#games4ed Archive
#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?
Thursday March 31, 2016
Melissa from Nebraska, 11-12 ELA. I think I ran a 1200m race in middle school. Definitely not a distance runner--any distance
Amy, South Dakota, 6th grade science teacher
longest race: my school year last year -- rough group :)
- Michele 8th grade ELA in NY stopping 2chat until tweeting w/my Ss at 8:30 4 book club discussion
5K, not distance runner
Hey ! Keegan here, Educational Technologist from . Longest race I have been in is definitely Rainbow Road- Mario Kart - N64
Kali, Texas, ITS .... getting all Ts on the technology band wagon!
If we're not talking actual marathons, then parenthood is longest race I'm currently in that is an actual long distance triathlon
Ian - principal/Librarian in BCs Sunny Shuswap - longest race was during football training camp. I've run enough 😜
Don't blame you...that's the way I am :) I'm not much of a runner
John, Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech. Not a run, but I once did a mile swim in 3 hours. I made the lifeguards miss breakfast...
Amen! Now that my kids are elementary/lower ms, I feel like I'm in a rest period before it gets bad again :)
Wow! I'm truly impressed!
Carly, University of South Dakota, Secondary Ed/ Math Ed major and I don't race that often
Melissa joining from the treadmill tonight in ohio. I did my first 5k fun run last November. https://t.co/Hh7XLSRp28
Welcome, Carly! Glad to have you here :) I only live 10 miles from SD!
I hope this year is going better for you then!
Congrats! That's awesome!!
Lucky you. Mine are 1st grade and 5th grade, never a dull moment!
Dani, from Kansas, and I teach 4th grade. I don't think my race was anything beyond a mile! 😐
Intro: Late Loreyse from Brisbane Australia, Deputy Principal, Longest Race - 5k walk or 1500m swim
I love that there are a few grad Ss at tonight. This summer I have a twitter challenge for my grad Ss for ELA methods class
Rachel, University of Central Arkansas graduate student, middle level math/science, I'm not very fond of running...
Building a PLN and understanding the wealth of resources available on twitter. Still working on the syllabus
A little late but I'll be in and out tonight! A1: Inspiration comes from books we are reading, strange comments, Ss suggestions.
My entire school was the setting for this week. I would love to do a color run but thats messy for a classroom quest
A1) If students are making games, it would be cool to engage 'em with creating games that address issues they see in everyday life
A1 i use the topics we are studying to inspire -- water drop traveling through water cycle etc.
A1) cont… especially with ideas of diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, etc. Things students could make efforts to improve.
A1: Our town is Valentine...would be cool to use "love" somehow as a game. Or used to be a tough cowboy town...ideas there, too
I'm working on using Internet safety digital citizenship as the premise for
A1- Politics and how the election process works.
Great post, so agree. Our students are concerned about their community, families and futures.
Lots of cool ideas you could use for that--play with FBI themes...actually, FBI has online games!
& friends. is having chat on 4/24 - but it's premier of Do we reschedule chat?
This one sounds fantastic. We should be engaging students in this for sure. Empower our students!
Sweet I'm going to have to check it out. Thanks https://t.co/sUVuCKrVMm
Lots of cool ideas you could use for that--play with FBI themes...actually, FBI has online games!
Jumping in a little late to ! Better late than never!
A1 end of year may have some games/teams based on summer Olympics...
A1: Using history unanswered mysteries or spooky history for games as we get to that time period. Lost colony of roanoke or Salem
A1: basing some off of populars shows on TV
A1 -- used a game to teach taxation without representation to MS
Ss - it was a memory they came back to share when in HS
Yes, units of study inspire games. Like current events Adventure Quest for investigative journalism unit https://t.co/zYePdzZIPN
A1 i use the topics we are studying to inspire -- water drop traveling through water cycle etc.
Games like enable local stories to be gamified and localised.
So this is Q2 (don't know why it says Q1). Anyway, how can we utilize "secret" stuff more in our classes https://t.co/6gUfRaW1lB
Entertaining a friend, but I couldn't resist a chat!
try Win the White House. Allows you to campaign, fundraise and strategize your way to the presidency
A1: Local inspiration 4 games in Brisbane First - life of the Quandamooka people (first nation) , Expo 88 cultural xps, 1974flood
loved creating games based on pop game shows -who wants to be a dollar-aire was very popular & lets make a math deal
What a cool idea, connecting local and virtual worlds! https://t.co/EOgdoFZnoN
Games like enable local stories to be gamified and localised.
Again..first time twitter chat! Kara Wilson, Iowa, 4th Grade. RAGBRAI and a 5K.
