Like Verena and Brenda, I have a bias against gaming. A lot of the games I have “played” were lame or low-level thinking. The one game that I really enjoyed during my high school years was “All the Right Type”. It was fun and easy to play, and you can set a goal for yourself […]
Continue reading Like Verena and Brenda, I have a bias ag… Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based LearningTagged: Game-based Learning RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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ccheung
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Jay
Although I grew up with both a computer and nintendo I have never really taken to gaming and now would still rather learn through reading or interacting socially. For myself as a learning I find these more beneficial and associate gaming with leisure and it does not engage me as a learner as much as I get the sense […]
Continue reading Although I grew up with both a computer … Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning -
ashleyross
Game-Based Learning Flashbacks
I don’t remember a time growing up when I didn’t have a computer in my house. I have flashbacks of being 4 – 5 years old and even earlier playing computer games. My parents realized very early on the influence digital game-based learning could have and as such we played a variety of different educational […]
Continue reading Game-Based Learning Flashbacks Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning-
Julie S
Your post sounds like a true digital native experience! I’m a digital immigrant so your post about growing up with digital games is very interesting to me.
I had no idea that there was a “Mario Teaches Typing” game. I first learned typing in high school on an old beat up typewriter. Later in University I used a typing program on a Macintosh. I did far better using the game. This is probably because I loved the game whereas I hated to go to typing class because it was so boring. Great examples!
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jarvise
Your typing game flashback reminds me of the typing game I played in high school – it was kind of like a space invaders game for typing. It was extremely low-tech, but still fun. I just went online to see if I could find anything about it, and didn’t, but found this site with tons of typing games:
http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/games/Emily
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ifeoma
Hi Ashley,
Interesting post, i think Julie S must be right in saying you are a digital native. I guess like JulieS, i would also be a digital migrant (i like the terminology). I guess typing was a major skill required of anyone who wanted to use computer technology to write. I am almost sure every computer user at some point had to use some typing tutor. I used Mavis beacon myself and the practice tests were designed like word games. i must say that it made learning touch typing fun for me even though I would say it could have been a case of trying to teach an old dog a new trick 🙂-
Karen Jones
LOL, Ifeoma, you totally made me laugh and cringe at the mention of “Mavis Beacon”. That was our alternate school’s earliest foray into using computers and games with our ADHD students. Ya, apparently, they weren’t as sold on the idea as the adults, and we had to threaten them with duct tape to keep them typing at the computer for more than about 15 minutes, let alone the whole class.
KJ
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Everton Walker
I never grew up with computers so I was not exposed to gaming from an early age. Maybe that’s the reason I am not big on games now. Even at college when my friends were engaged in playing games I would be doing something else. Slowly but surely I am changing as I now see the power of gaming as it relates to education and learning.
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hall
As a child I did not have access to computers but I frequently played Nintendo games which I found very enjoyable. I remember as a child I would save my lunch money in order to buy tokens at a well known games room so as to play the available games. I have missed important activities and domestic chores as result of being endowed in playing games as a child.
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Deb Kim
I love Mario games by Nintendo. It’s been there since I was young and I’ve enjoyed playing it with my brother. The game was first introduced to me by my cousin from Japan. Then, my father bought a 3D Nintendo for my brother who was really good at finding “stars”. I was truly amazed by the 3D Mario game that I wanted to become a 3D animation or game designer one day. Although it was a dream that I dreamt as a teenager, I still love to play any of the Mario games, including Mario Cart. They are so much fun!
Deb
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andrea
Fingerprint Play creates mobile learning applications for touch-screen devices for four- to seven-year-olds. They describe themselves as “the first mobile learning and play network for kids and their grown-ups” (Fingerprint). The “My Big Kid Life” applications allow kids to explore the skills associated with popular grown-up professions [fire fighter, veterinarian, and fairy princess (?)], while learning […]
Continue reading Fingerprint Play Posted in: Week 04: Entrepreneur Bootcamp-
jenaca
Hey Andrea,
This looks like a very interesting device and I am definitely interested in learning more about it. I wonder what the market is currently like for this technology and if there is anything else similar to it?
I agree with your reflections, this venture does seem very commercialized as it does have a team surrounded by the media world, however, all the power to them!!
Great find,
Jenaca -
jarvise
Hi Andrea,
My kids love using their Tag Reading Pens (from Leapfrog), and love using the ipad when they can get their hands on it. I think there is a very large market for interface design that is geared at kids. Check out Starfall.com for an example of a product that is well-designed for kids. They have sparkles around the spots that are supposed to be clicked next, extra large arrows to move to the next page, and a large ‘x’ up in the top corner to close the window. After watching my 3 year old learn how to use the computer on this site, I was super impressed.
