#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?
It's time for #games4ed! Join in the fun tonight with the topic Game Clubs & Competitive Gaming! Jump in and introduce yourself! #gbl#gamification#xplap
Steve from NJ here ready to rock the #games4ed chat on game clubs and competitive gaming. fav Thanksgiving food- green bean casserole with fried onions - yum!
A1: what I love about Game clubs is that they are enrichment and therefore can be entirely driven by interest. Excellent way to get to know ourselves and each other #games4ed
Hi I am Hailey I am a student from The University Wyoming and I am interested in elementary ed. My favorite thanksgiving food is mashed potatoes. #games4ed
A1: what I love about Game clubs is that they are enrichment and therefore can be entirely driven by interest. Excellent way to get to know ourselves and each other #games4ed
Good morning (?) from Israel! We don't celebrate thanksgiving, so no fave food, but Sufganiot (doughnuts?) are now on sale, even though it's a month till Hanuka - Yummy! #games4ed
Whoops, sorry I'm late #games4ed. N from 🇨🇦, #edtech cofounder, creator, enthusiast. Favourite thanksgiving food... turkey + gravy + cranberry sauce. Yum. (But I had mine back in October 😉)
A1: By creating gaming clubs at school, we can teach our students proper behaviors when gaming online instead of them becoming a part of the toxic internet community. #games4ed
A1: I think that having games in schools are important because it can serve as a different outlet for learning that can be found without traditional teaching methods. Exploring creativity is so important! #games4ed
A2 - Not all kids are athletic - but that does not mean not liking competition. A gaming club to some students equivalent to sports or debates for others.
And feeling accepted doing an activity that you love, can make all the difference in how you see yourself. #games4ed
A1: I think it is important to acknowledge what is important to our kids. builds agency, interest, affinity groups, provides kids with opp to spend time with like minded peers, not to mention fun, collaborative, social, etc. #games4ed
A1) Being a game nerd myself, I've always found solace and reassurance in games. It's a medium where success is easily inherent with clear rules. A game club combines that with gathering kids together to be social and improve those skills as well #games4ed
A1: Supporting students in their interests can have incredibly positive impacts on their development! Gaming is just one of the many things that can help kids develop in school! #games4ed
Good morning (?) from Israel! We don't celebrate thanksgiving, so no fave food, but Sufganiot (doughnuts?) are now on sale, even though it's a month till Hanuka - Yummy! #games4ed
Mariana, I agree with the interest piece. I would love to tell kids some of their favorite RPGs can be linked to classic lit and have them play with that in mind! #games4ed
A1 if non-academic interests like football or swimming are supported why not gaming? Same group collaboration and competition. And critical thinking engagement #games4ed
YES! I feel that school should be a fun and inviting community hub! Kids should WANT to be at school so providing them with opportunities to pursue their interests is a great way! #games4ed
A1: Supporting students in their interests can have incredibly positive impacts on their development! Gaming is just one of the many things that can help kids develop in school! #games4ed
Yeah - trying to figure out the best way to handle that. Our club meets 2 days a week. I am considering having 2 separate clubs next year each meeting 1 day. If there's room kids can sign up for both, but for starters more inclusive #games4ed
Q2: Casual game clubs vs competitive gaming: Which would you like to see for your students? How should we support and encourage either or both?
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A2: I think both casual and competitive clubs are good. Casuals create a safe space, but there are now e-sport scholarships out there. Competitive clubs give scholarship opportunities. #games4ed
A2: I think it's a fine balance between both competitive and casual games. Competition is wonderful if balanced in a healthy manner. It's important to monitor this in a detailed manner to make sure that everyone is being heard and no feelings are getting hurt. #games4ed
A2: #games4ed Id like to see more competitive games for students because I think it get students more involved. Giving small prizes at the end of the game could get more kids engaged
A2) Being that my club is playing a tabletop RPG called Pathfinder, it's definitely casual. But there's totally a place for competitive gaming with other games. We have competitive sports... why not e-sports, too? #games4ed
A2-I would probably start with casual club--benefits=a low stress atmosphere for beginners to try something new. A competitive club would be awesome! Benefits=a great way for students to showcase their talents and be recognized! #games4ed
A2 - Ideally both. But, may need to be separate, as players can be turned off by other type. If only 1, I would push casual, as competitive players can still play/have fun, vs not so true other way around. #games4ed
Q2: Casual game clubs vs competitive gaming: Which would you like to see for your students? How should we support and encourage either or both?
