A Guide to Integrating COTS Games into Your Classroom Richard Van Eck University of North Dakota UAA EDAE 637 Design of eLearning Craig Kasemodel 2 March 2009

Handbook of Research on Effective Electronic Gaming in Education Van Eck, R. (2009). A guide to integrating COTS games in your classroom. In R. Ferdig (Ed.), Handbook of research on effective electronic gaming in education (1 st ed., pp 179-199). Hershey, Pa.: Information Science Reference.

Theoretical Foundations for Designing Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Game-Based Learning (GBL)

Situated Learning and Cognition Knowledge and transfer are tied to context and domain Learning is effective when embedded in a meaningful context Instructional events and content must be subservient to the game world

Knowledge and transfer are tied to context and domain

Learning is effective when embedded in a meaningful context

Instructional events and content must be subservient to the game world

Intrinsic Motivation “ learning that occurs in a situation in the most narrowly defined activity from which the learning occurs would be done without any external reward or punishment” (Malone & Lepper, 1987, p. 229 in Van Eck, 2009, p. 182.) Challenge Curiosity Control Fantasy (Endogenous Fantasy)

“ learning that occurs in a situation in the most narrowly defined activity from which the learning occurs would be done without any external reward or punishment” (Malone & Lepper, 1987, p. 229 in Van Eck, 2009, p. 182.)

Challenge

Curiosity

Control

Fantasy (Endogenous Fantasy)

Objectives and Assessment Communicate to learners to support metacognitive processes and activate/establish relevant schemas (memory units) Indirect communication of objectives is the most common method of establishing objectives in a game Assessment should parallel your objectives

Communicate to learners to support metacognitive processes and activate/establish relevant schemas (memory units)

Indirect communication of objectives is the most common method of establishing objectives in a game

Assessment should parallel your objectives

What does this mean for COTS GBL? Design learning activities, objectives, and assessments with the same principles and narrative context of the game Practice = effective instruction builds opportunities for application of what is being learned, accompanied by feedback, to help the learner monitor their own learning Problem-Based Learning – a continual process

Design learning activities, objectives, and assessments with the same principles and narrative context of the game

Practice = effective instruction builds opportunities for application of what is being learned, accompanied by feedback, to help the learner monitor their own learning

Problem-Based Learning – a continual process

The NTeQ Model iNtegrating Technology through inQuiry

The NTeQ Model Foundation #1 Instructor is… Technologically Competent Instructional Designer Manager Facilitator

Instructor is…

Technologically Competent

Instructional Designer

Manager

Facilitator

The NTeQ Model Foundation #2 The Student … Engages in the learning process Assumes the role of the researcher Becomes technologically competent

The Student …

Engages in the learning process

Assumes the role of the researcher

Becomes technologically competent

The NTeQ Model Foundation #3 The computer is … used as a tool, as in the workplace, to enhance learning through the use of real-world data to solve problems

The computer is …

used as a tool, as in the workplace, to enhance learning through the use of real-world data to solve problems

The NTeQ Model Foundation #4 The Lesson is … Student-Centered Problem based Technology based Authentic

The Lesson is …

Student-Centered

Problem based

Technology based

Authentic

The NTeQ Model Foundation #5 The Environment … Incorporates multiple resource-rich activities

The Environment …

Incorporates multiple resource-rich activities

Putting Theory into Practice Know your Audience Know your Environment Find a Game Evaluate the Game Design the Lessons Documentation Implementation Evaluation

Know your Audience

Know your Environment

Find a Game

Evaluate the Game

Design the Lessons

Documentation

Implementation

Evaluation

Effective Electronic Gaming in Education

Gaming Benefits Teachers: Re-engage the disengaged and challenge the talented: flexible tool to reach all abilities Focused on the metacognitive processes which encourage learners to think about the learning process Pupils: Speaks a familiar language in today's media-savvy society Able to learn at their own pace while the games adapt to their needs and abilities Reduces social barriers and encourages participation Parents: Provide a mechanism to collaborate and communicate Provides a safe environment for experimentation and experience

Teachers:

Re-engage the disengaged and challenge the talented: flexible tool to reach all abilities

Focused on the metacognitive processes which encourage learners to think about the learning process

Pupils:

Speaks a familiar language in today's media-savvy society

Able to learn at their own pace while the games adapt to their needs and abilities

Reduces social barriers and encourages participation

Parents:

Provide a mechanism to collaborate and communicate

Provides a safe environment for experimentation and experience

Additional Resources http://idt.und.edu/gbl http://brainmeld.org http://nteq.com

http://idt.und.edu/gbl

http://brainmeld.org

http://nteq.com

Second Life!

References Van Eck, R. (2009). A guide to integrating COTS games in your classroom. In R. Ferdig (Ed.), Handbook of research on effective electronic gaming in education (1 st ed., pp 179-199). Hershey, Pa.: Information Science Reference. http://www.gamespot.com http://www.ign.com http://www.easports.com http://www.atari.com http://www.microsoft.com http://www.2kgames.com/ http://www.tpld.net/

Van Eck, R. (2009). A guide to integrating COTS games in your classroom. In R. Ferdig (Ed.), Handbook of research on effective electronic gaming in education (1 st ed., pp 179-199). Hershey, Pa.: Information Science Reference.

http://www.gamespot.com

http://www.ign.com

http://www.easports.com

http://www.atari.com

http://www.microsoft.com

http://www.2kgames.com/

http://www.tpld.net/