#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?
Hi #games4ed. N from 🇨🇦, #edtech creator, cofounder, enthusiast. After the whirlwind that was #lifelongKDG, taking a deep breath and gearing up for this chat.
Jumping into #games4ed right now because I love the idea of #Edcafes for student learning. This might be a great way to update literature circles with my students for our next book unit on WWII & Holocaust
A1 - Ss taking ownership of their learning and getting a chance to be in the driver seat. Often leads to more passion for the topic/experience. #games4ed
A2 from a gamification philosophy sense Relatedness of collaboration and Autonomy of choice are pretty powerful internals. Showing Mastery would be a third #games4ed
Congrats @Rachelle with TEN President Elect - you are an @iste Rock Star & cannot wait to catch up with you in person at Summer Spark & #ISTE18 - to celebrate #games4ed
A1 #games4ed edcafe is a great way to empower students with leadership skills when they lead their own discussion groups and you can also facilitate and guide them
A2 I had done #edcamp style with my Ss two years ago, and they enjoyed that, I think my classes would enjoy an #edcafe but possibly struggle with the concept of a more open/student choice #games4ed
A2 - The shy ones might struggle with being up front and presenting (I would've). But, it doesn't need to be one student leading/teaching others. Can be paired. Or group discussions. Shy ones can create the questions, a loud one can moderate. :P #games4ed
That's something I've wondered about. How to support those quieter students. Perhaps by pairs signing up together? Choice to lead alone or w/a partner? #games4ed
A2 #games4ed Something that they could struggle with is lbeing afraid of being judged by their peers and friends but I think with the right encourage meant it could be a great developmental tool!
I think if we model or fishbowl first that is one way to support all Ss. Can also talk about equal talk & provide sentence starters or sentence stems to help articulate thinking #games4ed
I think your idea of being paired is a good one. Like @legendlearning just mentioned, you can have ones fly solo who want to. All about #studentchoice#games4ed
A2: We want students to take charge of learning, be leaders of their own learning. #Edcafes allow Ss to amplify their voice. Ts are in the background learning from Ss this time around #games4ed
The sentence starter/sentence stem is a good idea. Some type of structure to help them prepare a bit. Even when I lead an Edcamp, I always have a structure--I can't just go wing it! #games4ed
I think if we model or fishbowl first that is one way to support all Ss. Can also talk about equal talk & provide sentence starters or sentence stems to help articulate thinking #games4ed
Yes, #stuchoice is super important. And group work can be a blessing or a curse. Another option - have the shy ones make a video or something else, so they don't have to present "live". #games4ed
I think this is also a place where not using new curriculum for the first attempt is great. Let Ss teach something they already feel like an expert at. #games4ed
Yes, I agree. One cannot say tomorrow is an #Edcafe without model + have Ss brainstorm guidelines for productive conversations. Also to hold accountable talk, there needs to be a reflection piece to share takeaways + how to work more effectively the next time around #games4ed
A3) I definitely believe knowing your students is key. You may have to create alternatives for certain students who don’t learn as well in that leadership role #games4ed
That's another great option! Having the option to re-shoot a video a few times could help soothe those nerves! Plus, Ss could access it even after the #edcafe#games4ed
Yes, #stuchoice is super important. And group work can be a blessing or a curse. Another option - have the shy ones make a video or something else, so they don't have to present "live". #games4ed
So true. @smokeylit & Stephanie Harvey's book Inquiry & Collaboration has great ideas for cultivating group work with accountable talk and activities #games4edhttps://t.co/zmOrn0xNVf
Completely agree on the reflection part. And I think that is one thing that I'd put as
A3: Need to have a reflection component planned--a Google form, or sketchnotes from presentations, or something to demonstrate what Ss learned
#games4ed
A3 - Guidance. Most things that appear to be "unscheduled" are usually very well planned and guided. Don't expect first to go off without lots of planning. But, the level needed will decrease. #games4ed
Thinking back to literature circles, maybe there are individual roles within the group that rotate weekly to help w/accountability & shift out of comfort zone - because all learning is NOT going to be comfortable #games4ed
So true. This could be a gateway into public speaking and putting yourself out there. Isn't that we as teachers do--and it can be scary! Thinking about it, this can be a great thing to share w/students is our nervousness! #games4ed
Totally agree. This could be a great first or second week of school activity. Lets students get to know and appreciate each other through what each decides to teach or share at their "station" #games4ed
So true. This could be a gateway into public speaking and putting yourself out there. Isn't that we as teachers do--and it can be scary! Thinking about it, this can be a great thing to share w/students is our nervousness! #games4ed
