#sschat is a network of educators, resources, and ideas that started on Twitter, but has expanded to Facebook, an annual NCSS unconference, and more. Join us to chat asynchronously on Twitter or Facebook, or chat with us live on Mondays from 7-8pm EST.
As someone who used Age of Empires 2 as a student to fill the gaps from AP Euro and AP US to take (and pass) the AP Global test (didn't take the class), I am excited about tonight's #sschat@MHSLewisHistory@Samuel_Wallace2
Phil from Northern, VA. I teach 7th grade US History II. I think games have the potential to connect students to content in more realistic ways. One of my favorite extension activities is to have students play @icivics "Win The White House" they love it and so do I! #sschat
Chris from Bloomington, IN. Teach world history for private online HS affiliated w/ Indiana Univ. Also one of the #sschat co-leaders. We visited the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial & Lincoln State Park as kids in southern Indiana.
Burning the midnight oil so I’m here for this #sschat with @MatthewFarber! I’ll be tweeting from @iCivics tonight! Most memorable field trip was to Washington DC in 8th grade!
#LetsK12Better
FDR Election #1: 1932
- The economic crisis is front and center.
- Hoover suggests that individuals should work hard to fix their present situations.
- FDR supports government programs to help.
- FDR wins in electoral landslide.
#45DaysOfPresidents#sschat#APUSH#PresidentsDay
Field trip when I was a student? My favorite was Nature's Classroom, a 3 day field trip that was dedicated to camping, nature, and other life skills #sschat
Joanne from Missouri. 7th grade world history and 11th grade modern global issues. Looming forward to the chat. Not much of a gamer, so ready to learn. #sschat
David Olson in Madison WI
HS #apgov and history teacher.
Most memorable field trip was to see "A Midsummer Nights Dream" in 10th grade at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
#sschat
I am Matt, asst professor at @UNC_Colorado - researcher of GBL in teacher ed! I live in CO. My favorite field trip in school was to the @airandspace! #sschat
Emma Humphries from Florida. Chief Education Officer @icivics Man, going to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in 5th grade was legit AMAZING @NASA#SpaceCamp#sschat
Ryan, 8th Grade US History (19th century) from Olathe. I remember seeing the Treasures of the Czars when I was in 7th Grade. Very cool field trip! #sschat
My colleague and I were just talking about game based learning, so the timing is perfect Thanks in advance for those who can help me learn about this approach. Phil checking in from Sarasota. Teaching 6-8 WH #sschat
Hi! I'm Darren, a high school social studies in SoCal. Favorite field trip was to watch plays at the Folger Theater in Washington, DC. I was such a theater nerd :) #GBLinAction#sschat
Hi! I teach 7th grade us history ii in Yorktown, va. In order to get our social studies license we had to do a seminar at the house of delegates. They let us sit in our rep’s seats- it was awesome! #sschat
FDR Election #2: 1936
- In the heart of the Great Depression
- FDR's New Deal programs are giving Americans some hope.
- FDR wins in a popular and electoral landslide.
- FDR secures another four years for his policies.
#45DaysOfPresidents#sschat#APUSH#hsgovchat#PresidentsDay
A1: They provide opportunities to practice and see consequences based on actions. These games have the opportunity to help students see connections between civic-mindedness and positive opportunities. #sschat
A2: Games serve as civic simulations, allowing students to experience civic activities that may still yet be closed off to them. I see games as another level of access. #sschat
A1: Games, such as Settlers of Catan, are about building a community. Also, decision-making, critical thinking and communication are necessary skills of civic-minded individuals #sschat
A1: Games encourage collaborative competition. Ss learn to work together to achieve common goals. Encourages compromise & can lead to civic action as culminating activities. #sschat
A1- students can build empathy and understanding for the difficult situations faced by all citizens, even those radically different from themselves #sschat
A1: Students get to be a part of the "process" whether it's voting, making government or economic decisions, or playing a part of a representative or president -- all in a game (btw, this is all in @icivics games) #sschat
A1. By providing opportunities to simulate civic roles (President, Legislators, Judges) students experience how the system is designed to work. Knowledge about the system is a huge first step in active and engaged participation. #sschat
A1 - Games, like life have rules, decisions & consequences. Sometimes people break the rules & get away with it, other times people are caught, and people tend to not want to play games with them any more. Games prepare us for a life of rules, decisions & consequences. #sschat
A1: Games, such as Settlers of Catan, are about building a community. Also, decision-making, critical thinking and communication are necessary skills of civic-minded individuals #sschat
A1. Games put kids in the driver seat of civic action. They can the. Take that knowledge outside the game to the text book, their home, and their community #sschat#LetsK12Better 🎮
A1B Gaming also always students to see consequences of inaction, uninformed action & learn new strategies from mistakes in a non-threatening situation #sschat
A1 - Games make learning easier and more fun; so...it would follow playing civic-minded games would also make it easier and more fun to be civic-minded. It's a nonthreatening way to address a huge spectrum of issues & roles.
