Video Games, iKids, and Education in the 21st Century Glenn Wiebe ESSDACK [email_address] ©2007

Fifty minutes!? Are you kidding me?

Fifty minutes!? Are you kidding me?

Sticky ideas?

Kids are different than they used to be

Kids are different than they used to be

Research says games are good for kids

Research says games are good for kids

Pong 1976

Galaga 1986

Sim City 1996

Second Life 2006

Games have gotten more complex over time Why?

Games have gotten more complex over time

Why?

Because the brain demands it

iKids and games Gaming myths Why games work Pitfalls Solutions Playing video games

Jake & other iKids Internet is his world

Jake & other iKids

Internet is his world

Erin & other iKids Brain works differently

Erin & other iKids

Brain works differently

Jarod & other iKids Ask them to count!

Jarod & other iKids

Ask them to count!

Chance & other iKids They’re multi-taskers

Chance & other iKids

They’re multi-taskers

Down? Teen pregnancy, violence, alcohol / drug / tobacco use

Down?

Teen pregnancy, violence, alcohol / drug / tobacco use

Up? Community service / voting / virginity

Up?

Community service / voting / virginity

They live like this!

They live like this!

We are not the same as the iKids

We are not the same as the iKids

But . . . we should use their tools!

But . . . we should use their tools!

Why do games work?

AP US History & Saving Private Ryan

AP US History & Saving Private Ryan

“ Everything Bad is Good for You” Steven Johnson “ Got Game?” John C. Beck, Mitchell Wade “ Don’t Bother Me, Mom - I’m Learning!” Marc Prensky

“ Everything Bad is Good for You”

Steven Johnson

“ Got Game?”

John C. Beck, Mitchell Wade

“ Don’t Bother Me, Mom - I’m Learning!”

Marc Prensky

Brains search for patterns Discrete data doesn’t make sense Chunks data into “icons” Education people know this Lynn Erickson’s Concepts Jay McTighe’s Big Ideas

Brains search for patterns

Discrete data doesn’t make sense

Chunks data into “icons”

Education people know this

Lynn Erickson’s Concepts

Jay McTighe’s Big Ideas

Emotion & thinking Emotional chemicals increase cognitive activity

Emotion & thinking

Emotional chemicals increase cognitive activity

Brains are social Want to work with others

Brains are social

Want to work with others

Games provide structured patterns Games create emotional connections Games encourage collaborative learning Simple?

Games provide structured patterns

Games create emotional connections

Games encourage collaborative learning

Even simpler “ You don’t learn because you’re engaged. You’re engaged because you’re learning” Nick deKanter Muzzy Lane Software

“ You don’t learn because you’re engaged. You’re engaged because you’re learning” Nick deKanter

Muzzy Lane Software

So . . . Games can be used to: increase literacy skills teach problem solving skills simulate authentic situations encourage collaboration engage students in content lead to sophisticated research

Games can be used to:

increase literacy skills

teach problem solving skills

simulate authentic situations

encourage collaboration

engage students in content

lead to sophisticated research

They learn . . . ? Players controls the action Players become experts Creativity and problem solving is required Immediate feedback

Players controls the action

Players become experts

Creativity and problem solving is required

Immediate feedback

There’s always an answer “ Modding” is encouraged Trial and error works best It’s almost always better in groups

There’s always an answer

“ Modding” is encouraged

Trial and error works best

It’s almost always better in groups

Pitfalls? Takes time What are you willing to give up? Content integration “ Forcing” standards alignment is wrong

Takes time

What are you willing to give up?

Content integration

“ Forcing” standards alignment is wrong

Takes money Hardware / software / computer upgrades Technology issues Not enough stations or “power” Appropriate games Apple vs. PC

Takes money

Hardware / software / computer upgrades

Technology issues

Not enough stations or “power”

Appropriate games

Apple vs. PC

Suggestions Start with a clear curricular goal in mind Instruction or assessment? Content or process?

Start with a clear curricular goal in mind

Instruction or assessment?

Content or process?

Collect information and resources Game sites FAQs <www.gamefaqs.com> <www.gameboomers.com> Cheat codes / walkthroughs / hints and tip books

Collect information and resources

Game sites

FAQs

<www.gamefaqs.com>

<www.gameboomers.com>

Cheat codes / walkthroughs / hints and tip books

Is there something else that’s better? Bloom’s? Ease of saving Age appropriate navigation Student learning styles Group or single player Time of play

Is there something else that’s better?

