#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 everyone! Melissa from Nebraska, 11-12 ELA. Favorite word game...Balderdash! Or maybe Bananagrams (though my family calls it South Dakota Scrabble...don't know why...) #games4ed
Good evening! My name is Jessica Burton and I'm from New Jersey. I'm a student at Stockton University, and my favorite word game is scrabble! #games4ed#GEN2108
I'm Beth and I teach Ceramics and Video Game Design to high school students in Alabama. My favorite word game... does Pictionary count? You're drawing a word... #games4ed
Q1: Do you currently integrate creative language/creative writing activities or options in your classroom? If so, what benefits or challenges do you have? #games4ed
A1: I do, as part of our writing across the curriculum. Challenges, finding fun stuff for creative writing in science. Currently writing origins stories for superheros in our genetics unit #games4ed
A1: I try to do at least one creative prompt a day on my whiteboard. A challenge I have is finding time to turn them into more well-developed pieces. #games4ed
A1: I do, and I think it's important to emphasize creativity---there's less emphasis on that with standards. But I think there's a challenge there, too, for trying to squeeze everything in #games4ed
A1: Narrative is an integral part of my game design classes. Having said that, getting the students to come up with something original, not derivative, is a challenge. Some days it seems like every story has already been written. #games4ed
A1: I recently had a field experience where the teacher instructed students on creating blackout poetry, which I think is a very beneficial for students, as they are working with someone else's words to make a creation of their own #games4ed#gccedu
My name is Xinyue Gao. I'm a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, and major is Second language Education. I like Bingo game, it that work?😀 #games4ed
A1: I would love to have creative writing activities in my classroom. I feel as if it will help the students learn better. I think a challenge they could face would be they think they're not being "creative" enough. #games4ed#GEN2108
Totally agree! I love having blackout poetry--I used it as a sidequest last month. Last week I read in Intention the idea of using Blackout Poetry as a way to summarize an article--a cool idea that I never considered! #games4ed
I have always loved the idea of it, but no teacher of mine ever integrated it into the classroom, so that field was the first time I ever created a blackout piece! definitely hope to use it in my classroom! #games4ed#gccedu
A2: My World Lit teacher had us write poems about our favorite characters in Les Mis, which really opened the door for a lot of students into more independent creative writing! #games4ed#gccedu
A2) narratives that allow for free thinking and creativity! My science students like to make up funny stories to explain plate tectonic
Processes #games4ed
A2: My students created text-based games. It was great because they had to have scenarios for all the different options the player could choose. It was like they wrote a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book! #games4ed
A2: I think having the students brainstorm ideas on a whiteboard would be a fun activity. Topics could be their favorite movie or book characters. #games4ed#GEN2108
A2: I've had kids respond to photo prompts, do a preposition circus script, etc. I want to try an idea a colleague just presented on. Ss use cards to create a map of a world and then write from there. Can't remember the name of it... #games4ed
I wish more Ts would include more narrative like you and @MarianaGSerrato do! Out of all the forms of writing, that's the one that resonates with us as humans, but we use it so little outside of ELA #games4ed
A2: The other thing we do with all the cycle dice games (water, rock, carbon, etc) is use that data to write up stories from the persona of a ___ molecule. These are always fun to read #games4ed
A1: I'm not a real teacher now, but I'm volunteering in a Chinese school. I found that there are so much websites that can be used into language class, and it can increase students learning interests! The one I used before named Storyjumper! #games4ed
Q1: Do you currently integrate creative language/creative writing activities or options in your classroom? If so, what benefits or challenges do you have? #games4ed
A2: My students created text-based games. It was great because they had to have scenarios for all the different options the player could choose. It was like they wrote a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book! #games4ed
Q3: Word games can be a great way to play with new and creative uses for words. What word games have you found to be successful with your students?
