#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 September 8, 2016
Hey everyone. Steve from NJ here. I support students learning to make their games. We learn together.
Hey everyone! Welcome!! Can't wait to combine my love of reading and games tonight! Who's all here? https://t.co/futFeBdupf
Ivan, NJ K-5, rereading Game of Thrones presently
Hi all! Melissa from Nebraska, 11-12 ELA. Just finished Visit from Goon Squad, and starting this one! https://t.co/YZVjT9Jclk
Aryah Fradkin, Baltimore, The Fifth Estate (about social media marketing)
I'm listening to #3 while I walk. The best part of exercising!
Hey Aryah! Good to see you again!
Crazy coincidence!! Finally have something to cheer on Sansa for (though something will happen, I'm sure...)
i could list all the books i wish i was reading, like most things on NPR's reading list
now there's an idea :) generally I opt for music but maybe podcasts or audio books
And waiting for "The Game Believes In You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter
I've been known to listen to Isaacs and Farber a time or two while walking ;)
yeah. I don't read much but I'd love to read much.
Is this your first read through?
Geoff Livingston, Washington DC, Batman Eternal 1 (Walk of shame for me).
summer is my secret reading time!
Freakanomics on audio-book, I liked it.
oh yeah :) was hoping people were listening!
best summer of reading was doing hemingway on the way to keywest..gets you in the mood
funny. Re-read that and it looks like I was saying no more design thinking. Eats, shoots, leaves
Fav Hemingway book? For Whom the Bell Tolls
that's another one. Is it also a movie?
my favorite type of reading is current events that pushes critical thinking
Andrew at Omaha Westside. Reading
lessons about the presidential race and readings evoke so many great discussions
A1: I have my kids read a lot of game reviews and articles on . We curate articles together using
A1: More nonfiction. Less literature (Doing Macbeth now, but working on tie-ins with current political/world scene)
I've never used that before...I'll have to look into it
i will admit i was a newsela junkie last year..great for kids at all levels
Hi Andrew! Always good to have fellow Huskers here :)
7th grade English, Bellevue, NE
Diverse readings - from game manuals to reference texts on world building to great adventure stories
i love to focus on nonfiction that engages kids..shows the real world is stranger than fiction
Welcome Phillip! Always good to have Nebraska represent!!
I like it a lot. Check out the Ted talk with founder Ramona Pearson. Amazing story.
Both fiction & non-fiction working on TDA
A1: As much fantasy as is permissible: research by Deena Weisberg shows S's learn more than from realistic fiction..more fun too!
Q2 coming up in a moment....
reading game manuals such a great way to infuse nonfiction reading
its not boring if it helps you win the game!
Hi Susan!! Glad to have you!! I teach HS English, too :)
A1 Our course is a survey course in ELA so we get a little bit of everything.
ELA colleague of mine got the kids into reading contests every year..prizes for most books read out of class
Q2: Research shows more outside reading=better readers. What game elements work/don't work to encourage? https://t.co/UXdhNsO6EK
A1: whatever reading they want do. Novels that will make them love reading again. Reading apps they can customize
go represent! I will check the feed later as I am doing bedtime routine w/my boys now!
Macbeth is awesome. Love the modern tie-ins. Are you using current political scenarios?
Do you have any introduction games that you reccomend for high school age? (high five for English)
What did she use for prizes? intangible inclass prizes? Business donations?
always food! pizza parties and such
Later on we'll be sharing favorite online resources...get ready to share those apps!
Kelly, Elizabethtown High School, PA. Reading Saint Anything by and Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Q2: I just started classcraft gaming 3 days ago! Looking for ideas to steal.
Working on it. Started with watching Dr. Zimbardo TED talk on Stanford Prison Experiment
Food is such a great motivator, even candy works well too.
A2: Doesn't work: badges alone. Points/levels only earned from tests on books.
yeah especially in middle school
A2: Narrative in story / adventure games certainly works helps - Lore in games like World of WarCraft encourages much reading!