I wonder what the marketing will look like for this product – I’m sure it will likely be slick with some of the people resources they have on their team. Often, good educational sites (often designed by teachers) are slow to catch on due to lack of marketing. I’m thinking that if this is an effective product, AND has an effective marketing team, it will be a real money-maker.
Emily
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andrea
Hi Emily, thanks for the info on Starfall.com. Nice clear, colourful, and intuitive design. I can imagine how appealing that would be for little people.
Fingerprint Play is launching in October, so it will be interesting to see the marketing. As you say, I’m sure it will be well done considering the team. It doesn’t matter how great your product is if you can’t sell it (as we’re seeing in this course).
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bcourey
She has certainly lined up an impressive team that makes the venture look very appealing…and reaching out to the kids’ market is very wise!
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Doug Smith
Yes, from a management structure point of view it looks like MacIntyre has put together a very strong team. It would be very interesting to see what kinds of numbers or data this group had at their disposal when designing their products. Surely they have identified a big hole in an emerging market!
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Karen Jones
NMC 2011 Horizons Report: A critical analysis
To the average educator, the pace at which new technologies appear may be overwhelming. The 2011 Horizons report has narrowed down the number of technologies judged most likely to impact teaching, learning, and creative inquiry in higher education over the next 4 years, from a list of 50 to a more manageable top 6. SUMMARY […]
Continue reading NMC 2011 Horizons Report: A critical analysis Posted in: Week 02: The Edtech Marketplace-
kstooshnov
Hi Karen,
I’d be interested to hear which of the technologies make the cut in your pro-d presentation, and if possible, bring these ideas to your North Van home for the teachers there. NMC’s Web version is amazing, isn’t it?!
Kyle
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bcourey
I too appreciate the breadth of the Horizon report (but like the Navigator even more now that I have explored the site) and we have used it in our department planning meetings when selecting what tools we would include in our blended learning projects. I will definitely look for the K-12 edition you are referring too. Thanks for pointing that out.
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Everton Walker
Karen Jones,
Interesting report. However, do you think the 6 selected technologies with be significant globally or just in a few locations? Even though it qualitatively done, I would really like to see some stats to get a better understanding of what actually took place and reasons for decision taken.
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Deb Giesbrecht
It is interesting that they focus on higher education versus K-12. Wondering if that is a more economically viable environment? or is that where many of the technological changes are seen?
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Angela Novoa
Hi Deb, I was wondering the same thing. I posted a critique about ELI’s 7 Things you should know about… and I had the same sense….
Karen, About your ideas, I also read the NMC report and two things that kept my attention was that they specified who were behind this report and that its focus is global.Angela
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David Vogt
Game-Based Learning
Game-based learning has gained considerable traction since 2003, when James Gee began to describe the impact of game play on cognitive development. Since then, research — and interest in — the potential of gaming on learning has exploded, as has the diversity of games themselves, with the emergence of serious games as a genre, the […]
Continue reading Game-Based Learning Posted in: Emerging Markets Poll-
jenaca
I believe this is a wonderful way for students to absorb new information and have fun with it. Incorporating games into a learning environment is a positive method to help students learn and enjoy learning without even realizing it!
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jarvise
When we look at foundational, big picture skills that span across curriculum and beyond the reaches of educational settings into real-world ones, the ideas of teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving in complex situations come up. What better way to target these than game-based learning? There are a lot of possibilities here…
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David William Price
I worked for a company that did serious games and I contributed the writing design and content for a game still sold by the Canadian Standards Association for workplace health and safety. That being said… I really think it’s all about the design. The problem is that if people are unwilling to put in the time required to design in-person lessons, they seem even less likely to put in the time to develop worthwhile games. The cost of development per hour of game is enormous. My concern is people jump on the excitement of a medium and ignore the requirements of design. It’s the Clark vs Kozma debate and I am firmly on the Clark side.
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schiong
Hi,
I agree that design is very important. A mentor once told me that when developing an application … 2/3 is spent on design and 1/3 on programming. I think he just wants to emphasize the importance of design.
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Juliana
I think game based learning can be a good way for student’s to learn if it is done well. I think there is the possibility of teaching complex concepts such as scientific inquiry, but it does take time and it does need to be executed well in the classroom. Often times the classroom teacher needs to be given training on how to support the implementation of game based learning in the classroom.
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Angela Novoa
Game-based learning can promote creative problem solving and critical thinking skills. It also promotes autonomous learning. In London the Sorrell Foundation and My City Too have intended to launch programs that include game-based learning. Here in Chile there are some organizations, such as Innovacien (http://www.innovacien.org/), that are promoting this kind of learning in a number of schools.