#games4ed
A2: I think that both ways are good because some people like the competitiveness and other don't and meeting every bodies needs are something we strive for when teaching. #games4ed
A2 legit definition Q. Is there a difference in casual v competitive? At some level wouldn't a casual game of chess still be classified as comparative? #games4ed
A2: Competitive gaming because it make students try harder and get more involved in the game. I think both are good to use in the classroom, though. #games4ed
me too - the one sport i was most excited about in high school was the bowling league :) which i do believe had many of the same kids that would be in game club! #games4ed
I feel that both competitive as casual are beneficial for students, it really just depends on what the student is interested in. We can support both by providing multiple clubs that I correlate both styles!#games4ed
Competitive gaming has some sort of prize and is actually now sanctioned by a governing e-sports body. There are even scholarships out there for e-sports now like League and DOTA. #games4ed
A2: I want to nurture and grow both. Casual is so important as it is inclusive and allows for people to find their interest within club, competitive is on the rise and for those interested - great opportunity ! #games4ed
A2: We started ours as a casual game club with the hope / intent that some competition would be sprinkled in and possible league play would spin off of game club for a more serious environment for those involved #games4ed
That's true. I guess its like running. I can be competitive with myself in trying to accomplish a goal or enter a larger race and compete against others for a medal. #games4ed
It wasn't until university, exploring on my own, that I found sports that I enjoy (running and climbing). I like competing if it's against myself. Not so interested in team sports or competing against others. #games4ed
Q3: What challenges do you foresee in running a game club in your school? Or when it comes to creating or supporting a competitive gaming program? #games4ed
A2 Both! I think the game club would be great for building school community. I'm more excited about competitive gaming though, the chance to compete at the college level is becoming real and I want to support that #games4ed
I loved it. Our bowling league was every Wednesday and I really looked forward to it. Great day out with my friends - competitive and fun - and pizza! #games4ed
In reply to
@JoyZanger, @MarianaGSerrato, @MusingsOnEdTech
A2) Gaming casually and competitively should both be supported, as they provide different environments. Casual play can be a great destresser, and competitive can teach teamwork, among other things #games4ed
A3: I could foresee issues playing in non-local games with toxic behavior from outside players, or kids wanting to play not age appropriate (M-rated) games.Also funding could be an issue. #games4ed
I agree. Creating an open environment for new gamers can be hard. Especially when your club would likely be started by a lot of hard core gamers. #games4ed
While I'm thinking of it, on Friday Nov 24 we are hosting a game night (#gamenightEDU) at our house for anyone close enough to NJ to join us! #games4ed
A3) My students have never played RPG tabletop games before (<5 in the building) and so it's been a nightmare trying to find kids to play. As well, it's been difficult finding a day where the few kids who want to play can make it. #games4ed
A3 - So many game types (board, card, video, etc) and so many genres... how to find and pick the right set/focus. And time constraints - some games take forever. #games4ed
Q3: What challenges do you foresee in running a game club in your school? Or when it comes to creating or supporting a competitive gaming program? #games4ed
It's a shame but that is certainly an obstacle. Need interested teachers - in our case it's a pay to play club so it comes with a stipend. It is a lot to manage but I love it (although i seem to have this strange headache afterwards) #games4ed
A3: Creating a gaming club has its challenges. I feel that getting the administration on board could be difficult, because multiple people believe that games cause kids to be violent, which certainly isn’t the case! #games4ed
speaking of games, did y'all know that original #starcraft is totally free and #starcraft2 now has a free to play option as well? GREAT games #games4ed
No but that could have benefits. Games like Super Mario Maker or Minecraft could foster some cool new interests that could turn into careers or college majors for young students. And they are rated E!
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A3) competitive gaming has been known to be a toxic environment on the internet. Poor sportsmanship in games can lead to animosity between players, which can dissuade people from joining the club #games4ed
Let Ss decide level of gaming club. Is it a game design club? Game creation or game play club? Could encourage in similar fashion to sports, give out letters, like Varsity letters. #games4ed
A3: funding and willing advisors can be an issue. Having the right resources (high end computers if necessary, etc. can be another challenge) #games4ed
That's why having a school club could be so good. It introduces kids to competitive gaming while having a structure at school to teach them not to be a part of the toxic community. #games4ed
No but that could have benefits. Games like Super Mario Maker or Minecraft could foster some cool new interests that could turn into careers or college majors for young students. And they are rated E!
