#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 June 2, 2016
Welcome to chat tonight. I am Michele, a MS ELA teacher in NY guest host for our chat 2night. https://t.co/gh3EEaIZAw
Hey folks! We're so excited to have hosting tonight for one of my favorite topics, gamifying !
Melissa from Nebraska, 11-12 ELA. Just got home from an amazing conference & ready to relax and chat!
2night we are discussing since we are ALL literacy teachers. Let's talk how fits too
Yay, after a long time of not being able to participate, I'm back!
Hello! I am Cherie, tech coordinator for K-8 in Illinois!
A1) Hi I'm Kristin from Lansing, Michigan--6th grade ELA and SS
Good to have you back! It's been awhile! Wrapping up the school year?
ELA & SS: my two favorite subjects!
Hi . I am a 3rd grade teacher in Philly.
Yeah, graduated w/Assoc. Doing my Bachelors now. 2.5 yrs. left. Pub. School last day is tomorrow :)
Thanks for joining us tonight for
Welcome Kristin and glad you are here to collaborate & be part of the conversation
Fantastic! Congratulations!!
Thanks for joining us tonight
A1. Thomas Mision, Elem Edu College Student from Mn!
So many great peeps joining the conversation for
Thanks to everyone being here
Awesome and congrats. Time flies, enjoy it.
Hi , Mark Cheverton, author, here
I found Hi! figured I'd check in for some fun. Pam, Sped Inst'l Specialist & tech geek. Charleston, SC.
Awesome, I am always creating something new to up the game for my Ss & expand my knowledge https://t.co/Ds697CEHrB
Thanks! My summer genius hour project is gamifying my classroom--ELA andSS! Looking forward to this!
Awesome! Glad you're here! I love too!
A2. Recently played one for 4th grade game day: Build absurd/persuasive arguments based on drawn char. + 2 attributes!
A2: Pictionary for vocabulary. Old school game but still fun!
A2. Of course, also another classic & a fave: Apples2Apples!
Welcome. Can't wait 2hear about your fiction &how you are incorporating gaming. Always learn something new each chat
Hey Steve! Happy Thursday once again!
I am realizing how many super board games are out there that can help build literacy skills . https://t.co/RGaVrO9p2f
A2: Pictionary for vocabulary. Old school game but still fun!
A2) Tomorrow Ss will partner read a short chapter book; every 2 pages they role a die & talk about questions that go w/that roll
A2: I made paper dice with question starters on each side. Students roll the die, then create a question with that starter
I’m not a teacher, am a physicist turned author of kids books. I think reading can lead to creative writing for Ss
A2: I've used a variation guesstures for teaching parts of speech.
I want to encourage Ss writing and am willing to help where I can!
Created to introduce unit on focusing on equality in education. Ss had to read, write, research, to win
Do you have a template for that? I'm working on a QR code template right now and it's time consuming.
Also,play Whiz Kids and Man Bites Dog (writing headlines/stories); jeopardy and create a story.
Cool. I have seen something like that with QR Codes on it for different questions or discussion stems
I got one from somewhere...an edutopia article I think. I'd have to find it
A2. Also played a game that used beach ball w/ ?s written on it abt topic. They hav to answer when passing the ball to each other
I agree with you that reading opens a whole world of possibilities for Ss https://t.co/iEJjmCgOPd
I’m not a teacher, am a physicist turned author of kids books. I think reading can lead to creative writing for Ss
I also use https://t.co/Un8zeq9Ak7 ALL the time for the game section for stem & vocab practice. Smart board or ind. play
I also use https://t.co/wyDyceM75I ALL the time for the game section for stem & vocab practice. Smart board or ind. play
I want to know more about Man Bites Dog - never heard of that
Hi everyone, Rachelle frm Pittsburgh, Span/Fr T, last day of school for Ss today, almost time for conference season!
So many awesome ideas being shared for right now from reading to vocabulary building to critical thinking
I think my Amazon basket is now filled w/more card games than books this month
Yep, very resourceful. Also reusable if used paper strips taped on ball as well
That's a new one for me! Thanks for sharing!