I've got my students working on drafting medal-winning countries. I've heard more students asking about what's going on in the world than any other time this year. It's great! #sschat
In reply to
@Historywmoses, @ksullivan118, @playfanschool
A2) Depending on the game, they can take students to different times and places, help them get a sense of what things may be/might have been like. #sschat
A2: Videogames have the opportunity to take students out of the traditional classroom and transport them to somewhere else and to actually experience something. Much like the purpose of a field trip. #sschat
A2 - I work in a Title I district where students have little opportunity to see the outside world; games allow them to experience roles, situations, places they may not even realize exist and thus open the door of opportunity for them. #sschat
A2: I think they can be better than digital field trips - I'd love to see a game where Ss travel through a virtual Capitol, collecting/finding etc. all the while, touring and learning #sschat
A2- games can truly place students in the past / build an emotional connection to the past as well as going to a location. My students constantly bring up what happened to their characters in the @Mission_US games! #sschat
“Every action has an equal reaction” - Teaching students the importance of taking action, yet also making them aware that their action will have reactions.. either positive or negative. #sschat
Yes! Those are what Jim Gee calls "good" games, not like game show games, but ones where students use meta-cognition, thinking about what the designer wants them to do to navigate the game as system #sschat
A2: Looking to incorporate an #AmazingRace activity this year that infused VR trips. Tried it last year (https://t.co/5Fc0A9ndDT) without VR trips, but looking 2 use elements from the game to have them travel the world and examine the 5 factors of settlement and economies #sschat
Games provide a safe space to learn and practice new ideas. Elements of civic engagement and civil discourse are built into #PolitiCraft. Active listening, articulating personal views, and understanding another players point of view all happen throughout gameplay! #sschat
Jim Gee refers to "good" games, not like game show games, but ones where students use meta-cognition, thinking about what the designer wants them to do to navigate the game as system #sschat
A2: games take students into an "out of school" experience; where learning feels rewarding, fun, and experiential. and most importantly, students become 'curious' again about learning! #sschat
Love this! @kheiles713 and I are almost done building something like this for when we study Southeast Asia with Ss in our Eng SS class Cultural & Literary Studies! #sschat
A2: Even better than a traditional field trip, games can take Ss to fictional places or places that aren't safe - like https://t.co/AcWzDh1SDU "Against All Odds"
#sschat
A2: Allows a student to step out of their world and be in another. A digital field trip lets a student see the world, a game allows them to explore and role play within that world. #sschat
Really enjoying all of these answers about student engagement. A good educational game can captivate a student AND teach them important learning concepts. #sschat
A2: Looking to incorporate an #AmazingRace activity this year that infused VR trips. Tried it last year (https://t.co/5Fc0A9ndDT) without VR trips, but looking 2 use elements from the game to have them travel the world and examine the 5 factors of settlement and economies #sschat
A2: Some games have settings that may give S’s ideas on what those places are like. We played a WWI iPad game w/ my S’s that gave them ideas about trench warfare. #sschat
When playing a game, you take on a lusory attitude: players willingly accept the rules and constraints and goals, thus are safe to fail https://t.co/l0rpQopZ63#growthmindset#sschat
A2 games are unique little worlds with rules and customs all their own. Same experience of safe but alien environment can be present for a student #sschat
"The Past is a Foreign Country" is a great article to pair with "The Search for a Useable Past" if you teach high school students about historiography at all. #sschat
When students are asking why we aren't teaching about "white slavery," and teachers comment on how things nothing like slavery are "like slavery," we have a serious issue on our hands. We should be looking at how we teach slavery as social studies teachers especially! #sschat
In reply to
@ushistorysage, @DanielleSleeper, @CHitch94
A2 my concern is the quality of edu games don’t compare to what’s Ss enjoy in their free time. Ie @icivicsgames have fab content but move so slowly. #sschat
I think we need to incorporate empathy & mindfulness into the STEM classes more often. Ss need to understand client needs and work in a collaborative environment. #sschat
curious - are there sub-groups within an affinity group? like #GBLinAction for those in special education, for example? where can I find those sub-groups? #sschat
In reply to
@MatthewFarber, @SamMandeville, @DrJHarmon
A3: I think the biggest thing is that as historians we know there are different interpretations to history, so students should be able to add to those varying views with guidance. I try to leave many assignments open-ended and let the students imagine and innovate. #sschat
A3) In my online world history courses, Ss choose historical theme/essential ? to use as their lens through which to study the past. Also have choice in format in which they show their learning. #sschat
A3: currently, i provide an "extra points" folder in @Schoology that allows students to catch up to their peers. though these don't go towards their grade, it ultimately has an impact on our gamifed classroom (i use @playfanschool) #sschat
