #games4ed
A5 Uff... this is such a tricky question. It really depends on the activity. For our #VR collaborations, 3 is the magic number. I really 4-5... you can mix a variety of personalities & strengths in that size. #games4ed
A5: I feel like 4 is a good number in my room, but I've read research that 6 is a good number for small groups. Not sure 6 is as good for students...it's easy to "fade" with that many #games4ed
Dude. Yes. My favorite activity to open up the year. Let's have you make your character & discuss your strengths out of the gate! Good stuff. #games4ed
In reply to
@seanmarnold, @mpilakow, @natmak1118, @mrmatera
A5:I like even numbers so I always try to keep it to like 4or 6. I never get the chance to do long term challenges, I would love to,but it never works in my favor.#games4ed
A5. Group size of 3-5 is ideal. Any bigger and things get directionless. Any smaller and activities tend to move too fast. Long term groups build sustained rapport. Short term add variety. #games4ed
Hmmm, I know we've talked about this earlier this summer, but now that I've been doing some planning, I'm even more interested in doing some of this #games4ed
In reply to
@Mr_JSpike, @seanmarnold, @natmak1118, @mrmatera
The most important thing you can do as a teacher is really know your students-it’s how you’ll encourage, engage, and know what they need-making the get to know you a fun activity makes it easier for them to share-also self-identity is huge in young kids #Games4Ed
In reply to
@Mr_JSpike, @mpilakow, @natmak1118, @mrmatera
I'm really stoked about this project! I'm having Ss do collaborative story telling about the background of their team using A Quiet Year. I'm anxious to see how it turns out! https://t.co/ifhNAL8Iga#games4ed
A6 Design collaborative experiences where each student has tools necessary to reach the end goal. Perhaps to reach the goal, each student is in charge of limited resources, tools, roles, or abilities that must be used to reach success. #games4ed
A5: #games4ed I like max 4, if I have to 5. Anymore is too much. Groups should only last through one activity. I like to switch them up it teaches students to learn to work with varying types of people.
A6: Assigning specifice roles and responsibilities to group members, or to have different people give feedback for the group. Also having the criteria that an idea from all members must be shown in the work #games4ed
Setting up a template for kids to use is easy-you could set up 4 or so on a Google Doc-use pictures or bitmoji and then they just fill in fun info #Games4Ed
oooooohhhhhh, I like the A LOT.
I would steal it if it worked for any of my courses, but not sure I could pull it off logistically.
SO GOOD though. Let me know how it goes! #games4ed
I'm really stoked about this project! I'm having Ss do collaborative story telling about the background of their team using A Quiet Year. I'm anxious to see how it turns out! https://t.co/ifhNAL8Iga#games4ed
I like how you give them the choice of assigned or selected seating. I've had some students who prefer that. I think I'm going to add this question to my opening survey #games4ed
A6 - I struggle with this and I’m always looking for ways to improve. I definitely think getting the kids comfortable with each other is important. #games4ed
A6: My PlC this year was accountable talk. It does teach, how to use a voice during group. It is a hard skill because some students are very shy. #games4ed
A5: Because of the district level work I do, my groups are for the activity or at most the day. I dream of finding a way to do more interdistrict collaborative learning. The PLCs are all building specific for now. #games4ed
A6: sometimes I ask student to choose their roles in the group, other times I make sure to incorporate activities that are particularly engaging for the quiet kids-why knowing their interests is key #Games4Ed
Want to use games to solve real-world civic problems? Check out my new (free online) journal article, "Using Games to Solve Real-World Civic Problems: Early Insights and Design Principles"-and let's make some games together!
https://t.co/xYOmLKmHzO#civics#games4good#games4ed
Great question! We do a whole month on @HamiltonMusical and another on Harlem Renaissance. Plus side quests throughout the year to explore white privilege and learn more about representation and cultural appropriation. #Games4ed
Oh yeah, my kids carried them around the school with them as symbols of pride. Eventually they want to start making extra ones so they could trade them with friends. #Games4Ed
A6. Grouping into 4 different groups working simultaneously actually helps me listen better to my students. Paired conversation would be 12+ voices at once. Floating between 4 groups helps me be more nimble, aware. #games4ed
A7 Meet with the teams and allow them to customize where they will grow their character trees next. We also plan HOW they will demonstrate their learning in 1:1 meetings and decide how it affects the narrative of the #gamification#games4ed
A7 - I love to reflect on things with my Ss. Especially on new things I’ve tried. At the end of the year I always ask them about new hinges I tried and ask if I should keep it or ditch it for next year. #games4ed
A7: I'm wanting to develop my new speech/drama curriculum with students. Similar to Trevor Mackenzie and what he does at beginning of yr w/his students. Never done it before! #games4ed
We use Canvas for the back & forth submission process & communication, but they actually build their skill tree out of Google Slides & Drawings so they can see the progress they've made in terms of knowledge. I like the visual that reflects synapses being formed! #games4ed
Here’s an old one where I blacked out student info and info on their player profiles. I don’t think I have any of the newer character ones blacked out. I’ll look. #Games4Edhttps://t.co/FXCdwd6Pzt
In reply to
@Mr_JSpike, @natmak1118, @mpilakow, @mrmatera
Yaaaaaas! Love it. I think it would be great to do a card from the beginning of the year, mid-year, and the end of the year in terms of growth and skills developed! #games4ed
Here’s an old one where I blacked out student info and info on their player profiles. I don’t think I have any of the newer character ones blacked out. I’ll look. #Games4Edhttps://t.co/FXCdwd6Pzt
In reply to
@Mr_JSpike, @natmak1118, @mpilakow, @mrmatera
A7. Feedback, feedback, feedback! Every unit, game or activity ends with a self and team reflection. What worked? Where can we tweak or improve our performance? Minor improvements in the next episode = immediate feedback in action = increased buy in. #games4ed
A7: I make sure to give my students choice to demonstrate mastery across all projects/assessments. Some choose to make a game while others want to create an animated story or put on a play-whatever shows they know it. #Games4Ed
A8 - a few of the games shared are on my list now and I really like the idea of changing up groups with “disasters” I think this will be fun to incorporate with my own game theme! #games4ed
A8 Love the "A Quiet Place" idea from @mpilakow & also stealing the more elaborate student cards from @seanmarnold for sure.
Consider those STOLEN! #stealEDU#games4ed
What a great collaboration of ideas tonight!! Hope you all enjoy your upcoming weekend and remember to relax and enjoy these last weekends of summer! #games4ed
Thanks, as always, to @mpilakow for another great #games4ed ... now off to get pummeled in a volleyball match, heh.
Despite my last name, I'm not very good at volleyball :)
Oooh..we do battle banners. Love how some are just funny and some research Latin or other languages and take it really seriously! Really reflects the chemistry of the group! #games4ed
In reply to
@seanmarnold, @Mr_JSpike, @natmak1118, @mrmatera
