#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?
Who can blame you? I've promised my Ss to binge Stranger Things over the break (I'm the only one in the world who hasn't seen it yet, apparently!) #games4ed
A1: Puzzles are something that students can use to learn (problem solving, working in groups, etc.), but are also fun for them to do and gives them a sense of accomplishment. #troll209#games4ed
A1 - as a super huge fan of puzzles - one of the biggest attractants to me as an S, was that you *knew* there was an answer/solution. And that if you worked at it, you could find it. It's nice knowing the goals achievable and possible. #games4ed
A1. Puzzles promote critical thinking and an opportunity for students to think outside of the box. I love to make my own scavenger hunts and digital breakouts. #games4ed
Q2: There are so many types of puzzles: Rebus, crossword, logic, jigsaw, sudoku, cryptograms--the list is seemingly endless.
What are your favorite types to use with your students & why?
#games4ed
For math classes, sudoku can be fun and educational. For younger kids, they would have fun doing jigsaw or crossword puzzles. Just depends on what age and what subject #troll209#games4ed
That's the perfect place to start! If you like #breakoutedu, then DeckToys is a fun platform for embedding lessons as quests with locks to figure out to get to the next lesson #games4ed
A2: We play a lot of "Solve the Mystery," where Ss get a clue each day. The class works together to solve--great discussion & close reading activity! #games4ed
A2: We use logic puzzles in our K-2 computer science curriculum as a means for priming the thought process! Mostly for their future work as programmers, but the lateral application is huge! #games4ed
The little guys like crosswords and jigsaw. Similar to what others have said, the challenge and accomplishment are the largest motivators. They love to show you what they are doing. #games4ed
A2 - as a student, mostly encountered crossword and word search.
My favs are logic puzzles, but once you sort out the *how* on many (sudoku, picross, etc), the only real challenge left is speed. :(
Best is those that require thinking about content with a twist.
#games4ed
Q2: There are so many types of puzzles: Rebus, crossword, logic, jigsaw, sudoku, cryptograms--the list is seemingly endless.
What are your favorite types to use with your students & why?
#games4ed
Link to the archived webinar I gave today for @ISTEMLN on Making Learning Replayable! (you may need to install Adobe Connect (free). :) https://t.co/mnYRmS5xuf#games4ed
I've found most of them from 30 second mystery cards in the game aisle. I've tried my own..the kids figure them out really fast! In fact, it's hard to do any now--they've become too good at thinking outside the box! #games4ed
A3:
Bell Ringers- Sometimes a puzzle is included.
Content- Digital Breakouts!
Enrichment- When students test out early they get to make their own puzzles/scavenger hunts. #Games4ed
A3: In the past I have added riddles as ways to discover Easter eggs in my gamified lessons. It was a great way to provide empowerment for those students that may not be the high fliers academically, but were definitely mystery solvers. #games4ed
A3: You could use logic puzzles as a bell ringer activity, or to help introduce a new lesson (problem solving). This can help get them in a "learning mode" in a fun and interactive way. #troll209#games4ed
That seems like it could be a lot of fun. Especially if some of the clues/techniques needed for solving are part of the main lesson - so paying attention makes solving easier. #games4ed
You make a good point. Some puzzles--like games-- do have a "replayable" limit. And not all puzzles are necessarily that great for students to play. Word searches, IMO, aren't great--just a way some Ts kids quiet. #games4ed
A.3 - we get to use puzzles as a independent work station like a brain break from the math or reading groups we do. They are also great for indoor recess. #games4ed
Q4: Jigsaw puzzles are a classic pastime, but they don't fit most of our content areas. How can we repurpose the jigsaw puzzle concept to work in our own classes?
#games4ed
Agreed on 99% of word searches. *BUT*, on those tricky words to spell, if you make a word search with them, such that the words appear *close* but not accurate all over the place (weird, wierd, weerd, weirt, etc), you can get Ss to focus on the actual spelling. #games4ed
I agree! In that case, YEAY! I do many puzzles. The only thing I'm struggling with is the data validation in @GoogleForEdu Forms. The answer has to be an exact match, no spelling mistakes. Any better suggestions? #games4ed
In reply to
@MarianaGSerrato, @digitalbreakout, @GoogleForEdu
A3 I teach history and I have done a few timeline games where students have to place events in chronological order without the actual dates listed. Kind of like a classroom version of the Timeline game #games4ed
Puzzles tie into the "Achiever" types internal motive,drive of mastery. They r a good way to engage them. Get social types if you make co-Op an option,!