In reply to
@MatthewFarber, @Schoology, @playfanschool
Though I don't play Call of Duty, students love to come talk to me about the game, which I have found has helped me connect content to games and students get super excited about it. #sschat
A3) Any of the following for online w. geo class:Ss choice in how demonstrate mastery, topics/places/cultures they want to study/research, choice in order depending on unit, building learning path site with UDL #sschat
A3: Choice in how to showcase learning in a manner they'd enjoy. Key for choice is it must be meaningful. Choice of a worksheet or a word search doesn't give Ss feeling of agency - they want neither. #sschat
Let me recommend menus. I have done "Progressive Era Football" where students pick different assignments worth different amounts of yards to score a touchdown. Students told me they really felt like they learned a lot from it. Doing something similar for WWII. #sschat
A3: I really think that most lessons are chock full of opportunities for student choice and agency. The trick is to train our minds to always be on the lookout for them and embrace them when we find them #sschat
A3 well, I tend not to play games as much as try to design like a game. In that sense I build in "quests" with (usually 2) main options and side quests. #sschat
A3: currently, i provide an "extra points" folder in @Schoology that allows students to catch up to their peers. though these don't go towards their grade, it ultimately has an impact on our gamifed classroom (i use @playfanschool) #sschat
In reply to
@MatthewFarber, @Schoology, @playfanschool
A3-I love using menus that can provide choice in selection of games, roles to play, etc. You can also break menus into themes like geography, government, etc. and have them choose 1 of each type to get a well-rounded experience. #sschat
A3 If using an inquiry lesson can give the students choice by establishing an overarching compelling question & then allowing students to develop the underlying supporting question when analyzing sources to answer the CQ #sschat
A3: Student choice doesn't mean students can do whatever they want. Sometimes too much freedom of choice results in paralysis. I like to provide a menu of choices which still gives students some choice, but in a more directed and action oriented manner. #sschat
I'm introducing a menu choice project this week actually, and I'm quite excited. How do we incorporate choice into every day classes? Should we incorporate? #sschat
My performance assessment for the 1920s unit was that students had to make a short story, but they had choice of topics drone what we have studied and if they wanted to write or draw their story. #sschat
We love when students pick their own issue/topic to play #PolitiCraft. Their personal investment further engages them in the process of using civic action to find a "solution". It also builds empathy between students as they learn what their peers care about and why. #sschat
A3 We played a simple trade simulation in class. As made decisions. I thought it would be boring. All on paper. Math. Then I added candy prizes for top teams. Boom. #sschat
A3: Giving choice, while still providing comfort of options. My 6th graders love the idea of picking what they research, however they enjoy the comfort of knowing there are a list of topics that are available to them. Freedom is good, but guidance can be appreciated! #sschat
You know it's a good day when you can employ this classic @SouthPark reference in a professional Twitter party. 14 years later and it still makes me giggle #sschat
Ok, devils advocate. This can also cause obedience rather than growth. Games can inherently be toxic. How can we navigate these cleavages if we adopt said attitude (eg, being salty, use of meme-based language). Takes away from gameplay, especially in multiplayer games. #sschat
Me too so I asked students to create an annotated/illustrated map showing where each scene occurred; then to research that place to see if the game accurately portrayed the geography of the area. For ec of course. :) #sschat
Giving students a variety of ways to show you what they know. Some can write a paper, create a Google Slide or Google Site, others might want to make a video. Each allows students to show you their content knowledge in a way that's comfortable for them. #sschat
A4) I build my own Digital @breakoutEDU games tailored to lessons/units. @kheiles713 and I also made a discussion bingo game to facilitate discussion with our online Ss. Surveyed Ss & they liked it, very meaningful discussion #sschat
A4: An awesome version of "Chutes and Ladders" has been created to expose students to the #GlobalGoals. It's great for elementary or middle school students (https://t.co/VESXVPqF1N) #sschat
A4: Most board games use an incredible amount of probability/statistics and basic economics when played well. Anything that involves a dice and resources. Settlers of Catan and Risk are some of the best. #sschat
A4: When we kicked off our government unit we gave students game boards with no rules on how to play. They were instructed to have clear winners. So they made rules. #sschat
Student choice is more than providing Ss w/an opportunity to pick a topic or proj, but enabling Ss to develop a voice in their leaning by providing opportunities for them to ask ?s, choose resources/materials, etc #sschat
I adapted the core mechanics (actions players take) in One Night Ultimate Werewolf to teach the Salem Witch Trials. Ss played, then made their own decks: https://t.co/pOoAFlbtHV#sschat
A4: Though it isn't commercial, I had my Ancient Civ students play some of the first board games ever created to get a sense of Ancient cultures... It turns out we aren't that different than the Egyptians.