Bloom’s?

Ease of saving

Age appropriate navigation

Student learning styles

Group or single player

Time of play

Be aware of content What’s missing or inaccurate? Brainstorm possible activities Budgets / business plans / annual reports Diaries / letters / fictional biographies Timelines / flowcharts Don’t buy the games Rent or www.gamefly.com Download free demos

Be aware of content

What’s missing or inaccurate?

Brainstorm possible activities

Budgets / business plans / annual reports

Diaries / letters / fictional biographies

Timelines / flowcharts

Don’t buy the games

Rent or www.gamefly.com

Download free demos

Communicate with parents Permission? Be excited “ Brag” to BOE / principals Have research handy Be willing to give up control Ask kids for advice / help

Communicate with parents

Permission?

Be excited

“ Brag” to BOE / principals

Have research handy

Be willing to give up control

Ask kids for advice / help

Some great examples

Some great examples

www.making-history.com

www.making-history.com

www.discoverbabylon.org

www.discoverbabylon.org

www.knowledgematters.com

www.knowledgematters.com

www.educationalsimulations.com

www.educationalsimulations.com

www.peacemakergame.org

www.peacemakergame.org

Where to find games gamespot.com gamespy.com gamepro.com macgamestore.com socialImpactgames.com

gamespot.com

gamespy.com

gamepro.com

macgamestore.com

socialImpactgames.com

Quick start? Read about games Play a favorite game Start with online “mini” games Ask your kids about their games

Read about games

Play a favorite game

Start with online “mini” games

Ask your kids about their games

Questions?

Questions?

Lots of resources at: <www.socialstudiescentral.com> More game stuff at: <del.icio.us/glennw98/games> Download presentation at: <slideshare.net/glennw98>

Lots of resources at:

<www.socialstudiescentral.com>

More game stuff at:

<del.icio.us/glennw98/games>

Download presentation at:

<slideshare.net/glennw98>

Resources Kirriemuir, John. (2005) Resources for researching games and learning. <www.ceangal.com/games-and-learning> McFarlane, Angela. (2005) Literature review in games and learning. <www.nestafuturelab.org/research/reviews/ 08_01.htm> Federation of American Scientists (2006) Harnessing the power of video games for learning. <fas.org/gamesummit/>

Kirriemuir, John. (2005) Resources for researching games and learning. <www.ceangal.com/games-and-learning>

McFarlane, Angela. (2005) Literature review in games and learning. <www.nestafuturelab.org/research/reviews/ 08_01.htm>

Federation of American Scientists (2006) Harnessing the power of video games for learning. <fas.org/gamesummit/>

Prensky, Marc. (2001) Digital Game-Based Learning. McGraw Hill. Kane, Pat. (2004) The Play Ethic: A Manifesto for a Different Way of Living. MacMillian. Koster, Ralph. (2005) The Theory of Fun. Paraglyph Press.

Prensky, Marc. (2001) Digital Game-Based Learning. McGraw Hill.

Kane, Pat. (2004) The Play Ethic: A Manifesto for a Different Way of Living. MacMillian.

Koster, Ralph. (2005) The Theory of Fun. Paraglyph Press.

Beck, John. (2004) Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever . Harvard Business School Press. Zull, James. (2002) The Art of Changing the Brain: Enriching Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning . Stylus Publishing.

Beck, John. (2004) Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever . Harvard Business School Press.

Zull, James. (2002) The Art of Changing the Brain: Enriching Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning . Stylus Publishing.

Gee, James. (2003) What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning & Literacy . Palgrave / MacMillan. Johnson, Steven. (2004) Mind Wide Open:Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life . Scribner.

Gee, James. (2003) What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning & Literacy . Palgrave / MacMillan.

Johnson, Steven. (2004) Mind Wide Open:Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life . Scribner.

Gee, James Paul. (2005) Why Video Games are Good for Your Soul. Common Ground. Aldrich, Clark. (2004) Simulations and the Future of Learning. Pfeiffer.

Gee, James Paul. (2005) Why Video Games are Good for Your Soul. Common Ground.

Aldrich, Clark. (2004) Simulations and the Future of Learning. Pfeiffer.