A4: Students could earn pieces and as they piece the bigger picture they find more clues until they almost finish the puzzle and discover the BIG final challenge for the last piece. #games4ed
A4 - As a kid I had a mystery one - it was the solution to an included mystery (and there was no pic to go by). Also, I've seen jigsaw puzzles with no "edge" pieces (teach that learning doesn't end). Or ones where all pieces fit each other... #games4ed
Q4: Jigsaw puzzles are a classic pastime, but they don't fit most of our content areas. How can we repurpose the jigsaw puzzle concept to work in our own classes?
#games4ed
I need to be better about engaging the different player types, as I usually play to my own style. In my next game (currently in design) I have added more elements for CO-OPs and diversified teams. #games4ed
I love Andrew's idea. It could really be a great big class activity over time where they gradually earn pieces but need them all to solve the final one. Great culture builder #games4ed
A4: Students could earn pieces and as they piece the bigger picture they find more clues until they almost finish the puzzle and discover the BIG final challenge for the last piece. #games4ed
In one of my side missions I gave a clue in a Prezi. If you zoom in on one of the pictures the cipher key is hidden there. Ss don't get that clue until after the next mission though! They have it the whole time! #games4ed
Ive thought about this as a map/board style game, where students explore new sections of the world and “conquer” new land (acquire a new puzzle piece). #games4ed
A4: I'm intrigued by blank jigsaws. Perhaps have Ss create vocabulary jigsaws with words that "connect" with each other. Or in any class to show concepts that somehow connect #games4ed
Ditto! Exploring comes easy to me, and I have to consciously remember to offer quests & activities for socials. I've started playing with the new quests in Classcraft...of course, I'm already hooked! #games4ed
Like I said before, we use our puzzles for a break from learning. When you are a smaller kids, doing 4 rounds of intense learning without a break will drive you crazy or led to other problems. #games4ed
Ive seen puzzles where each 'side' is a vocab term and it has a matching definition on another side of another piece. Starting with a blank template would be ideal for making one 👍 #games4ed
A5: These 30 Second Mysteries have been a hit! Often I have to refocus Ss to what we're doing in class b/c they start thinking about the mystery instead! Mindtrap is a great resource, too #games4ed
A5: I've never bought a "Mysterious Package" but am intrigued by them...planning to make Macbeth versions of these as a "puzzle/mystery in a box" https://t.co/qJ2mTwEJlJ#games4ed
A5 I've created puzzles for Quests on @classcraftgame but I need more knowledge on how to differentiate difficulty levels for different kind of learners. #games4ed
Great combination of the quests with the puzzles. I'm hoping to start using the quests function next semester. Are they as easy to use as they appear? #games4ed
I'm beta testing my new Boss Fight spreadsheet tomorrow. dice rolls are a key mechanic. My fab part is that I have a Boss student group. Ss are tripping over each other to be the Boss! Cant wait to share more! #games4ed
A6: I'm going to have an extra 2 wks or so here at end of sem...wanting to do a mini CYOA unit, giving Ss options. Maybe a design own Breakout game as an option? #games4ed
They used to have a design template on the @breakoutEDU website. I have a blog post I keep meaning to write about CYOA. I stumbled on a way to use G Sites for it. Might be simple and others have noticed though #games4ed
Adam, that is so awesome! On average, how much time does it take for the Ss to create the game? My own boys have created Bloxels games, but haven't had my own Ss do it yet... #games4ed
I'll be writing it up but I have 4-5 groups that have to fight the boss co-op. If 1 dies they all lose. Each group has a special ability. The spread sheet goal us to force them all to answer every Q. More on this soon! #games4ed
Our Board Game Club ends with a game creation. I honestly don't know the reason of why they want to create a new game, but hey, they end up doing it. #games4ed
Longer than I expected. They r Juniors and its been 2 hours or so. They're said its a bit cumbersome but I haven't found a great game production tool yet #games4ed
A7: I believe the easiest way is to take any diagram related to what you are studying. Put that diagram on a full sheet of paper and draw puzzle lines on the back. Double-side copy this page so you have enough for all of your groups. Ss work together to finish first. #games4ed
Have you seen the spheros mini? They are super cute and move super fast. It would be so fun to have Ls build a maze and then code their sphero through it. #games4ed
I’m personally empowered by creating the entire experience, but am curious as to whether it could be a great way for other teachers to get involved. #games4ed
I've felt like this several times tonight. Too many ideas to choose my favorite! But our Ss are so lucky to have so many brilliant teachers! Thanks for all who joined us tonight and shared your amazingness! #games4ed