A2 Created few months ago for Span 3, got to do it yestrday, Ss loved it, great activ
Ss can create hilarious headlines...expand further to have them write the story to go with one or create cartoons
Welcome, Rachelle
So glad that you could join the chat
Love it, I am getting it after the chat, lots of ideas are brewing from the concept :)
Hey Rachelle! Good to "see" you :)
I kept piling games & books in and then saw my bill, decided I had to "save for later" several! Or, donors choose!
Is there an online version of Man Bites Dog that you can purchase on amazon?
So let's tap into specifics of literacy. So many great ideas shared so far, I can't wait to learn more. Q3 coming up in a minute
LOL, ! Books & games: too easy to buy a lot!!
Yes, I give myself a budget each month because I am always buying books & things for my classroom
I don't know that. I was given this as a gift from a teacher several years ago.
A3: If my Ss read 50+ pgs/wk for ind rdg, they draw a literal easter egg. Each has a prize: XP, candy, high five. Rdg increased!
A3: Use Boss Battles to address reading and understanding, have a few Amazing Race type games that require reading & writing
A3. Since Im no n T yet, I hope to use gaming to tap into interest & curiosity. Challenge Ss in a diff way
A3: Although I don't have my own classroom anymore, I experimented with digital badging through Edmodo for parts of the essay.
, use Minecraft, have gotten 100’s of Ss to submit their own stories to me, posted on my website, offer T writing resources
I really love the idea of the Amazing Race theme!!
A3: cont'd...Ss would earn a badge for having the requirements in each para. Ex. Intro badge, body of essay badge, concl badge...
A3) New to this; reading=students blog about books; all the blog posters in one week go onto a wheel of fortune for prizes.
Yes, there is so much that you can do from single game activities for a class to school year https://t.co/8ufUO7xtfQ
A3. Since Im no n T yet, I hope to use gaming to tap into interest & curiosity. Challenge Ss in a diff way
Love this idea! Being able to show mastery of thesis statement, intro paragraph, transitions! Love it!! https://t.co/WmNbWL8pfp
A3: Although I don't have my own classroom anymore, I experimented with digital badging through Edmodo for parts of the essay.
Aw man, after buying Im curious abt Man Bites Dog. Thanks for sharing amazon link!
Love all these great ideas! Really helpful!
also try unnatural selection and Long Story Short
Man, you are going to be so full of amazing ideas by the time you step foot in the classroom!
is awesome for that, my amazing race was pre- Ss love running around school 4clues https://t.co/uGm0oH1aIC
I really love the idea of the Amazing Race theme!!
Minecraft is so powerful! How have you seen kids integrate it with writing? I'd love some ideas if you have them!
It could be geared to specific types of writing as well. I would have a leaderboard posted on the bulletin board.
I will, thanks for sharing
Re: Q3: need to be sure to align choice of game pedagogy with the edu problem we want to solve.
A3 Ss create games using vocab, have used digital badges. a hit, looking at pics now
I need to still check out the app. Was too busy this week--Definitely want to play with it!!
helps me too, from getting stuck doing same stuff evry year, or at least a monotonous yr
Yes, I had a Ss design the setting of Maze Runner on for a book assessment. Very cool
Thanks for reminding me of this resource! I will add it!
You can share them with other teachers too. This would be a great thing to create during the summer.
Absolutely. Not every lrng objective might be met by a game, either.
some stories are good. A few SS are self-publishing their stories. Some stories r very short, but they are writing!
So true, every unit of inquiry have to think which game fits & how. Always revising, reflecting, re-visioning
For sure, cant just be gamifying for no reason, has to be purposeful & reflection to see how well it wrks https://t.co/7kSCYmyk5g
Re: Q3: need to be sure to align choice of game pedagogy with the edu problem we want to solve.
Thanks! I'll check some out after the chat & dinner!