A2) I like the idea of a secret meta game in the classroom, hide clues in classroom/online that students can stumble upon & learn
I will reschedule the week before then so and tweet out the new date to get everyone involved
A1. Kahoot! is a great resource for creating game-like quizzes to assess students knowledge while they're having fun!
A2: I love getting kids excited by giving them passwords and team roles. I used a to start my game!
And so many of them are easy to modify for your own room! And students know the rules, too! Double win!
A2: creating a secret society or secret code that the Ss have to get accepted into after doing certain task
Yes, it's SUCH a good film!!
Yes, it is like a easter egg hunt. I am still thinking of how I can pull this off in my classroom https://t.co/hwhrzBvrWo
A2) I like the idea of a secret meta game in the classroom, hide clues in classroom/online that students can stumble upon & learn
A2: I've been wanting to explore locking Google docs with passwords when playing and putting that into hyper docs!
A2: Make each class different. So that Ss have different goals and task
what are these marathons?
A1 DC based spy games and monuments. we also have tons of civil war forts
A2 i love when Ss get excited when they become the teacher because they solved the "puzzle" first
The kids in my town spend a lot of time at the park. They would like a game centered around that.
chat has begun! Join the discussion until 9pm EST! https://t.co/3YKRLNqcp4
try Win the White House. Allows you to campaign, fundraise and strategize your way to the presidency
I cannot wait to get my kits this month . . . Played at & it was AWESOME! https://t.co/mXTLDWPoOK
A2: I love getting kids excited by giving them passwords and team roles. I used a to start my game!
A2- Integrate codes (like Morse code) into daily activities. Hits a standard and exciting at the same time.
I want to set up Easter eggs in my school. Let me know how you set it up!
That sounds extremely interesting! All those ideas!
. You could use cryptic bitmojis or use QR codes around the school for a treasure hunt. .
. You could use cryptic bitmojis or use QR codes around the school for a treasure hunt. .
It has to be something that is inherently interesting to spark curiosity and hold motivation. “Ghost stories” etc.
Yes, just read Ready Player One & it gave me so many puzzle ideas for class challenges
Love this idea. Privileges for some that get to points. https://t.co/vzdMRlTh8p
A2: creating a secret society or secret code that the Ss have to get accepted into after doing certain task
making me think some thinkings for the final 1/3 of the year in the library...!
LOVE this!! I'm pretty crazy over bitmojis right now.
I kept mine basic, just taped papers around the school w/quests on them
secret identity of historical figures have to be uncovered. Secret locations of next unit also have to be discovered.
all based in historical events of the town - each would have it's own aspect for learning
. Ask the students, they could create their own language using code or patterns, wroks gr8 for jnrs. .
. Ask the students, they could create their own language using code or patterns, wroks gr8 for jnrs. .
A2: I printed off prizes and put in easter eggs(literal ones). Ss love the chance to choose "the one"
I would “storyboard” out the content pieces 2 decide on modules of info & connections. Then spread!
I actually found gold easter eggs at CVS and bought a few to use
Another idea I love!! https://t.co/zwz5DxFdKj
. Ask the students, they could create their own language using code or patterns, wroks gr8 for jnrs. .
Thanks, our Maths teachers use it to engage the Ss. .
literally everything in my class is a CSI case.
Do you go over multiple lessons? .
A2. Using scavenger hunts is a great way to incorporate a little mystery while Ss are using higher level thinking skills
my 4/5 teachers did similar w math - answers take you on a particular path
There's something about crime investigation that's appealing. Most of my classes are studying Serial
Kahoot, speed, twitterfinds, bitmoji races, gets students engaged into learning.Reverse Google searches!.
i wish we could study serial! Junior high isn't ready for that.
A3: They could also create some kind of digital badge
A2: Earned level ups take the learner to new material teacher assigns access - make it more exciting by access via fingerprint
wouldn’t “word" problems be so much more engaging this way!
we could ask students to bring in license plates from their parent's cars :)
Answer questions to unlock new levels. Sumdog is the best math site. Contests really make them excited!
Yes but would love to do more e.g. with Robotics, Google Maps etc. .
A3 creating their own pictures and profiles
I'm thinking of encouraging badges for our provincial organization....gamify what we do!
LOL! THAT could be interesting!! https://t.co/8xPpFRmcOL
we could ask students to bring in license plates from their parent's cars :)
I like your thinking - I can do this with authors names and famous quotes/book titles for my Ss in English https://t.co/2bTaXUML2n
Yes but would love to do more e.g. with Robotics, Google Maps etc. .
A3 have students wear name tags w/ pictures that represent themselves and make a game out of who can learn everyones pics 1st
Avatars-they can earn coins to buy things with. They love to "purchase" things to show their creativity.