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wongte
Game Based learning is a way to learn and have fun – a combo that I find very effective. I also like the opportunity it has for role play situations for an ESL class. I’ve heard and would love to explore the potential of the Sims or 2nd life for use in online learning with language students.
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Jay
I think the idea of using a game such as the Sims for online language learning is a great idea, but I think it is important to couple such learning with in-class role-plays that allow for a face-to-face component.
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murray12
I usually try to find a game to play on the SmartBoard that deals with the day’s learning goals. It’s amazing how much more involved students get when there’s a game to be played.
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kstooshnov
There’s got to be a game more productive than 7 Up or Silent Ball which uses classroom technology and gets all the students participating, but I can’t think what that game might be.
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Jay
Developing an effective game that doesn’t involve technology can be time consuming so I can only imagine the time and costs that go into the design of a those that do. If used properly they may be a great way to learn problem-solving and critical thinking skills but I think to much focus on game-based learning would remove an important human interaction component of collective learning and focus to much on individual learning.
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David William Price
Perhaps another way to think about it is case-based learning and problem-based learning rather than game-based learning. Whether the case or problem are presented as a game perhaps doesn’t matter. The key part is gathering information, conducting an analysis, reviewing options, and making choices.
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themusicwoman
I think the potential for game based learning is amazing. We all know that when something isn’t “fun”, we don’t tend to enjoy it as much. As well, the learners that are emerging are comfortable with games. Let’s use the skills that many of the learners already have to our advantage.
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mcquaid
I think one of the beauties of game-based learning is that it can be sneaky, passive, or unintentional – while a student is having fun being wrapped up in a game, they end up taking information in (or creating it, for that matter – even collaboratively) and learning about things that were perhaps not seemingly part of the point of playing the game at all.
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Julie S
I became really interested in the serious games area after playing the PeaceMaker game. I would really like to explore if there’s a way to apply this type of concept to business analysis as it could keep a curious person engaged if it’s done well. I think it could also encourage the analyst to look at the interviewing process in a new light. I noticed that there is a business game posted in the Horizons report that I’ll have to check out. I think serious games have huge potential for adult learning opportunities.
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khenry
While this was not one of my top 8 choices it is an area I am very interested in. I believe that there is great value in game-based learning in its motivational and interactive attributes. However, more research and time needs to be extended in focusing on design from an educational perspective. The problem is whether or not such time and effort can be reflected in the profitability of such a venture as educational tools etc. traditionally have not been able to resolve high costs of design as have commercial products, which have been more desired thus increasing demand and broader levels of sales.
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Deb Kim
For “unpopular” subjects like Math, game-based learning is a great idea and a good opportunity for students to enjoy them.
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hall
I think game-based learning could be very useful in getting my students to understand concepts in physics and mathematics. I realize that the average students including adult learners like game and will easily gasp concepts when they are engaged in interesting activities. In my view, games can create the platform for learners to participate in class activities.
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schiong
I believe that Game-Based Learning has a place in education. But, I am concern about the possible consequences.
a) If a child interacts with a computer most of the time, would it affect his social skills?
b) if a child spends too much time on a game, would his attitude towards classroom setting change?
Would it affect his eyesight (similar to watching tv at close range)?There are many Game-based learning.
If a child wants to play Game-based learning everyday, would that be okay?
is there a need to set a time limit?… going to an extreme case..
child: “Dad, why do I have to go to school? I can learn math, science, english , etc … through Game-based learning”
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themusicwoman 12:44 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Dear Jay,
Although I remember the game, I have to admit I didn’t play it much and I appreciate your comment about not being a game based learner as much as a book/written word and social learner. This unit has made me think more about me as a learner, too. I tend to game for fun and relaxation but I think of how my child in grade 1 uses games to learn spelling right now on the computer.
So, a detective eh?
bcourey 3:30 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I too remember that game Jay…thanks for the reminder. I remember thinking that my kids would really enjoy it and I would sneak in some geography education on them…didn’t work – they really didn’t enjoy the game as it lacked the “action” they preferred.
ifeoma 3:36 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Jay,
Reading your post I can already see that the “Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?” is a game that would encourage the development of problem solving skills in addition to learning geography. I can also relate to associating gaming with leisurey, my take of it is that the skills it teaches are embedded and so are not apparent and it is just as well, because it is a way to make learning informal and fun in order to attract someone who does not like to learn in the usual formal way,
jenaca 3:38 am on October 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey Jay, I also remember playing “Where in the world is Carmen San Diego”. I agree with your post that I play games for the fun of it and don’t necessarily combined learning and games. However, there are some great games that do enhance learning, especially for young children.