I had Ss create their own badges this month as side quest. I turned some into stickers they looked awesome
As the resources are flowing tonight for discussion. A wealth of ideas and possibilities
Ss writing about games puts Ss in a place where they are the expert, reduces fear
A4) Ss who have fun are engaged; engaged Ss are eager learners; gamification provides opportunities for reluctant or test-weary Ss
Q4: My Ss earn XP for participating in twitter book clubs & doing articles of the week written reflection. One Ss wrote blog (1/2)
Cool idea. https://t.co/dkEjQc8rVJ
Q4: My Ss earn XP for participating in twitter book clubs & doing articles of the week written reflection. One Ss wrote blog (1/2)
(2/2) blog post on how of these tasks pushed her as reader outside her comfort zone & writing weekly was a positive
Thats the risky part abt involving rewards system. Its something I hope to learn how to mitigate and balance
A4: I like idea of leveling up by mastering a new reading technique or skill. Emphasizes growth!
A4: when it changes the interface or experience that has not produced success for the Ss to one that does
Fantastic! Love this idea too! Will incorporate it!
The idea of playing a game is enough for my younger students, they're motivated without even realizing it!
Yes, Ss as creators, writers benefits their communication skills & helps succeed in & out of school
A4: There's something in Ss that can make them competitive. They want to see their name at the top.
Well, some do. Not all. Some kids dont' really care about leaderboards
Yes for some and no for others. I have 10,000 XP challenge 2 preview final exam 8 got it where many not interested
True, but if games don't appeal to all, you find another way to get their attention.
We are going to address this in a little while.
Yep. I like Bartle's 4 player types. For some social activities or creation activities are the motivations
A4: When S's realize they can have fun while learning, they see value. Competition can be fun if done right.
A4 When they are involvd/excitd/interestd/engagd, increases motiv & they want more opps, benefit more
Yes, constantly have to differentiate and adapt learner for all Ss in your classroom. https://t.co/27k5FXZuvU
True, but if games don't appeal to all, you find another way to get their attention.
A5: One way we celebrate is Ss choose fave quotes of other Ss & create a slide of the quote. https://t.co/74sOQ2XwfA
Amazed how much my 8th graders love stickers/badges as much as "Easy A" on notebook checks or food rewards https://t.co/UkmrU9m2Nd
A5: Turning Ss quotes into graphics as a screensaver for overhead projector is huge motivator! Huge pride for them
A5: to S: " you weren't capable of X before. Now you are. Let's set new goal." No badge needed when hard work equals clear growth.
Time flies when you are having fun. I want to go back to tweet, so let's move on to Q6
Yes, I agree. But there are some who you need to put a carrot in front of them to motivate them above and beyond
A6: Levels & ranks are helpful in ind. goal setting, which should be where the tracking is if possible. #
The more we can integrate literacy into a narrative game, the deeper the learning. CYOA does this well! https://t.co/Udu6yiN9KS
A6. It can be great to have an obvious way to see progress, sometimes Ss cant see how their own work evolves
A6) I don't think they are necessary, but add a fun element; keep it tied to personal progress/personal best to reduce "tracking"
Personally I'm not a fan of digital badges, but some Ss do like that tangible display of "I did it."
However, possible to use S work as an indicator, such as using image of b4/after as a lvl up of sorts
Always worried about upsetting some Ss when they struggle to earn XP while others sailing by How do you solve this dilemma?
I find that digital badges don't have that same power.
A6: The ranks and levels could be personal to the individual student. Ss should know the areas where they can improve.
It's like the story cubes. Ss use the story starters to create their own narrative and story
emphasize that personal growth maybe diff for each Ss? Indicate how S has changed from b4/after?
Only a few more minutes left in but the wealth of ideas & resources will keep you busy for the summer
I wondered about digital v. tangible badges; seems like Ss like "getting" something.
A6: They're not necessary. Ss can progress in a reading-based game without levels. Think of creating games with multiple paths.
Brag tags are great for tangible badges. Look on TPT, there's tons!
An amount of points is all that's necessary on a leaderboard. How a S has grown in the subject area is between the T and S.
A6: With a multiple path game, Ss don't have to compete. They can explore the world and have unique experiences.
I've gone from contract grading to game based (SBL) grading. Ss motivated by # & letter grades nonetheless
And some kids love badges, some could care less. Just like leaderboards.
This is what I strive for, Ss motivated by their own curiosity of the world+ set goals not based on others https://t.co/C7JlXvIGKW
A6: With a multiple path game, Ss don't have to compete. They can explore the world and have unique experiences.
What a fast hour! And what amazing set of questions from ! Thanks so much for hosting tonight--what a great convo!