Love Classcraft :) Second year for me! Using cards this year to add to the game and integrate with our class games
creating games based on books read outside class
A2: Love text based adventures for reading and encouraging imagination :)
Definitely! Game narrative (when well-written) is great way to integrate reading
have read a few books about the need for random occurrences and multiple methods to achieve
whatever happened to choose your own adventure books?! great fun in the 80s/90's with those
A2: Interactivity: the higher the better for engagement.
A2: I do make a Bingo challenge for IR. Squares like "read a sports book" "read poetry." Not required, but to get Ss take chances
Q3 coming up momentarily!!
A2: starting Classcraft for the first time. I use only the positive points in Class Dojo and kids can level up as they read more
class dojo is a great motivator for middle grades
A2: Episodic adventures like the games are great for encouraging reading as well :)
Less reading since Civ 5 dumbed-down edition.
use the readings as context for a in class debate
Would that tie into a world history class?
I mainly focus on positives in Classcraft. Daily events take off HP, but I don't like to take HP for misbehavior.
A3: Letting students read about what interests them / draws on their passion will increase appreciation for non-fiction
That game makes me wish I taught social studies. I can't coach atheltics, though, so that's out in my school
A3: Add a hands on activity to enrich the content from the book.
Hello, my friend! How's the school year?
A3: Compare scenarios/character from nonfiction to characters/scenarios from their modern interests(video games/comics)
Yes, but it seems from a very European standpoint, or at least that's my interpretation of the game
S's should see non-fiction as means to an end...think "what can I create with the info I now have?" projects should always follow
A3: Where's Matt Farber when you need him?
Love this! Many Ss love to debate. we do this after reading article about who caused Macbeth's downfall https://t.co/S4CElt0QaJ
use the readings as context for a in class debate
Q3: Allow students choice in topics if possible. Tie it into their community/lives, and award lots of points.
To me there is not make in reading. Kids have a passion - you collection must keep up with that.
Excited to connect with class in India tonight (tomorrow am for them) to talk about
A3 I like what advocates for that games try to solve real world problems. That can happen in a NF unit
Q3- use fun informative videos like brain pop and crash course
But what about texts (like editorials) that Ss need exposure in but they don't want to read? How to encourage that
when S's personalize the story they write they love it so much more
S's love being in character as writers
Q4: Not all Ss are interested in current events. Is there a way to use games to get Ss more invested? https://t.co/uF2LNVIyA8
A3: Some of this is being done with certain digital games.
We're going to do a share out of online resources soon...get your favorites curated :)
A4: Immersive experiences with VR where student can develop empathy and walk in the shoes of others will make curr events relevant
i want to take your class!
A4: Projects like work teaching about refugees using minecraft is a powerful way to bring current events to student
This! Love the idea of framing non-fiction reading around games that solve real problems! https://t.co/ClwjhK6K6V
A3 I like what advocates for that games try to solve real world problems. That can happen in a NF unit
This is a great idea. You need to apply to them. VR is a great way to do it. https://t.co/gIMviOCqah
A4: Immersive experiences with VR where student can develop empathy and walk in the shoes of others will make curr events relevant
Great idea! Works so well with non-fiction... https://t.co/owhbMeqQeE
A4: Immersive experiences with VR where student can develop empathy and walk in the shoes of others will make curr events relevant
-- back to the collection. Editorials (any genre) are diverse. A research librarian can find plenty on any topic
A4: Through Tweentribune, Newsela, CNN Student News gaming is easier based on Ss TDA responses.
A4: I know some social studies tchrs draft countries for UN...then mentions of countries in articles can earn--or lose--points
try having kids compete for who can do the best skit of their current event...tape them and show the winners on the announcements!
Never heard of CNN Student News gaming...will have to check it out!
yes, anytime you can put students in character they tend to personalize and own the info more
I show an edition a day behind with to prepare prompts and have Ss research the articles for points.
Kelly Gallagher, a writing guru and teenage whisperer
The Hunger Games is a book and game in itself
Q5 I dig open-ended games since students can produce narratives of their own.
A5: Haven't done it yet, but want to use Gone Home someday. Also, love throwing a game jam at them about a text we've read
A5: Taking copious notes w/ this question...