A3 Using their own personal experiences shared in class in your teaching - My Ss love when I bring up past activities and stuff.
A3 character cards (a la Pokemon) to highlight personal attributes? Or sports cards....whatever works!
A3: My Ss made "badge sashes" to put stickers of achievemnts on. Gonna personalize them more nexxt year.
You have some awesome ideas
I'm thinking we need a full chat about avatars sometime...
You can have your Ss design their own coat of arms of belts for the event
That's awesome! I love when Ss get into it!
Thanks, I like my students to be entertained so hopefully their learning sticks and I get bored very easily!!! .
its 1 of things that helped make math one of the fave subjects in our school!
I've been planning a computer skills challenge race for beginning of next year...this is going on it
A3- Customize! Voki, Tellagamis, Word Clouds. Teaching my own art allows for self-representation, too!
Just now learning about all this Barkley stuff. Going to have some research waiting for me when my son goes to bed.
A3: Even having students change their Google image and their own skin for Chrome is a simple favorite.
I’m hearing a lot about avatars, I agree . A3) give students self expression & representation options
A4 one of the values of providing time. I've often posed questions days (weeks) ahead of time to allow thinking-before-doing time
A3 get them to create their own bimoji, make a video "All about Me", using wevideo or screencastify. They love it.
A3: Design their Voki / Avatar , personal logo or as simple as their signature that they can use to for self representation
Q4 Open ended quests.. here is the problem.. here is your group.. here are the parameters... solve!
I agree, Ian. There's power in giving them this time! https://t.co/w5MwGbVrIQ
A4 one of the values of providing time. I've often posed questions days (weeks) ahead of time to allow thinking-before-doing time
A4: along them to plan everything out, rubrics, creating problems.. what's their solution?
make sure any activity including games involve and analysis etc. a4
Force them to think outside the box. Collaborate with no talking in class. Practice this skill!
A4 Also give the Ss ownership over task design and outcome options but have common assessment criteria.
Strategy comes from significant game play check out and World Peace Game
A4: I love idea of having team quests--they have to plan out the order, and work together to locate hidden bonus quests
A4: Encouraging collaborative conversation on google apps and keeping information using padlet or Lino!
A4 Teach them to problem solve! They have technology at their fingertips. Make them do the work to find their answers.
A4) Important to set the culture & provide the tools to enable the collaboration we want. Scaffold & support!
Great point. So many games exist that inherently encourage collaboration!!
Big thinking! With not exactly right answer is hard for 4th grade to grasp!
Excellent point on making clear to Ss the "common assessment criteria." https://t.co/65ESDwgujf
A4 Also give the Ss ownership over task design and outcome options but have common assessment criteria.
Get them to build their own world, their dreamworld, they'll have huge ideas.
A4- Post an open-ended question & get them to research and collaborate on their thoughts. Give them time to learn and discuss.
Keeps some control in place LOl but keep the learning fair and equal.
A5: Quote from one of Barkley's creators. Very few ppl have completed the full Barkley. Food for thought. https://t.co/d4VZdLuKdN
I ran a Greenhorn course once and you had to complete 12 tasks but could do in any order. We had to strategize. Same for Ss
Q5: Quote from one of Barkley's creators. Very few ppl have completed the full Barkley. Food for thought. https://t.co/7pgEtmJofv
That's because the journey over the destination is important IMO.
Yes! World-building is the way to go! https://t.co/Ed9deauMzf
Get them to build their own world, their dreamworld, they'll have huge ideas.
I proofed 17 persuasive writings w/o talking to them. All on comment in google drive. They LOVED it!
Q5: running simulations (like assembly line) allows students to see real failure and experience issues that need to be fixed.
Awesome idea! Love it! https://t.co/quxcmXSWo3
I ran a Greenhorn course once and you had to complete 12 tasks but could do in any order. We had to strategize. Same for Ss
A4: Simply group work to solve a problem - the bigger / more complex the problem the more complex the collaboration
A5: I have mixed feelings. Ss shouldn't be overwhelmed--should be in flow. But I need more challenge for Ss, too--I'm lacking here
A5 My Ss have had enough "failure" in their lives. I strive to teach endurance and grit.
A5 Only when I teach science. STEM challenges allow for students to test ideas and learn from their mistakes.
A5: this sounds weird but I actually encourage my Ss to fail and try again. We learn more from mistakes.
Not winning a contest is a failure to mine. They need to learn failure is ok..but don't give up!
A5) Designing our classroom difficulty curves is vital - not too hard, not too easy. Difficult to manage with diverse Ss skills
Sorry to miss tonight! been trying new things in class will catch up nxt wk!