#sschat
A4 WW2 & the Atomic Bomb. Take on role of Pres. Truman . Can turn this into inquiry activity for Ss to decide what to do https://t.co/mXSj4xH1HC#sschat
A4 I have done a video game review project https://t.co/TvbpxgWVMv where Ss get to report on their favorite video game and corroborate facts/events in the game w other sources. #sschat
Check out our Game Jam Guide, free curriculum shares lesson plans and ideas for educators to implement created by experts who lead game jams themed on topics such as climate change, immigration stories and local voices, and future cities. https://t.co/VRfIFouHPD@g4c#sschat
Student voice (which has been super hard for the control freak in me) also enables Ss to exercise self-management inc self and social-awareness; think goal-setting, checklists, individual meetings, reflection, and self-evaluation #sschat
When I review for tests I like to take one of the challenges from Survivor and modify it based on an article I read. Students get so excited when we play! #sschat
I began with flexible choice seating, and it wasn't a great success. I've now started mainly doing choice projects with main objectives that must be achieved. I'm struggling on how to incorporate choice in my everyday classroom #sschat
How did you introduce the idea of choice projects? I want to scaffold to that point for my 7th graders, but want to figure out how to do the grand unveiling. #sschat
Used it during synchronous class. It's a combined English & SS class Cultural & Literary Studies. Built based on lesson. Ss reading a current events article for my Geo part of class & sharing about their persuasive essays for Eng part. I'll get a pic #sschat
A4 I have never adapted a traditional game, digital or otherwise, for a lesson (Am interested in adaptations for MS Anc Civ!) but did love using March Madness to create a March Madness tournament for world leaders with my 7th graders #sschat
A5: There are a whole bunch of options here...
We may be trying to learn a discrete skill, understand some key terms in action, or just experiment. Winning seems to very rarely be the end goal...
#sschat
A4 - I also have revamped tv show games like Truth or Consequences, To Tell the Truth, and Survivor and board games like Monopoly for Western Expansion #sschat
A5: I usually have some reflection questions for students to consider at the end of the game. Next year, I want to use @flipgrid as the way for students to share their reflection. #sschat
A5 My research found that most teachers did not use dashboards, but created their own open-ended reflections, and journal writing, etc. using tools like @Schoology and Google Classroom to assess learning transfer from GBL #sschat
This is my choice project: https://t.co/AZMXlgZVi3. I'll be telling students they can choose whatever they want, however it has to equal 100 credits. There's an expectation and they get to choose their strengths #sschat
This is something I would love to work on and I’m loving all the ideas coming in! I’ve always wanted to create a Game of Life based on an area or culture we are studying. #sschat
A5) I find that it's really important to provide time for Ss to reflect on the experience, what they learned, how they can apply to future situations. #sschat
A5: I find the best way is to have multiple formative assessments throughout the game and a culminating activity that can be graded on a rubric #sschat
I use that game for every review game! Students love to play it, and it helps me teach things like alliances and strategy when we get to the world wars. #sschat
A5: Discussions are necessary to gauge student understanding as well as allow students to tease nascent ideas born from their gaming experience. #sschat
A5. If you're using iCivics games, we encourage you to take the gameplay a step further and #TeachPlayTeach with an "iCivics Game Sandwich"... aka Extension Packs. You can find them here: https://t.co/1oCeDlK0tL#sschat
A5 There is a wonderful cycle I uncovered: 1) Play game as shared experience (like field trip); 2) Unpack/Debrief/Reflect; 3) Students make, harnessing #stuchoice from game sequels using Twine or Scratch, to traditional projects, merging GBL & PBL #sschat
A5: Assess students' understanding with more than one summative assessment (e.g., test and project). Students might need to prepare to show their understanding outside of games.. #GBLinAction#sschat
#sschat A5: I have them explain the experience like a journal, expand the story of the game if it has one, I have them describe strategies and how they compare to the real world
A5: I’m all about journaling while playing. I want the students to think about how they felt, their reflections, etc. I love reading their journals because it’s how they felt in the moment and based on the risks of an action they took. #sschat
A5 Depends on objectives & gaming type, but if digital gaming I always would have frequent reflection to fill in holes, make sure Ss see areas that have been simplified, or glorified, & make sure these are addressed in their ending reflections #sschat