And Choose Own Adventure...Some Ss really like coming up with alternative realities for the book
A5- you can create a story and tell a narrative on minecraft
alternate endings is great to do for end of book essays
Any texts you use RPGs with? I know does it with One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest
A5: Certainly text based adventures. ZORK FTW!
A5: Minecraft has been awesome for allowing Ss to create the life of a character or setting they traveled
A5: I'll also bring back episodic adventures again. I enjoyed PLAYING Walking Dead more than watching or reading
A5) Dixit is all about telling a believable narrative
They love having choices in games.
I am thinking of requesting Minecraft kids write their play as CYOA
A5: Another we play is Imaginiff with character names. Tabletop game where Ss give answers they think characters would make
Sydney's World is the only one; don't know of any others grades 3-4 could read.
thats a great spin on alternate endings
In my 1st yr of , Ss developed alternative endings to history based on changing 1 element of our unit https://t.co/PFSpfVd7un
And Choose Own Adventure...Some Ss really like coming up with alternative realities for the book
go with dev. appropriate. Kindergarten - draw/write Wixie story. 4th grade write a blog. https://t.co/Q9sidNUGdg
I like this idea. So do they just create fan fiction or...? What do they do with them?
I've had it as a sidequest option based on their IR books...then share to encourage other Ss to read their book
Wow, I love this idea. The whole butterfly effect! https://t.co/DD2cGXypp9
In my 1st yr of , Ss developed alternative endings to history based on changing 1 element of our unit https://t.co/PFSpfVd7un
And Choose Own Adventure...Some Ss really like coming up with alternative realities for the book
have everyone write alternate endings to the same novel and send the best ones back to the author
A4: games that relate to social/civic challenges to better understand potential impact of events i.e. those from 😁
There are so many great resources out there that integrates reading and play & games. What are your faves? https://t.co/TN3PAdYPn1
YES!!! Someone mentioned this earlier as a great way to tie in non-fiction/current event texts w/game
Newsela, DOGO News, Time for Kids, Flocabulary
The week in rap by is awesome for exciting current events
A6: I like setting up sidequests on Classcraft that encourage outside reading of non-fiction texts, TED videos, etc.
And would be really cool to challenge Ss to do! https://t.co/JIVStDVKsH
The week in rap by is awesome for exciting current events
A6: My kids LOVE Flipboard. The app adjust articles to what Ss are reading
love having students rap..and they love listening to each other..so funny and educational
Hello everyone at . Joining in late today.
Amazed what my kids have read just to finish their "choose a historical name" sidequest
nothing better than awesome raps about dry material
Never thought of that, but what a cool idea! Might have to steal that next year before Ss choose avatar names!
S's will read to get information they need to do something meaningful to them.
but they have to see the meaning upfront..dont be subtle!
I like the fact that is including basic skills like reading. They're (basic communication skills) all in the art of .
nothing wrong with gaming being the incentive piece
How's everyone tonight.... I missed the chat
A6: Paired up w/T in CA thru to discuss articles, Tweentribune, and looking at Newsela.
having that broad based PLN is huge
And nothing wrong with interweaving the elements - the more the merrier.
Missed you, too! Glad you popped in though!
A7: Haven't seen anything relating to struggling readers tonight: imperative to engage them in the early grades or they're gone.
S's can brainstorm the reading based games. Take ownership of the fun
Very true. I think that's where pairing serious games w/non-fiction can work well.
good point. games motivate struggling readers the most.
we had our back to school night. Had a great time talking to parents
If you know of anyone doing it for grades 3-5, please share.
A6) hoping to get kids to read more narrative from the game layer
A7: Looking at which serious digital games I can pair with a unit this year!
you told them the whole year was playing games right?
Like the sound of that - al inclusive - https://t.co/4UqVVpHK5M
A7: Haven't seen anything relating to struggling readers tonight: imperative to engage them in the early grades or they're gone.
Don't know - is there some data behind that? That seems intriguing
A7: Having Ss develop informed opinions on NF articles and analyze authors in fictional works.
Will do. There needs to be more development for serious games below middle school level
when we piloted game play last year in SS thats what we found..
Glad I got the last bit of tonight. Thanks everyone!
my startup is working on STEM games tied to specific NGSS standards so you can grab one whenever you need to weave something in