A5: I'm tempted to try something similar to Barkley Marathon in my classes for those Ss who really want the extra challenge
A5. Ss need to know that failure is inevitable. They need to learn not to be afraid of it, but how to learn from it
A5 98% failure rate is not good classroom practice. Maybe mondo goal like math problem impossible to solve.Ss chip away at (1/2)
Agreed. I love the quote, but it's hard to apply in a classroom
This is the most important part, teaching Ss about overcoming issues after experiencing and learning from farlure
A5 or really tough history challenge that Ss voluntarily try to solve knowing it is super difficult.Could build good Clsrm culture
A5 I'm ok w failing - all part of risk-taking! Want my leaders of all ages to be ok making mistakes & not always being successful
Agreed...unless it's in the beginning of a new skill. at beginning, sometimes that failure gives them hunger
not weird! We should teach that it is a natural part of life and this is how you move on stronger :)
fair enough -knowing why something wasnt successful can be great learning & chances to try again (like a video game)
A5: Makes the achievement so much more prestigious - like the Hawaiian Triathlon - aspirational, having a go accept the challenge
As Ts we have to cultivate an atmosphere that allows this -- sharing and working together is not equal to cheating
A6: Having students leave comments on each other's work. Works great in a google doc
Definitely. And as with the Barkley, just the opportunity to attempt it and complete part of it is a huge achievement
A6: Ts create that environment for their classroom
chances to try again without punishment or shame. Failing is not the problem...its how we approach it
This is where bringing games into ed could be awesome. Can build in challenge, feedback, remediation all together
A6. "Two heads are better than one." Sharing ideas promotes deeper learning.
Beautifully stated. This pushes me even more to "provide" more early failure to students...
Yes failure gain make you want more. But could be in middle if class discovers vexing issue together https://t.co/Q2HiAJVFqY
Agreed...unless it's in the beginning of a new skill. at beginning, sometimes that failure gives them hunger
A6- Team and class building activities. Teach the mindset to not always compete, but help others be successful, too.
Q6 emphasizing individuals strengths and assigning projects that allows collaboration & each student to shine in their part
A6) I agree with , about building that culture. Also we would show how we support our own peers. Lead by example.
And I think that's what I struggle with. Determining the flow for each class--how much is too much..or not enough.
Practice making "good" comments on blogs and support their work.
Ensure that where appropriate all students have an equal and essential role in learning activities.
A6) Also a lot of opportunity for using peer feedback to build collaborative community in classroom
I agree! Flow is so hard to capture.
A6: I love using teams for this. They work together all year to gain achievements and vie against the other teams
A6: with tech & games I often/always see communities of collaboration form to compete against the game/problem/activity
A6: the mammoth task takes the competition out and brings empathy 2 the fore, if I don't make it maybe you can > goal achievement
Curse you time zones! I hate you!! Missed the chat! Grrrrrr!!!!!!
nice! I like I feel it has a lot of value. Yeah, i would encourage you to try it again! Thanks!
Super, duper, duper crud! But hey, there's always the archives...
A6.1 Ss invited to see learning as a team effort and feeling pleased for the achievement of the group https://t.co/Hw9n3YCrb6
A7: Why not have a constant feed of progress? That way, it's not only "achievements" that get recorded.
A7 My Ss do AGoogleADay as a warm up - they track their scores so they can watch their own ups and downs
A6 this is a challenge One way is modeling needing to ask for help and genuinely asking students for help https://t.co/h5M6fJUlfB
A7) I think we need to be careful here as educators. I have seen “leaderboards” in classes not pan out positively.
A7: I like Ss reading how other Ss solved a problem or accomplished a task. So much of what I do is borrowing ideas & tweaking
Thanks for the chat tonight! enjoyed it!
Learn you may not be the best- but keep trying. Posting scores can be motivating! Know your students.
A1: A creative story bring curiosity to lessons and activity...it pulls us in!
Their race reports are more a narrative of how they ran the race and overcame challenges, not a leaderboard.
A7 Build in self eval students can have some inkling to progress/effort couple with peer feedback and T report. Multiple feedback
Agreed on leaderboards. They motivate some, but not others. Especially dangerous when based mainly on grades
I really like this. Have student help you & teach you content during the year. Break down barriers! Ts are people too
A7- Try to learn from the experience of those who did not succeed and what they took from the experience.
I tell mine to just be better than they were last time/yesterday.
Yes, I think that last phrase is key...Know your students. Each class's chemistry has a different motivation
A7: Retrospectives give learners information to unpack > plan their strategy for their next attempt - how others were successful
Thank you for another incredible chat!
Very true...I definitely see this when I have different tasks.
Thanks for a great chat! First timer. I will definitely check it out again in the future!
A2: Maybe the beginning of a school year a class has a crazy silly awesome application process. Let Ss show their unique character