I went to a toastmaster's session once. There, they often have you talk on a topic you already know about. And everyone claps when you finish, good or bad. It's all about building up the confidence. Lots of good ideas from their work. #games4ed
A2: I think they would love the chance to present and share their knowledge. They would struggle with how to share their ideas in an effect manner for everyone to understand. #games4ed
And this could be a fun #gbl based activity, where Ss teach their favorite games to others. They're teaching, but since everyone is doing something, the pressure isn't solely on them #games4ed
Now that you mention it, I do something similar in the first few weeks by asking students to perform a "Piece of Choice". It can be anything within certain guidelines that the student chooses to perform for the group. Not exactly the same as an #edcafe, but similar. #games4ed
Natalie is in the house! Whooohooo! #games4ed And I agree with your comment. They might need some preparation and a bit of practice on their presentations, even if they're just a few minutes long #games4ed
I think this adds to the preparation work, too. Social mores that are followed, as you mentioned. Always clap. Always show your listening non-verbal skills. Always thank your speaker #games4ed
I went to a toastmaster's session once. There, they often have you talk on a topic you already know about. And everyone claps when you finish, good or bad. It's all about building up the confidence. Lots of good ideas from their work. #games4ed
A4) for earth sci I think could be used for any unit that has multiple parts. Which is basically everything. We’re about to jump into astronomy... so many opportunities #games4ed
A4: So many possibilities...I think it could be a great way to share techie knowledge. Ss leading others in Adobe Spark, WeVideo, Animoto...a way to share different platforms when starting a new project plan
#games4ed
A4 I think #edcafes could be a great way to share their #pbl ideas, teach each other about diff concepts in class, or how to create diff presentations, or themed talks and each group chooses a focus #games4ed
Love that idea, it sounds like 30 second challenge I used 2do in my Speech & Debate class. Everyone put on a note card 5 things they could talk abt confidently & then put in a bag. You had 2pull out a card, maybe yours or not. Then talk about topic for 30 secs #games4ed
In reply to
@MusingsOnEdTech, @mpilakow, @PhilipThomas44
You're right! Any teacher with a genius hour/20time part of class could easily set up their presentations in an Edcafe format. Especially when you're working with a lot of Ss and limited time! #games4ed
Space is so important everyday, I think if you have your classrooms set up in pods or small groups that is a great start - can then spread out. Open concept classroom also gr8 #games4ed
If you want to talk more speech & debate activities I am happy to. Last spring I badged the entire semester & the entire class was a hyperdoc of challenges to complete. I have posted it on my blog, I can share if you want #games4ed
In reply to
@mpilakow, @MusingsOnEdTech, @PhilipThomas44
A5 my room now has a pretty good setup since I got rid of rows, groups of desks 3 or 4, and the room is kind of circular, easy to move around #games4ed
A6 take a walk outside, and go without technology, or use the #edtech to expand an #edcafe outside of the school and connect our students globally #games4ed
A6 - I think it would be fun to do an #edcafe with Ss leading sessions for parents/siblings to attend. They can show off what they've learned/built/designed/etc. #games4ed
A6: Ideally, I would love all the PD in my school from the faculty meetings, department meeting & PD days to be #edcamp or #edcafe style without having to choose what you are going to attend beforehand #games4ed
I love the idea of doing a digital #edcafe where students could lead a session online--especially if it was about something they're passionate about! #games4ed
This could be a great open house/PT conference activity. Come to think of it, I set up our speech public performance similar to this, where Ss performed at scheduled times in rooms, and attendees picked and chose where to go. #games4ed
Thursday came fast... I swear yesterday was Monday... :) I think the #lifelongKDG with many of the same folks makes it seem like it starts earlier. #games4ed
Great ideas coming up in this chat, with lots that I never thought about getting ready for it!
Last question of the night:
Q7: What is your favorite takeaway from tonight's chat?
#games4ed
RT This would be really awesome, that's what I love about the tech, connecting Ss with other Ss, sharing ideas, we are using @edmodo and @Flipgrid for our #pbl much more authentic #games4ed
I love the idea of doing a digital #edcafe where students could lead a session online--especially if it was about something they're passionate about! #games4ed
#games4ed Have to say goodnight early tonight to read with my daughter. Finishing up our Babysitter's Club graphic novel series. Until next week, have a super weekend.
A7 - I've spent my evening now thinking about how to put Ss more in control of their learning. Not a specific takeaway, but definitely something to continue to ponder. #games4ed#lifelongKDG.
Great ideas coming up in this chat, with lots that I never thought about getting ready for it!
Last question of the night:
Q7: What is your favorite takeaway from tonight's chat?
#games4ed
A7. Great to hear about #edcafe, which was a new idea for me. I will be thinking about ways to incorporate this in the final MP, or definitely next year. #games4ed