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I think that for things like practices and local level things, online could be good. I think that bigger tournaments like "state quals" or nationals or anything with scholarships on the line it should be location based to help with cheating. #games4ed
A4: I like interscholastic competition. It builds healthy bonds in terms of education while getting to reach out to people you don't usually get to associate with! #games4ed
very true! we can support students and model appropriate behavior and attitude. Of course we also have to address and deal with issues as they arise #games4ed
A4: I think that smaller competitions can be internet based, but larger competitions for things like scholarships or nationals or even state tournaments need to be location based. And use weekly league play ranks to set up for big tournaments. #games4ed
A4 - Depends on game - not all can be played online. Probably similar to sports, part of year for general training, part of year is "competitive" with events. #games4ed
A4: I think it would be neat for students to be able to meet other students from other schools. This would create healthy competition between them. #games4ed
There's been some Madden and FIFA happening in my club. would like to see that get even more organized / competitive. could be fun to have league /tournament #games4ed
A3) competitive gaming has been known to be a toxic environment on the internet. Poor sportsmanship in games can lead to animosity between players, which can dissuade people from joining the club #games4ed
a4: I also think that with creating league play, game companies will sponsor/sanction the school clubs. Our club at UWyo had Riot Games give them codes for free heroes to hand out to students. #games4ed
A4) weekly league play between schools culminating in a final tournament at the end of the “season” could be interesting. Using LAN to play on location would be preferable, as online play could be prone to connection issues, among other draw backs #games4ed
We have a mix of both in our game club but digital is clearly more of the draw. I have been very happy to see a small group hunker down on the @yogibobags furniture playing board games :) #games4ed
A2:I think both would be good for students. I would like the student to experience both and then pick which one they would prefer. You could put on fund raisers to help fund trips. #games4ed
Absolutely, but in a school environment the behavior has more drastic consequence than someone clicking a report button that may or may not result in appropriate response to negative behavior. #games4ed
A4: I would like to see all start to form. One off tournaments might be easiest from a logistical standpoint, but love the idea of regular league play. Online seems most logical but something to be said for location based face to face! #games4ed#smacktalk
A5: Not being a teacher, I haven't have the opportunity to experience games in a classroom yet. Hopefully I can get some ideas for future use! #games4ed
A5: I think that games which are rated T or lower, or that have a good reporting system for toxic behavior would be best. This limits the issues with negative behaviors. #games4ed
A5: Some of the most played games in my middle school game club: Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Madden, Roblox, Minecraft, Overwatch, Rocket League, and we have a lot of VR so that's super popular #games4ed
A5: I believe that Minecraft could be a good game for under children, and PlayerUnknownBattleGrounds could be a fun game for older kids with team building #games4ed
We stick to T or under for our club. Feel like we definitely have to. #games4ed sometimes I wish the rating system was better because there are M games that aren't that bad, but the M rating is a scar #games4ed
I agree. I think some games with that M rating just barely got that rating and I would love to use games like Dark Souls to teach fantasy structure and theory, but no school would let me bring an M rated game into the classroom or a club.
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Diablo 3 is a great game - not sure that it's that inappropriate, but that M rating... #games4ed also some games vary or get their rating because of online play #games4ed
DnD is a great game for teaching social skills and problem solving skills to kids too! I love presenting players as DM with situations where violence is the worst possible answer to the problem. It sends a good message to the kids. #games4ed
I have a group that has really taken a liking to forbidden island this year in game club. Code Names is great. Sounds like the HS D&D club is a SMASHING success! #games4ed
#games4ed Sorry late! Trying to catch up. Want to start games club and teach enrichment classes at K-5 school but running into issues w school district wifi firewall. Blocks all gaming sites. :(
A5B: I think that the free games are best as well as team based games that have the ability for LAN games or private parties such as League and DOTA. This encourages teamwork and cooperation as well as healthy competition. #games4ed
This could be a challenge, but providing choice and letting kids self select might help resolve that - everyone doesn't have to play same game(s) #games4ed
A5b) halo games have been some of the best competitive games around. However, on a budget,supplying consoles and copies of the game gets pricy. League of legends is a better option then. #games4ed
I was so excited when the original #starcraft was released as completely free - made it easy to install on all computers and make available. Granted, i'm biased as it is my all time favorite game! love introducing kids to it! #games4ed
A5B: I think that the free games are best as well as team based games that have the ability for LAN games or private parties such as League and DOTA. This encourages teamwork and cooperation as well as healthy competition. #games4ed
love it! Or design games using the internal workings of Minecraft or Roblox -- part of the competition is creating a game for people to compete in! #games4ed
Q6: Collaboration among stakeholders is so important. What format for ongoing discussion among School game groups would be best? How can we create a safe forum for educators and students to collaborate? #games4ed
A6: I think that we need to have a good balance of student and admin voices in creating the clubs. The kids know what games they like to play and make for good competition. The administration knows the limits of the district. Both need to work together. #games4ed
A6: I would use this type of a forum because it is quick and easy to use. Setting clear and precise guidelines and rules to the forum would be a great start. #games4ed
A6: This is an important question as we are really trying to create a sustainable community - have tried skype, currently discord, etc. In fact I'll share our discord link - please join! #games4edhttps://t.co/mjF7ooJz0y
Q6: Collaboration among stakeholders is so important. What format for ongoing discussion among School game groups would be best? How can we create a safe forum for educators and students to collaborate? #games4ed
A6: discord may be best as it is game oriented. I also like slack and facebook groups could work. Whatever the case, I think banding together is important and we need to develop the infrastructure together. #games4ed
Q6: Collaboration among stakeholders is so important. What format for ongoing discussion among School game groups would be best? How can we create a safe forum for educators and students to collaborate? #games4ed
Discord has a lot of forums that are very inappropriate for students however, and it could be risky to encourage kids to use Discord without a lot of rules and guidance. #games4ed
I agree - twitter chats are great - but what about after the hour? how do we continue the discussion in a truly sustainable manner to build and nurture community? #games4ed
A6: Seems kids use Discord (at least it's the place YouTubers use), while us old folk are excited to finally have figured out Facebook and Skype. No idea how to get Schoolboards on the same page as enrichment gaming clubs. Thinking on it...#games4ed ideas?
I would love to think we could support and model proper use in the hopes that students would understand the difference, but i do understand the concern for sure #games4ed
would be great - would foster continuity and regular discussions - we tried a bi-weekly @skype call - that wasn't so successful. I know i don't have the bandwidth to spear head it but would support it and participate regularly for sure! #games4ed