#games4ed
Jumping in here - I'm learning about @twinethreads to teach it to middle schools so they can create interactive stories. Really fun! #games4ed Here's my first try: https://t.co/7QrHZxSqOw
A3: Crosswords using definitions/explanations/characterizations as clues are a fun and effective way to get Ss to study for upcoming exams #games4ed#gccedu
Twine is such an amazing resource! I'm so glad you shared it, April! I had so many juniors and seniors do it last year JUST FOR FUN because they saw others doing it for the choice project! #games4ed
Jumping in here - I'm learning about @twinethreads to teach it to middle schools so they can create interactive stories. Really fun! #games4ed Here's my first try: https://t.co/7QrHZxSqOw
I'd never thought about using GSites for that, but yeah, it could definitely work! I would use it before the Google Slides approach I've seen #games4ed
Not really a "game", but students randomly pick word parts and try to create as many new words as possible. Then other Ss have to try and guess the meaning based on word parts and/or context clues #games4ed
Hannah, this is really awesome! And it has SUPERFIGHT in it, which is a total bonus! Very cool! Can't wait to dive deeper into this and check it out! #games4ed
I've also heard of students writing "How to Be A...." poems, such as how to be a cell, or how to be a Civil war Soldier...such cool learning that will stick with kids #games4ed
A4: As I mentioned before, blackout poetry is a good way to get Ss to play with poetry, but also having small groups work on joint poems could stir excitement about poetry in the classroom! #games4ed
A4: Haven't tried it yet, but have been wanting to.... online magnetic poetry like https://t.co/e7ig9OQdeJ (I'd have to check appropriateness) #games4ed
The plus side is that you could always make your own online magnetic poetry with Google Drawing...then you could make poetry with the words you want students to use, too....or then they could add their own words, too #games4ed
I stumbled across Exquisite Corpse Poetry Game earlier this week...looked like another cool way to do collaborative poetry https://t.co/6IzZ5gjtBe#games4ed
Yeah, me too! I just thought about doing this with my own students and then throwing in some of their vocab words from throughout the year...OMG, I can't believe the ideas tonight from everyone #games4ed
By the way....ended up putting Rory's Story Cubes on my requisition. And downloading the app to my iPad, and used it to help me write this month's vocabulary story to introduce vocab words! #games4ed
A5: One reason I play video games is for the amazing stories. It's like reading a book, but you're playing it instead. Students can use this same technique. #games4ed#GEN2108
A5: I think video games provide a great lead for creative writing, if the Ss choose to pursue that as a topic of interest! the world of fantasy in games provide such a cool outlet for children (we've also gotten stories like Ready Player One from them!) #games4ed#gccedu
This is definitely similar to what I said! One reason I play video games is for the stories. It's like reading a book, but you're playing it instead. #games4ed#GEN2108
A5: I teach Hero's Journey to my VGD kids. I recite the story and they have to write down the name of the book, movie, or game they think I'm describing. They are amazed at how many fit the mold. Then I challenge them to go beyond that when coming up with their stories. #games4ed
I really don't play video games, so I can't add much here, but when I have opened the door to my students to create a game with the elements they love, they come up with some fun ideas. #games4ed
Exactly! Two veteran games teachers @johnCfallon and @PaulDarvasi integrate a lot of text-rich video games in their ELA classes. They're great people to follow on Twitter! #games4ed
In reply to
@JessicaBurton05, @legendlearning, @johnCfallon, @PaulDarvasi
A6) jigsaw writing- someone starts the story and you pass it around everyone writes one sentence and then the beginning person writes the last sentence #games4ed
A6: Small group poetry slams! collaboratively written and presented poems, which could be voted upon by Ss to see whose is best. this is a way to make poetry writing exciting for Ss, and a little healthy competition in the classroom never hurt. #games4ed
LOL, I call it musical chair writing, but yeah, totally the same thing! Love doing it with new words or idea development...the kids have so much fun with it! And of course, massive thinking involved! #games4ed
A6: I remember one day in my Journalism class in high school, my teacher had us go to each computer and type a compliment about the individual. Each of us had our own stations. There were definitely positive results! #games4ed#GEN2108
Backstory for PE game creation, journal entries/narratives for sci/soc rpg games from class. World or government creation projects that also include roll play #games4ed
1sy yr Ss were struggling w/plot structure & character choices. I created a process drama w/frame that required them to create a character, go on series of journeys, then end w/boss battle. It was D&D style. Very modified. #games4ed
Q7: To help our students feel their writing is truly authentic, we need to share them with the world. In what ways do you publish your students’ work? #games4ed