Also #sschat shameless plug. join my Googel+ group all about RPGs and Games in the classroom. We have discussions on how to create them with game designers. I also have example games and more. Including my own based on Diary of Anne Frank https://t.co/E9mPcIBA8X
#PolitiCraft can be used as a tool for formative assessment, allowing teachers to listen and observe the students discussions and interactions. How are students articulating their views and are they integrating any recent lessons or topics from the classroom? #sschat
A5: I’m all about journaling while playing. I want the students to think about how they felt, their reflections, etc. I love reading their journals because it’s how they felt in the moment and based on the risks of an action they took. #sschat
https://t.co/NxxqyBNfyz This is one of the newer ones I am offering students. Last menu was all choices. Always looking for a better way to design them for the next time. #sschat
In reply to
@DevEducators, @SamMandeville, @MsHolmesTeach
A5: similar to writing process, I look at the process rather than final product. I look for engagement, teamwork, collaboration. The more my students engage with their classmates, the more they continue it going forward #socialconstructivist#sschat
A6: My challenge is always to create interest, teach some essential ideas, and then cultivate a mindset where students want to apply what they've learned and go beyond my classroom.
#sschat
A6 I am trying to provide a link between what students like (videogames) and what they need to learn (academic writing). Most are enthusiastic about the subject. #sschat
A6: I'll like to describe my role as a game night host. I want to make sure my guests (i.e., students) have an amazing experience so that they keep wanting to come back! #GBLinAction#sschat
A4 - A long time ago, I adapted the game Diplomacy (WW I) to have students consider the role negotiations and making agreements with rivals can achieve your goals and how decisions can have unintended consequences #sschat
A5 Digital games have come a long way, many now provide data collection engines however I find obsv. of Ss my best tool; engaging w/Ss through their learning process, asking ?s, encouraging Ss to ask ?s, post-game reflections where Ss show evidence of what they've learned #sschat
A6 Facilitator, producer of the questions to drive intellectual growth through such things as deeper reflection, comprehension, & critical analysis & evaluation skills #sschat
A1: I like to think of myself as an advisor. I give students information upfront and then help them along the path to knowledge but they are the ones blazing the trails to knowledge. #sschat
A6: Using football as my metaphor of choice, I would imagine most teachers feel like a combination of cheerleader, coach, referee, and equipment manager #sschat
Check out HistoryQuest from @instituteofplay & the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation! (I was in cohort 1!) The Woodrow Wilson HistoryQuest Fellowship https://t.co/YLnEdtBSVz#sschat
A7: Games can create compassionate citizens, but they have to be placed in challenging new places for this to succeed. This is something many commercial games lack. I had a really good experience using #VR to accomplish this recently
#sschat
Great learning from all you folks at #sschat today! I hope you will consider joining me for #waledchat this Thursday at 9pm ET as we reflect on Technology and Education!
A6: being flexible as it changes but overall my role is connecting big picture and keep them thinking. Students get caught up in the game and too often lose track of the information and the reason why we are playing the game #sschat
A6: Facilitator. Creator. Also, My students called me a fate card. They said they had no idea what news I would bring or what elements I would toss into game play. #sschat
A7 Yes. If the teacher uses the game in a way that allows Ss time for reflection, analysis, evaluation, opportunities to personalize & humanize what they're doing to gain an understanding of other perspectives #sschat
Great article from Washington Post that connects to this. TLDR: Companies like Google find that people with strong communication and collaboration skills make the best workers. #sschathttps://t.co/Q4Uj4GAk1X
A7: if rules are laid out so the games are less about competiveness and more about reasoning and teamwork. Games that are designed for collaboration are my most effective #sschat
Hey all was working on some lessons for my civics and government classes. Does anyone have any experience teaching with the West Wing?
Looking to get kids interested and exited about learning about government. #quicklywalks#handsyoupapers@WestWingWeekly#sschat#hsgovchat
A7: I think it can lead towards empathy. I believe it allows students to learn a skill of “putting themselves in someone else’s shoes.” Game based activities should practice this skill, then students should take that skill to be effective and empathetic global citizens. #sschat
A7: It certainly depends on the game. Many commercial games our kids are exposed to teach the opposite. With the right framework this can be done very well. #sschat