A6) jigsaw writing- someone starts the story and you pass it around everyone writes one sentence and then the beginning person writes the last sentence #games4ed
It isn't really writing exactly, but I listened to something with @jmattmiller about using @PearDeck to create flashcards collaboratively. I need to look this up and make it happen. #games4ed
That would be a fun way to have the students collaborate! Maybe there could be a contest on which team designed the most creative game. #games4ed#GEN2108
I love that you did D&D with theater. I would've never thought of that. I'm starting a new Theater/Speech class next year...I might have to steal this idea... #games4ed
A7: I think posting student works to twitter is a great way to get their work out there! or creating a class blog for students to publicly post their writings #games4ed
Me and my kids love gaming, we do a lot of narrative writing based on game worlds, reviews, instructional writing and starting to add persuasive as well, eking on them building lesson plans as well #games4ed
One last thought, life is a better game because there are more choices. Learning from our mistakes could be the start to the best day of your life.#games4ed
Loving this! I'm going to steer my Business English/Tech Writing class more this direction next year, or at least provide them options aligned with gaming #games4ed
A7: Our MS kids are writing books to share with the littles at the Elementary next door about how they can make a positive change in the environment. It is fun listening to them debate how much science they can include and still keep it kid-friendly. #games4ed
I use story cubes and timers, kids get 5 min to write before they must hand off to another table so a new Ss can cont., 3-5 kids will be in each story. At the end we read them all, most find I really funny to see where the story went #games4ed
Oooh...I definitely want to know how that goes. I just ordered a bunch of StoryCubes for next year. Also, StoriumEDU is going into Beta Testing. Can't wait for narrative writing unit next year!!! #games4ed
A7: Twitter is definitely a great place to publish excellent work. There are millions of people on Twitter, so their work will be out in the world in minutes. #games4ed#GEN2108
A7: A lot of writing is for our #AgentsofChange project. Ss write for authentic audiences (intvw. experts, email organizations, invite to collaborate, persuasive wtg for permissions & supplies for projects, ads that are shared w/ school & community, press release, etc #games4ed
The Flashcard Factory on @Peardeck is AWESOME. I've all my Ss do it--all levels of juniors/seniors--and my college comp students loved it just as much as my lower-level kids! #games4ed
In reply to
@PerkyScience, @jmattmiller, @PearDeck, @PearDeck
It's been a fun progression. I've taught #youngplaywrights for yrs & recently revised that process for a 30-min residency. The "final battle" step made me think of it. And this class has a few gamers in it. So, that sparked the idea. I'm definitely using it again. #games4ed
A7: I think posting students' work on the school website is a good way, and social media is also another choice that students can get feedback from all over the world! #games4ed
D&D has all of the elements necessary for creating theatre! And it really drives home the idea of an active, urgent motivation for character. #games4ed
A7: I work with a community center that has a section of my students writing. It means so much to all my students to see their work at a public place. #games4ed
We have one class that is too late as the elementary will already be out, so the kids will be reading their stories over @Flipgrid and the littles will record their comments. I am also excited to see how that turns out.
In reply to
@JessicaBurton05, @mpilakow, @Flipgrid
A7. "Publishing" can be as simple as sharing w/another classmate or class. I try to get Ss work out beyond the classroom w/social media, blog, & YouTube. You can find it by searching for LTHS Theatre & Drama. #games4ed
A8: I love games, and I think they are a great and (fun) way for learning. I love reading everyone's responses, because it always gives me different games to try out. #games4ed#GEN2108
So true...I've just never put the two together, but it's so cool! And the students that I'll have next year will totally buy into that storyline! #games4ed
I use something similar w/script formatting. Ss pass the script back and forth adding dialogue and/or stage directions. #games4ed#playwriting#youngplaywrights
I sometimes do country creation projects class, kids can created “famous” poems from their nation. It can be quite cool, especially when the species isn’t human #games4ed
I do like this idea! I observed a Chinese class that the teacher let Ss write a letter to Chinese students, and their letter will be sent to China #games4ed
A7: A lot of writing is for our #AgentsofChange project. Ss write for authentic audiences (intvw. experts, email organizations, invite to collaborate, persuasive wtg for permissions & supplies for projects, ads that are shared w/ school & community, press release, etc #games4ed
Will do! I"ve got a lot of work to do this summer setting up the curriculum. The kids in our drama/speech program have given me some direction of where they want to go, so that helps! #games4ed
